Tag Futebol

It’s been a dreadful couple of weeks for Tottenham Hotspur since their incredible win away to Manchester City.

Ange Postecoglou’s side drew at home to AS Roma and Fulham, lost away to Bournemouth and then managed to throw away a 2-0 lead against Chelsea to lose 4-3 yesterday afternoon and now find themselves 11th in the Premier League.

While one or two starters put in a decent enough performance, most of them were dire, including one international who’s in danger of becoming Spurs’ new Tanguy Ndombele.

39%

Possession

61%

2.90

Expected Goals

2.83

3

Goals

4

6

Big Chances

3

13

Total Shots

17

5

Corners

10

17

Fouls

11

316

Passes

517

Spurs' poor performers

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining a few of the other Spurs players who put in a notably poor performance yesterday, starting with Pape Matar Sarr.

The young midfielder looked busy throughout the encounter, but that’s about the only positive thing you could say about his game, as aside from running about a bit, he offered very little in attack or defence.

In fact, his most significant contribution to the game was giving away a second penalty in the 83rd minute thanks to a rather foolish challenge on Cole Palmer, so it wasn’t a massive surprise to see Spurs writer Alasdair Gold award the 22-year-old a 4/10 match rating.

Moving back into the defence, it was another performance to forget from Destiny Udogie, as while he wasn’t as bad as Sarr, it was still a disappointing day at the office for the Italian.

In his defence, the former Udinese gem looked bright for parts of the first half but ultimately couldn’t make an impact going forward, registering an expected assists figure of 0.01 and was equally ineffective at the back, losing five of nine ground duels, being dribbled past once and committing three fouls.

However, while both of the aforementioned starters were underwhelming, neither was quite as bad as the player who could become the team’s new Ndombele.

Spurs' new Ndombele

So, to get straight to the point, the player we are talking about is Yves Bissouma, who put on a horror show of a performance for Spurs yesterday evening.

The Mali international failed to have an impact going forward and was a complete liability in defence, clearing out Moises Caicedo in the penalty area in the 61st minute to hand Palmer the chance to level the score from the spot, which he did with ease.

It wasn’t just the “absolutely ridiculous” challenge on Caicedo, as Jamie Carragher described it, that led to Alasdair Gold awarding the midfielder a 3/10 match rating, though it was also the fact that he committed three fouls, lost five of 11 duels, lost the ball four times, was dribbled past once and generally felt like a walking disaster throughout.

Minutes

79′

Touches

32

Fouls

3

Penalties Conceded

1

Dribbled Past

1

Possession Lost

4

Duels (Won)

11 (6)

Shots

0

With that said, why is he at risk of becoming this team’s Ndombele?

Well, simply put, despite being an undeniably talented midfielder, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace can be incredibly awkward in games and cause more problems for his side than he can solve, as evidenced by yesterday’s clash.

This is also how Ndombele was perceived for much of his time in North London, with former professional Trevor Sinclair describing the Frenchman as “clumsy” in an interview in December 2020.

The former Lyon star was an incredible prospect when the Lilywhites spent around £63m on him in 2019, but over the following years, he couldn’t string together any runs of impressive form, akin to Bissouma today, and eventually saw his contract terminated in the summer.

Ultimately, while there is still time for Bissouma to turn things around, he’s already made several high-profile blunders on and off the pitch this season, so unless he can get himself together, he could go the same way as Ndombele at Spurs.

Their own Palmer: Ange must rue selling Spurs' "unbelievable" game-changer

The sensational international is tearing it up away from Spurs this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 7, 2024

Pakistan’s captain was thrilled by the crowd that showed up at the National Stadium to watch the final day unfold

Danyal Rasool16-Mar-2022Babar Azam has acknowledged that Pakistan’s pragmatic approach to the final day in Karachi had been shaped by the magnitude of the target Australia had set them. When the fifth day began, Pakistan needed to survive 90 overs, or, more improbably, score a further 334 runs to gun down the fourth-innings target of 506.But with the game stretching into the final hour and Babar and Mohammad Rizwan looking fairly comfortable having put on 115 for the fifth wicket, the prospect of a remarkable late dash to the target was beginning to take shape. But Babar and Rizwan appeared to resist the temptation, and while Babar explained that the chase was never quite on, it didn’t stop him from taking great pleasure in his knock.Related

Babar's 196 and Rizwan's hundred earn Pakistan epic draw

Stats – Babar's record knock, Pakistan's marathon effort

'If we took a couple of catches it might be a different scenario' – Cummins

When Babar, Shafique and Rizwan made Karachi dream

“This innings holds a lot of meaning for me, because the team needed it,” he said. “We were realistic about the chase. We wanted to bat normally till tea, and then if we found ourselves in a situation where we could go for the chase, we were good. But we lost wickets, unfortunately, so we didn’t really think of the chase. We needed to save the game. If I’d stayed for longer we might have tried to chase it.”When Babar and Faheem Ashraf fell off successive balls, any ideas about a chase were immediately killed off, with Pakistan facing a final-hour battle to stave off defeat. “Rizwan and I were discussing what the situation demanded because the wicket wasn’t easy for the new batter,” Babar said. “The spinners were getting help. I had belief the way Sajid [Khan] and Nauman [Ali] batted, so I had trust in them to save the game for us.”‘Abdullah Shafique was outstanding in the way he played the new and old ball and the patience he showed’ – Babar Azam•PCBThe pitches for the series have been a perpetual point of focus, with further scrutiny on the Karachi strip after the one in Rawalpindi was rated “below average” after a dull draw that saw just 14 wickets fall over five days. There was more assistance for the bowlers in Karachi, though it was reverse-swing that provided the most salient threat rather than the cracks in the pitch assisting spin. Babar said the conditions were the same for both sides, and thought the pitch had plenty to offer the bowlers.”You get reverse for the fast bowlers here; they found it and so did we. The spinners found turn, too. I don’t think there was a difference in the reverse-swing they got in both innings. They got plenty here, too. There were a lot of soft dismissals in the first innings which can make you think it was reversing a lot. It was happening in the second innings too, but our batters were at their best. You get reverse-swing here in first-class cricket too, so they have an idea how to tackle it. When you’re playing against one of the best teams, they’ll give you a tough time.”Babar revealed how he had motivated his side after a dispiriting third day, which saw Pakistan bowled out for 148 in 53 overs, giving Australia a 408-run lead. “You get motivation from your teammates,” he said. “In the first innings, we didn’t bat like we wanted but in the second innings, we had belief that we could save the game. We told the boys ‘What’s gone is gone and we have to focus on the present.’ The veteran players showed their experience. We told each other that ups and downs happen in Tests and to play session by session. I tried to give them confidence. Abdullah Shafique was outstanding in the way he played the new and old ball and the patience he showed.”This tour’s hype isn’t just about what happens on the field, but also what surrounds it. With Australia in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, a large, frenzied crowd came out to watch Pakistan pursue history, either by chasing down the target or surviving more overs to save a Test than any side since 1939. It embellished an already dramatic day, and its value wasn’t lost on the Pakistan captain.”When you play in front of your crowd and they support you, that feeling is so good I can’t explain it,” he said. “When the whole stadium backs you, it’s brilliant. We’re so happy that cricket is back, and we’re playing against such a big team here.”

USMNT aces Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have been told, by an AC Milan icon, that American players are treated "no different" to anyone else.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

American players claimed bias in EuropeExploits helping to change that mindsetStar turns in Serie A are leading the wayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

United States internationals on the books at Serie A giants Milan and Juventus have spoken out in the recent past at supposed bias that they claim still exists in Europe when it comes to star turns from the other side of the Atlantic.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

An exciting crop of American talent is, however, helping to change that mindset. Pulisic, who is already fondly known as ‘Captain America’ has become a talismanic presence at San Siro while McKennie’s versatility is being put to good use in Turin.

GettyWHAT MASSIMO AMBROSINI SAID

Milan legend Massimo Ambrosini – speaking to , who offer the latest UEFA Champions League odds here – exclusively told GOAL when asked about the treatment of stars from the States: "I think not taking American players seriously is an old thing. I remember Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. I used to follow American footballers and they are no different to other players.

"Here we have Yunus Musah as well as Christian Pulisic and during the last Juventus game there were four American players on the pitch including Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie. They have a great side and are hosting the next World Cup, so they need to have a good team!"

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT?

Pulisic and McKennie have both seen new contracts speculated on during the 2024-25 campaign, with their value to causes at Milan and Juventus being recognised. They also have important roles to play for the USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino heading towards the 2026 World Cup.

لا يزال مستقبل محمد صلاح مع ليفربول يزداد غموضًا، مع اقتراب نهاية عقده في صيف 2025 دون أي بوادر واضحة من الإدارة بشأن التجديد، مما يفتح المجال أمام التكهنات حول إمكانية رحيله مع نهاية الموسم الجاري.

وفي ظل استمرار صمت ليفربول، بدأت الأحاديث تتزايد عن البديل المحتمل لصلاح، وسط ترشيحات عديدة، أبرزها أديمولا لوكمان، الذي خطف الأنظار مؤخرًا وتألق مع أتالانتا في الدوري الإيطالي، ما يجعله أحد الأسماء المرشحة لخلافة الفرعون المصري كذلك هناك جناح بورنموث، أنطوان سيمينو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رسميًا | لاعب ليفربول يغادر معسكر هولندا مصابًا قبل مواجهة إسبانيا

الغياب التام لأي تصريحات رسمية من إدارة ليفربول حول مستقبل محمد صلاح يثير التساؤلات، فهل هناك خطة بديلة؟ أم أن النادي يراهن على صبر اللاعب في ظل تزايد الشائعات عن اهتمام أندية كبرى بضمه؟.

وعلى الرغم من ذلك، تشير بعض التقارير إلى أن النادي لا يزال يأمل في الإبقاء على نجمه الأول، لكن الشروط المالية تبقى حجر الأساس في أي اتفاق جديد، مما يجعل مستقبل صلاح معلقًا حتى يتم حسم الأمور بشكل رسمي.

وفي هذا السياق، كشف الصحفي الموثوق ديفيد أورنستين عبر صحيفة “ذا أثلتيك” عن موقف النادي من المفاوضات قائلًا: “كل ما أعرفه هو أن ليفربول متفائل منذ فترة بشأن التوصل إلى اتفاق، لأنهم في النهاية يريدون بقاء محمد صلاح، وهناك اعتقاد بأنه سعيد ويرغب في الأمر ذاته”.

وأضاف أورنستين: “بالطبع، يجب أن تكون الأرقام المقدمة من ليفربول مناسبة إذا كان يرغب في حسم الأمر”، مما يشير إلى أن العقبة الوحيدة أمام التجديد قد تكون مالية، وهو ما يترك الباب مفتوحًا لجميع السيناريوهات، سواء بتجديد العقد أو رحيل مفاجئ خلال الفترة القادمة.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras deu início oficialmente ao clima de Mundial de Clubes na última quarta-feira, quando a delegação embarcou para Abu Dhabi, onde acontece o torneio. Será a segunda chance consecutiva que o time terá para conquistar o tão sonhado título. Dessa vez, há a confiança de que toda a preparação foi feita de forma adequada e o Verdão chegará melhor do que no ano passado.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasConfira as fotos da festa da torcida do Palmeiras antes do embarque para o MundialPalmeiras02/02/2022PalmeirasPalmeiras fecha parceria e viaja para Abu Dhabi com mala personalizadaPalmeiras02/02/2022PalmeirasVeja a lista de jogadores do Palmeiras que viajaram para o Mundial de ClubesPalmeiras02/02/2022

TABELA
> Veja tabela e simulador do Mundial-2021 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
>Confira as fotos da festa da torcida do Palmeiras antes do embarque

Essa certeza de que os rituais são melhores do que aqueles levados para a edição 2020 partem da consciência sobre o período de pré-temporada. Apesar dos problemas do elenco com a Covid-19, incluindo Piquerez e Veron às vésperas do embarque, e as convocações para seleções nacionais, foi possível ter, antes de viajar, quase um mês de treinos e estudos para o Mundial.

Depois da conquista da Libertadores, praticamente todo o elenco principal foi liberado para as férias, proporcionando um descanso que esses atletas não tiveram na transição de 2020 para 2021. Contado com o fato de eles terem retornado no dia 5 de janeiro, houve praticamente um mês de descanso.

Isso não ocorreu no ano passado. Vale lembrar que o Palmeiras conquistou a Libertadores no dia 30 de janeiro de 2021 e embarcou para o Mundial na noite do dia 2 de fevereiro, levando toda a carga de uma temporada encurtada e maluca por conta da pandemia de Covid-19. No dia da viagem, a equipe ainda pegou o Botafogo, sem espaço para descansar corpo e mente para o torneio.

Evidentemente os reforços também fazem parte dessa preparação, já que os cinco (Lomba, Atuesta, Rafael Navarro, Jailson e Murilo) chegaram bem antes da viagem. Embora as contratações mais pesadas pedidas por Abel não tenham chegado, todo o planejamento foi montado com o “elenco completo”, com direito a quatro testes de luxo em quatro rodadas do Paulistão-2022.

Outro ponto importante é o que será feito quando chegar no local da competição, que neste ano é em Abu Dhabi, nos Emirados Árabes Unidos. Em 2021, o torneio foi realizado no Qatar. O fuso horário e o tempo de viagem acabam sendo parecidos, mas neste ano as condições parecem ser melhores.

A delegação, desta vez, chega com um dia a mais em relação ao ano passado: aterrissa no dia 3/2 e joga no dia 8/2. Em 2021, aterrissou no dia 3/2, mas jogou no dia 7/2. Para essa questão de adaptação ao fuso horário e ao país, um dia faz toda a diferença. Segundo apurou o LANCE!, alguns jogadores tiveram dificuldades para dormir na edição anterior e não renderam o esperado.

Por fim, esse dia de antecedência ainda traz a possibilidade de um treino a mais em campo para este ano. Na programação do clube estão previstos quatro treinos para o Palmeiras, além do dia do reconhecimento do gramado, que a comissão técnica deve promover um trabalho ainda não divulgado. Em 2021, somente dois treinos foram realizados no Qatar, ou seja, metade.

Assim, por todos esses fatores, o pensamento no Palmeiras é de que a delegação chega na cidade de Abu Dhabi muito melhor preparada do que chegou para disputar edição anterior do Mundial de Clubes. Embora saiba que não seja o período perfeito para a adaptação, a intenção é ter uma condição mais adequada e mais focada nesse torneio tão importante para o Verdão.

continua após a publicidade

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Unai Emery has led Aston Villa to a wonderful start to the new season.

Across seven matches in all competitions, the Midlands outfit have won six games, only suffering defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League.

Much of this has to do with his excellent ability to move players on for decent fees, while also bringing in the best possible talent.

This summer, Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby departed the club, yet the supporters clearly aren’t missing them, especially given how impressive the new arrivals have been.

Amadou Onana looks like a player who will only get better under Emery, while Ian Maatsen has shone in his brief appearances for the club.

Emery isn’t perfect, however, as not all of his signings have demonstrated their true qualities. Nicolo Zaniolo is a prime example of this. Last summer, he arrived on a season-long loan deal from Galatasaray in the hopes of adding some quality to the Villa midfield.

The reality was very different, as the Italian failed to nail down a regular berth in the starting XI.

Nicolo Zaniolo’s Aston Villa’s statistics

Emery spent big during his first summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Diaby and Pau Torres, which worked wonders for the Spaniard as he led Villa to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, thus, securing Champions League qualification in the process.

While big money was spent, Zaniolo was a largely cost-effective signing, yet it didn’t quite work out as well as the fans wanted.

Goals

2

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.4

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

1.1

Total duels won per game

2.4

Across the entire 2023/24 campaign, the Italian midfielder made 39 appearances for Villa, yet only 13 of them were from the starting XI. He only managed three goals all term, highlighting how little an impact the 25-year-old made in England.

In the top flight, Zaniolo ranked in a lowly 13th position for goals and assists (two), while also ranking eighth for big chances missed (three), 14th for key passes per game (0.4) and 12th for successful dribbles per game (0.4).

It is clearly evident that he was underwhelming during his temporary spell. Thankfully, Emery could call upon other players, which meant his ineffectiveness wasn’t a deterrent in the squad.

Before the Spaniard secured his signature, Villa were linked with a young talent who would eventually move to the Premier League…

Aston Villa missed out on Jeremy Doku

According to reports at the time, Villa were reportedly keen on securing a move for Jeremy Doku, having submitted a bid of around €30m (£25m), which was rejected by French side Stade Rennais.

During the 2022/23 campaign, Doku starred for Rennes. Across 35 games in all competitions, the winger scored seven times while chipping in with five assists, clearly capturing the attention of Villa in the process.

When it was clear the Midlands side were out of the running for the talented Belgian, Manchester City swooped in, signing him for a fee in the region of £55.5m, which would have been a club-record transfer for Villa – who ultimately ended up landing Zaniolo.

It is clear given his performances in Manchester that Emery missed a huge opportunity in failing to bring the Belgian international last summer.

Jeremy Doku’s Man City stats

While City may have won ‘just’ one trophy last term, retaining their Premier League title, Doku was one of their star performers, fitting into Pep Guardiola’s side with apparent ease.

Not only did he score six goals for City, but he also registered 11 assists, showcasing his prodigious talents in the process.

The winger was previously hailed as “frightening” by former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand in 2022 and certainly displayed qualities which had defences terrorised up and down the country.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Doku ranked in the top 1% for progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90.

Combine this with the fact he ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions and in the top 5% for assists in the previous 365 days, underlining how impressive he was in the final third.

So far this term, Doku has scored once in seven games, but given he is only 22, the winger can only get better and better.

Jeremy Doku’s market valuation

His performances for City last season saw his market value rise. According to Transfermarkt, Doku is now currently valued at €65m (£54m), which will only continue to rise should he keep delivering wonderful displays on the pitch.

Not only that, but the winger is the 26th highest-valued player in the Premier League. Considering he has only been in England for just over a year, it is quite an achievement.

While Villa did qualify for the Champions League last term, could they have perhaps gone further in the Conference League or won a domestic trophy if they had Doku at their disposal?

It will go down as a major case of what if for Emery, with his success at City rubbing salt into the wounds, no doubt about that.

Reaching the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition will give the manager plenty of leeway to secure some of the finest talent on the continent.

Doku clearly fits into that bracket. Villa won’t want to miss out on talents of this calibre in the future, that’s for sure.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

The main thing for Emery now is to keep doing what he is doing in the transfer market, bringing the best talent to the club in the hope they can end their 30-year major trophy drought.

Missing out on the Belgian has proven to be a big blow, but he won’t be the only talented attacker Emery has his eye on.

Aston Villa thought they may have the next Messi, then he left for just £7m

He was dubbed the king of speed…

ByConnor Holden Sep 27, 2024

Manchester United have endured a torrid start to their Premier League campaign this year, and while they picked up all three points yesterday, six from 12 simply isn’t good enough if they have genuine ambitions of finishing in the Champions League places.

Erik ten Hag’s side have looked defensively suspect against each team they’ve played so far, and while they have created chances, the goals just haven’t come.

This poor start to the season in front of goal now means that, despite having played four games, the whole squad is being outscored by a superstar centre-forward the club were once instructed to sign by a former manager.

United's poor start to the season

Now, while United were able to stop the bleeding somewhat with a professional 3-0 win at St Mary’s Stadium yesterday, it would be hard to deny that their start to the season has been dreadful.

The three-time European champions won against Fulham on the opening day but followed that up with a loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion and a 3-0 home hammering to fierce rivals Liverpool.

In all, the Red Devils have only found the back of the net on five occasions this season, with new boy Joshua Zirkzee opening his account against the Cottagers, promising winger Amad Diallo staking his claim for a starting spot against the Seagulls, and Marcus Rashford, Matthijs de Ligt, and Alejandro Garnacho all getting on the scoresheet on Saturday.

While the positive spin on this is that goals are coming from everywhere in the team, the negative perspective is that not enough are coming, which is made all the more clear when their noisy neighbours can rely on a certain goalscoring phenom who United were once told to sign by Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Erling Haaland's goalscoring form

Yes, the striker United missed out on signing in the past is none other than Erling Haaland.

On an episode of The Overlap earlier this year, former manager and goalscoring icon himself, Solskjær, revealed that in the summer before he was appointed as the club’s manager, he told the Red Devils that they simply had to sign the young Norwegian, but they disagreed. Who did they sign that summer instead? Well, Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot and Fred were the names.

Now, it’s bad enough to miss out on a generational marksman just once, but the 51-year-old then revealed that he asked the club to go back in for him a few months later when he was made caretaker manager, even though he had just joined RB Salzburg, as he wasn’t playing and had a £20m release clause in his contract.

However, the United legend was once again ignored, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, the Leeds-born dynamo has dominated in every country he’s played, racking up 36 goals and assists for RB Salzburg, 109 for Borussia Dortmund and, as things stand, 113 for City.

In just his first season for the Citizens, the “unreal” poacher, as dubbed by content creator Steven Mcinerney, broke the Premier League record for most goals in a season and ended with 52 in 53 games across all competitions. It really is no wonder he’s now valued at a mighty £152m by Transfermarkt, a far cry from the £4m he was valued at when United rejected him.

While he took a slight step back with 38 in 45 last year, he’s already found the back of the net nine times in four league games this season.

Ultimately, every top club misses out on young superstars here and there, but United must be particularly annoyed at letting Haaland slip through their fingers as he’s outscoring their entire squad, and had they just listened to Solskjær, he’d be donning red at the moment.

Their own Haaland: Man Utd are set to sign exciting gem who's "Osimhen 2.0"

The incredible youngster should be on his way to Old Trafford.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 13, 2024

Some Manchester United fans are fearing the worst after confirmation that Sunday's game at Liverpool will go ahead as planned.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool vs Man Utd to go ahead
• Game was in doubt due to weather
• Red Devils fans fear the worst

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Saturday night, adverse weather in the north of England led to suggestions Liverpool's game with Manchester United could be postponed, with meetings held between safety boards the following morning. However, authorities have decided that the match will go ahead as planned, with kick-off at Anfield set for 4:30pm GMT.

Advertisement

• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Liverpool and United fans were broadly in agreement that this will spell bad news for the Red Devils, who come into the fixture in awful form.

  An X user named @PaddyWarburton wrote: "Our thoughts are with Man United at this difficult time."

  @_Farid Khan predicted a heavy Liverpool win with: "Full-time: Liverpool 8-0 Man Utd."

  A Liverpool fan named @BackseatmanLFC wrote: "Salah's shirt-off celebration in freezing conditions after scoring his third today should be what we use to base his statue off."

  A user named @__lilbenny is fearing for United: "Postpone please, these are bad signs we might concede 10 goals."

  @Mark_cobbler wrote: "Well that's a shame. Would have saved us the pain if it was off."

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United are going through a rough patch having won just two out of the nine matches they played in December across all competitions. They have lost three consecutive matches in the Premier League and are currently 14th in the table. The Reds, on the other hand, have lost just one league game in 2024-25 thus far and have a five-point lead at the top with two games in hand.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL & MAN UTD?

  Liverpool follow Sunday's game with a trip to Tottenham in midweek in the Carabao Cup. After facing their rivals in extreme weather conditions, United will next face Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 12 at Emirates Stadium.

Wolverhampton Wanderers fans may rue the £54m sale of Pedro Neto to Chelsea, but a prudent approach this summer has ensured that Gary O'Neil's frontline is well-stocked.

Neto, moreover, has long been accepted to be Wolves' most saleable asset and his departure surprised no one. Adding to Max Kilman's £40m move to West Ham United earlier in the window, sales have crossed the £100m ballpark.

It's a healthy situation to be in, and while the Neto situation has been dealt with pleasingly, Kilman is yet to be replaced. If Wolves wish to impress in the Premier League, addressing that issue feels paramount.

Wolves transfer news

According to Football Insider, Wolves have set their sights on Sheffield United centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic, who was one of the Blades' standout performers in the Premier League last season.

Sure, the Blades were relegated after a dismal year, but the 25-year-old proved his top-flight quality and could be a real titan in sturdier conditions at Molineux. It is perhaps for this reason that O'Neil's are ready to 'test [their] resolve' with a bid.

With a mooted market price of £20m, this feels like an affordable deal for a talented defender, and Fosun have to get it done.

Why Wolves should sign Ahmedhodzic

The obvious point: O'Neil might find himself short-handed without an exciting Kilman replacement, with the Englishman excelling in progression, playing forward to influence Wolves' attacking fluency.

Ahmedhodzic would bring the kind of steely defensive quality needed for the season ahead. Last term, in the top flight, he flattered to deceive but it was difficult to perform to the height of his level considering the catastrophic nature of the Bramall Lane team's season.

But he still managed to showcase some of his exciting qualities. As per Sofascore, the Bosnian centre-half started 29 Premier League matches, and while he was rash at times, he averaged 2.1 tackles, 3.4 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per game while winning 56% of his 4.5 contested duels per match – respectable numbers for one mired in the mud of a relegation scrap.

Often have relegated players been picked from established outfits and added to strengthen the ranks, so Ahmedhodzic could be the perfect player to join a Wolves team with a pleasing level of togetherness under O'Neil's leadership. The United titan, to put it another way, has yet to show the full scope of his talent.

This season, for example, he has starred across Sheffield United's opening Championship fixtures, completing 93% of his passes. A strong passing game is within his capability, and the Old Gold could help him realise that.

United averaged a measly 36% of possession in the Premier League last season, ranking bottom, whereas O'Neil's Wolves had a counter-pressing way about them but still retained the ball with greater confidence, with a 49% average that placed them 11th in that ranking.

Ahmedhodzic could bring his latent ball-playing ability to the fore while fostering his defensive acumen further, and given that FBref's player comparison model has likened him to Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, it's definitely one to get over the line as soon as possible.

O'Neil's own Jarrad Branthwaite

Branthwaite was a revelation for Everton last season, bringing authority and a rock-solid defensive skillset that saw the Merseysiders shape into one of the Premier League's most formidable units.

Standing at 6 foot 5, he's a daunting opponent and has even been described as an "absolute monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his performances over the past 12 months.

A mainstay last season, he started 35 times in the league and has been the subject of transfer interest with Manchester United this summer, though Everton have rejected the advances and maintained that the 21-year-old will only be allowed to leave for a £75m figure, placing him in the same ballpark as the Premier League's most expensive defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Harry Maguire and Wesley Fofana.

Ahmedhodzic does not have that same reputation right now, having sat at the epicentre of the Premier League's worst-ever defence last season – the Blades conceded a staggering 104 goals, branding them with an unwanted record.

But he's got talent, and a statistical deep-dive into the players' respective 2023/24 campaigns highlights a number of metrics that suggest Wolves would be wise to snap the 24-year-old up.

Neither centre-back stood out in regard to the crispness of their passing last year, but then that is principally down to Everton and Sheffield United sitting at the bottom of the year's possession charts.

But Ahmedhodzic was slightly more creative and more inclined to carry the ball forward, nearly equal to the Toffees sensation in goal-scoring and actually proving to be crisper in the tackle.

It seems like Wolves are focusing on signing a goalkeeper as the first port of call at this late stage of the transfer window, with The Athletic's David Ornstein recently revealing that the Midlands side have submitted a proposal to sign England international Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal on a loan deal that would contain a clause to make the move permanent.

This would be a major step in the right direction and is clearly the issue currently being addressed, but Ramsdale will need a sturdy backline in front of him and Ahmedhodzic could complete the set.

Therefore, Wolves simply have to get the signing of the defender over the line. He's demonstrated that he has the right skillset to succeed in the Premier League and could ensure that a smooth season lies ahead for an ambitious outfit.

Wolves could land dream signing for Cunha in deal for "remarkable" PL star

O’Neil has plenty of money to play with following the sale of Pedro Neto

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 17, 2024

Harry Maguire has turned around his situation at Manchester United and has reportedly now held talks with the Red Devils over a contract extension.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Maguire opens renewal talks with Man UtdWas likely to leave the club in the summerRuben Amorim praises Maguire as 'perfect'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Maguire was very unlikely to stay at Manchester United this summer after his devastatingly poor season at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag. However, after his transfer links with the likes of West Ham amongst other clubs went nowhere, the former Red Devils captain decided to stay at the club and turn around his situation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Manchester United's abysmal start to the season which saw Ten Hag sacked and replaced, Maguire has shown quite a bit of experience and skill and has been one of the Red Devils' most consistent performers. The 31-year-old's performances have helped him hold 'positive' contract renewal talks with United.

Speaking to the media, Maguire said: “I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve still got this year to go with an option in their hands. But all the signs are positive at the moment and the chat that I’m having is really positive.”

Getty Images SportWHAT AMORIM SAID

Maguire has played a pivotal role under Amorim and after Manchester United's 2-1 win over local rivals Manchester City, the Portuguese coach couldn't help but praise the defender.

Amorim said: “[Harry] Maguire is perfect when you play with the three defenders. I think in the middle [he] is perfect. Then the way that the striker that they have [Erling Haaland] with the long balls, you need to be really strong and so was perfect for him. Not just Harry, all the guys, defend really well. They were really focused and that is the key to play better. I think he did a great job and also his team-mates did a great job.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR MAGUIRE?

While Amorim has been switching up his squad from matchday to matchday, Maguire has been one of the regular starters and will likely be a starter when Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, December 19.