Paul Scholes has raised doubts about Manchester United forwards Rasmus Hojlund & Joshua Zirkzee, while slamming the club's transfer policy.
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Man Utd endure poor start to seasonScholes raises doubts about Hojlund & ZirkzeeSays club's spending is a "mess"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils legend believes his old team have spent a "ridiculous" amount of money on signings in recent transfer windows. He also raised concerns about the goalscoring ability of Hojlund and Zirkzee and the fact that summer recruits Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs De Ligt are not always first-team regulars – with Jonny Evans preferred in defence against Aston Villa.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT PAUL SCHOLES SAID
He told SuperSport: "In forward areas especially, I just don't think the quality is there. We go back to the most successful teams, they're capable of scoring goals. What have we scored? Five goals in seven games. Now we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you're looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don't see that in the forward line at Manchester United. Look, Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don't think so. Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No.9 or a No.10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don't think so. I think they're relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well. It's a ridiculous amount of money and some of them can't get in the team! You think of Ugarte coming into the club who was supposed to change the way the midfield was… he didn't play him. De Ligt, £50m and he didn't play him. Jonny Evans has come in at 36 years old instead of him. Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club. What's he thinking today? Jonny Evans is playing, Maguire started, [Victor] Lindelof comes on before him. It's just a recruitment mess really."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
United have spent more than £600 million ($785m) on players since Ten Hag became manager in the summer of 2022 – and yet they seem to be going backwards. They have endured their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, are struggling for goals, and Ten Hag's future is under intense scrutiny again.
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Following the conclusion of the latest international break, United, who sit 14th in the table with just eight points from seven games, return to Premier League on October 19 at home to Brentford.
O Fluminense tem uma baixa confirmada para o próximo compromisso no Campeonato Brasileiro. Isso porque Lucca, que estava pendurado, recebeu o terceiro cartão amarelo na partida contra o América-MG, válida pela 15ª rodada do Brasileirão, no Independência, neste domingo.
> Veja jogadores do Fluminense que foram convocados para as Olimpíadas
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Dessa forma, o atacante não enfrenta o Internacional no próximo domingo, às 20h30, no Beira-Rio, em partida válida pela 16ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.
Vale destacar que Lucca não seria titular no jogo desta tarde. No entanto, como Gabriel Teixeira está com virose e Luiz Henrique está com dores na coxa, o camisa 7 ganhou a oportunidade no time titular.
أوضح متخصص سوق الانتقالات، فابرزيو رومانو، تطورات جديدة حول سبب تأخر تجديد عقد محمد صلاح مع ليفربول خلال الفترة الحالية من الموسم.
وسينتهي عقد قائد منتخب مصر ونادي ليفربول، محمد صلاح ، مع فريقه بنهاية الموسم الحالي، صيف 2025.
ولا تزال المفاوضات جارية بين إدارة الريدز ومحمد صلاح بشأن مستقبله مع الفريق، ولم يتوصل الطرفان حتى الآن إلى اتفاق نهائي.
ويحتل ليفربول صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 34 نقطة، بينما يتواجد الفريق أيضاً على صدارة ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا برصيد 15 نقطة.
اقرأ ايضاً.. ذا أثلتيك تفجر مفاجأة بشأن مستقبل محمد صلاح وموقف ليفربول
وقال فابريزيو رومانو لموقع “casino.org”: “مصادر ليفربول تؤكد أنهم يريدون مناقشة الأمر مرة أخرى ومحاولة إيجاد طريقة للمضي قدمًا”.
وأضاف رومانو: “في الوقت الحالي، لم يتم التوصل إلى اتفاق مالي بشأن الراتب والمكافآت وجميع تفاصيل العقد الجديد مع صلاح. لا يُنظر إلى طول العقد على أنه مشكلة أو قضية، لكن الراتب هو موضوع رئيسي حيث شهد صلاح بالفعل عرضًا كبيرًا من الدوري السعودي رفضه ليفربول في صيف 2022”.
وأكد رومانو: “الراتب لم يتحدد بعد وهذه هي المشكلة الرئيسية، وهذا هو السبب أيضًا في أننا نرى الكثير من الشائعات بما في ذلك باريس سان جيرمان”.
وأنهى رومانو قائلاً: “لا يوجد أي عرض أو حتى محادثات تجري الآن بين صلاح وباريس سان جيرمان، على عكس التقارير الأخيرة”.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Newcastle United have already begun thinking about potential incomings to strengthen Eddie Howe's side, which could now see a rising La Liga star arrive on Tyneside.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies certainly aren't messing around, with an agreement already reportedly reached to sign Lloyd Kelly upon the expiry of his current Bournemouth contract at the end of the season and the same deal reportedly being worked on for Tosin Adarabioyo. Two free agents, Kelly and Adarabioyo represent smart business by those at St James' Park looking to add depth to Howe's defensive options.
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Behind that defence, however, the Newcastle boss has seen another problem emerge. The absence of Nick Pope due to injury has left Newcastle with little choice but to turn to 35-year-old Martin Dubravka, who has struggled to match the quality of their number one, albeit whilst putting in some commendable performances.
It could be a glimpse into the future unless the Magpies act, with Pope now 32 years old, himself. And it seems to be a problem that PIF are well aware of, having sent scouts in search of a solution.
Now, according to reports in Spain, Newcastle are in pole position to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a deal worth €40m this summer. After reportedly sending scouts to watch the goalkeeper in action as he kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano last weekend, PIF reportedly picked the giant 6 foot 6 'keeper ahead of Howe's first choice for the position, which was Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle were clearly left impressed and could now push on to land their Pope successor in the coming months. Just 23 years old, those at St James' Park would be getting the ultimate solution to their fast-approaching problem, which could see them take a huge step back towards competing for a place in the Premier League's top four. As the summer window approaches, it certainly looks set to be a busy few months for the Magpies.
"Superb" Mamardashvili can replace Pope
It will be interesting to see whether Mamardashvili will step into Pope's role or be forced to watch from the bench and wait for his opportunity if he completes a move to Newcastle this summer. The latter's injury may hand Howe a simpler decision as he looks to get back up to full speed, but if that competition arrives, the former Bournemouth boss will have quite the selection headache.
Clean Sheets
13
5
Save Percentage
74.8%
73.6%
Saves Per 90
2.81
2.81
With an incredibly similar save percentage and the exact same number of saves per 90, it's no wonder Newcastle's scouting department have identified Mamardashvili as the ultimate replacement for Pope for years to come. The Valencia man wouldn't be leaving Spain without his plaudits either, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig full of praise for the shot-stopper back in January, dubbing him "superb".
As Newcastle enter pole position, the Premier League may get the chance to see the young goalkeeper take the reigns from Pope as soon as next season at St James' Park.
Glasgow Rangers could end the season with a treble, or if they stumble in the next few games, with just a single League Cup to their name.
Of course, being in a Premiership title race with just four matches remaining looked highly unlikely when Philippe Clement breezed through the Ibrox doors in October, which is surely testament to his managerial abilities.
Given how much effort the Light Blues have exerted to reel Celtic in, it looks as though their poor results over the previous few weeks could suggest they are just pipped to the post.
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Clement will be taking a long hard look at his squad and culling it as he sees fit.
This could see a large volume of transfer activity occurring when the transfer window finally opens in a few weeks, allowing him to bring his own targets to the club.
With this in mind, it appears as though the club could still be interested in a player who was linked with a move last summer…
Rangers transfer news
Under Michael Beale, signings came thick and fast last summer as he sought to beef up his first team squad ahead of the current season.
In total, nine new signings were made in a bid to build a side good enough to end Celtic’s recent dominance, but the early weeks of the season were far from impressive.
Beale had a few centre-backs in mind, yet only signed Balogun. One name that had been linked with a move to Rangers as far back as January 2023 was long-term target, Dion Sanderson.
This interest doesn’t appear to have gone away heading into the upcoming window. According to the Daily Record, Sanderson is still a player of interest to the Glasgow side as Clement aims to rebuild his team.
He was recently stripped of the captaincy and according to Football League World, City could be looking for a fee in the region of £2m – what they paid out to sign him – in order for any club to secure his services this summer.
Could he be an ideal replacement for Connor Goldson? Who is set to miss the rest of the season due to an injury sustained in training.
Connor Goldson’s statistics for Rangers this season
When speaking to the media ahead of the clash against Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon, Clement delivered an injury update, saying that "he will be out for the rest of the season", while also describing it as a "big blow".
Season
Games
Goals
2023/24
48
0
2022/23
38
3
2021/22
61
4
2020/21
56
8
2019/20
52
4
2018/19
54
4
The defender currently has two years left on his contract, but his form in recent weeks was certainly subpar to the standards that the Ibrox faithful have come to expect from the Englishman.
Against Ross County, the Gers conceded three goals and the defence was at fault, while the former Brighton defender has been suspect to plenty of long balls over the top this term, especially against Aberdeen.
Until his injury, the 31-year-old had played 48 times for the Light Blues this season, adding the League Cup to his list of domestic honours.
Among his teammates, Goldson currently ranks third for accurate passes per game (60.1) along with ranking second for accurate long balls per game (5.6), yet with the title on the line, his performances in recent weeks saw him dropped from the starting XI for the Scottish Cup semifinal against Hearts.
If Clement receives an offer for Goldson – who has been linked with a reunion with Steven Gerrard – this summer that is too good to turn down, will he take it? Especially as it looks as though he is starting to deteriorate as a player.
Why Dion Sanderson could be a dream Goldson replacement
The 24-year-old started off his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers but made just one senior appearance for the Old Gold during his spell there.
He spent several seasons out on loan, which included two temporary spells at Birmingham, before sealing a permanent move there last summer in order to establish himself in the Championship.
Birmingham centre-back Dion Sanderson.
Last season, Sanderson played 31 games in the second tier, showcasing his defensive abilities for the club. Not only did he win four total duels per game – a success rate of 54% – but he also helped his side keep eight clean sheets while making 1.6 tackles per game.
This season, the defender has played 36 games while losing possession just 6.2 times on average, while helping the club keep nine clean sheets, once again demonstrating how important he is to them.
Hailed as a “Rolls Royce” by his former manager at Sunderland, Lee Johnson, the 6 foot 2 titan has plenty of experience down south and could be a solid option for Clement to call upon next term.
Goldson has made over 300 competitive appearances for the Light Blues since joining back in 2018, becoming one of Gerrard’s first-ever signings.
He has won everything there is on offer during his time in Scotland, along with helping the Gers reach the 2022 Europa League final, their first major European final in 14 years.
If Clement wishes to take his side to the next level, however, perhaps stripping it down and selling off some of the parts is the only way to go, especially with his form dropping this season.
It looks as though the Belgian may have to offload a few bodies this summer before he can think about making moves to make any new signings, but a deal for Sanderson should certainly be considered, especially if the transfer fee was right.
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Strength in depth in this area will be paramount heading into the 2024/25 campaign and the Englishman – who has been lauded as "really strong and powerful" by writer James Hunter – could be an ideal addition to the first-team squad.
If Goldson does leave, then it will be with the best wishes of every single Rangers supporter, without a shadow of a doubt.
In the middle of one of the most dramatic Championship title races of all time, Southampton could yet complete a dramatic turnaround to secure the automatic promotion needed to potentially secure a solid piece of business in the summer transfer window.
Southampton transfer news
The Saints looked down and out, left settling for a place in the play-offs, but whilst Leeds United, Leicester City and Ipswich Town were all left falling over each other in the climb to the top, Russell Martin's side were resurrecting their season. Now, with four games to go for those at St Mary's, Southampton sit fourth and five points adrift of leaders Ipswich with a game in hand. The fact is, anything is still possible in England's second tier this season.
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Avoiding the drama of the play-offs is arguably more important than ever, such is the strength of those in the top six. The last thing that Martin will want to suffer is Wembley heartbreak should it get to that stage. Not only would it be a monumental fightback if Southampton secured automatic promotion, however, it could also hand the Saints a major boost in the summer transfer window.
According to Claret and Hugh, Southampton could sign Flynn Downes from West Ham once again this summer, be it a permanent deal or another loan move, but promotion will be the key behind the opening of any negotiations, with a return to the London Stadium unlikely. Downes has enjoyed a successful spell on loan at St Mary's and Premier League football would go a long way in convincing the West Ham man to make the jump once more, describing it as a boost for those on the south coast.
Flynn Downes for Southampton.
In some ways, Downes is in control of his own fate then. If he's at his best, then Southampton's promotion hopes will undoubtedly be boosted and so will his chances of completing a second move to the south coast next season.
"Important" Downes is ready for Premier League chance
After failing to find his place in David Moyes' West Ham side, Downes has shown that he is more than capable of stepping into the top flight with what is likely to be with Southampton if they secure promotion this season.
It's a move that Martin could be a huge fan of should Southampton commence negotiations this summer, given that he has been so full of praise for Downes this season. The Southampton boss has previously said: “He is a big player for us; he is important. His aggression, his athleticism, his power, his composure, his courage to receive the ball but we have a lot really really good players. So if he is fit great or he is ready to start brilliant. If he is ready to be on the bench brilliant, if he is not, then we just have to wait for another game.”
It's set to be a make-or-break few weeks for everyone involved at St Mary's, whether that be in the play-offs or in the race to complete their promotion race and secure a spot in the Championship's top two. Either way, Downes is likely to more than play his part and could remain a Saints player if everything goes to plan.
Crystal Palace are now thought to be in "advanced" talks with a player over joining them this summer, as the Eagles seek to back new manager Oliver Glasner.
Glasner set for Palace backing this summer
The Austrian took over from Roy Hodgson last month, and his arrival brought plenty of anticipation with it.
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Glasner, a Europa League winner during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, possesses experience coaching at a very elite level. The tactician has been tipped to bring a sense of physicality and intensity to Selhurst Park, but that won't come overnight, as explained by journalist Dean Jones to GiveMeSport recently.
Palace will spend in an effort to back Glasner this summer, as club chiefs aim to build a winning project around their head coach.
"I think Glasner will assert himself by bringing a sense of physicality to Crystal Palace and also probably more of a modern approach to their attacking set-up than they perhaps had recently," said Jones.
Crystal Palace's next league fixtures
Date
Nottingham Forest (away)
March 30th
Bournemouth (away)
April 2nd
Man City (home)
April 6th
Liverpool (away)
April 14th
West Ham (home)
April 20th
"That won't come overnight. This squad isn't really capable of changing too much in the short term, but it'll get funded in the summer. Judging by what he's done so far in Germany, and judging by what he's capable of from a coaching perspective from people I've spoken to over there, they seem to think that actually, this is a really good appointment for Crystal Palace. After all of the protests from fans and accusations of them lacking ambition, this could actually prove to be a good appointment."
Reports suggest that Glasner is keen to sign a new defender for Palace this summer as one specific goal, and they appear to be making real headway with that, according to West Ham insider ExWHUemployee.
Crystal Palace in advanced talks to sign Ben Johnson
Hammers defender Ben Johnson is out of contract as things stand, with Ex claiming that Palace are leading the way.
Ben Johnson in action for West Ham.
It is also believed that Palace are in "advanced" talks over signing Johnson and bringing him on a Bosman deal – which is seen as a real shame for West Ham.
“Talks with Johnson have proven unsuccessful,” stated Ex on The West Ham Way Podcast.
“He’s been linked now with an exit and Crystal Palace are leading the way. Ledley King though, who is a relative of Johnson’s, is trying to engineer a move to Spurs.
“At this stage though it appears an agreement between the player and the south London club is at quite an advanced stage, which could sadly see Johnson head south of the river this summer, after 17 years at West Ham.”
Called a "wonderful" professional by former West Ham coach and England legend Stuart Pearce, the 24-year-old has many years ahead of a potentially promising career, so he could be ideal for Glasner.
Much of the credit for Arsenal's return to Europe's top table deserves to go to their recruitment, having rebuilt in North London to form a team that could end the season as Premier League champions. But that's not where their work will stop. Reports now suggest that the Gunners have turned their attention towards a future star.
Arsenal transfer news
Ahead of the summer window, most of the headlines have been centred around Ivan Toney and Arsenal's search for a striker with the killer instinct that Gabriel Jesus arguably lacks. Back from suspension, the rumours will undoubtedly continue to circle regarding a potential move for the Brentford forward. That said, he's not the only option for those at The Emirates.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney
According to recent reports, Arsenal are also eyeing moves to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and Viktor Gyokeres, who has starred at Sporting CP this season. Even if they are crowned Premier League champions ahead of the summer, rumours suggest that the North London giants will only get even better before the start of the next campaign.
Away from Europe's current stars, meanwhile, Mikel Arteta and co have seemingly set their sights on a future star. According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are eyeing a move for Douglas Mendes, who is currently at RB Bragantino on loan from Red Bull Salzburg.
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The teenage centre-back reportedly has a fan in Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar, as the Gunners eye a move in the coming months. The deal itself certainly has its complications, however, with potential work permit issues standing in the way of the 19-year-old joining up with the Arsenal squad right away. Instead, Mendes would likely have to gain more first-team action in Europe before he can get a work permit to play for the Premier League giants.
In a move that would see Arsenal add to their Brazilian contingent, Arteta could be getting a future star.
Mendes is one for the future
It's not often that Red Bull Salzburg get things wrong in the transfer market, with a certain Erling Haaland a prime example of that, and that's a positive sign for Arsenal when it comes to Mendes. That said, it will be interesting to see whether the central defender has done enough to earn his place when he returns to the Austrian club from his loan spell back in Brazil this summer.
If that doesn't prove to be the case, then logic suggests that Arsenal will be set for far simpler negotiations. The move would make sense for Mendes too, who could learn from Gabriel Magalhaes – one of the best defenders in the world these days. At 19, there's no better time for Gabriel to tutor the young defender.
He could slot straight into the dressing room as well, given that Arsenal already have Jesus and Gabriel to turn to when it comes to Brazilian players. So, as the summer approaches and the headlines focus on Toney and others, it could be Mendes who steals the attention away from Arsenal's search for a forward in a deal with the future in mind.
West Ham United ended a period of struggle emphatically last weekend after Jarrod Bowen's hat-trick inspired a rousing 4-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
David Moyes has been under heavy pressure of late, with his Hammers side slumping in form and failing to secure victory in any competition in 2024 before the win over Thomas Frank's side, falling in the FA Cup against Championship team Bristol City back in January.
West Ham manager David Moyes.
There have been calls for the Scotsman to close the door on his illustrious reign in east London and the West Ham hierarchy were even said to have halted contractual negotiations after an abject afternoon against Arsenal, who romped to a 6-0 victory at the London Stadium in the Premier League.
As things stand, Moyes will leave the club when his deal expires in the summer but there is every chance that the stability and consistency that he brings will convince owner David Sullivan to present him with fresh terms, despite segments of the fanbase expressing discontent with his perceived pragmatic style.
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But is this really prudent? Moyes might not provide the most free-flowing brand of football but he succeeds at the highest level, his tactical set-up mostly effective.
Moreover, he has created a truly sensational squad of players, with the aforementioned Bowen arriving not long after the 60-year-old's reappointment back in December 2019 and perhaps proving to be the most influential star since.
Jarrod Bowen's West Ham career in numbers
West Ham completed the £20m plus add-ons acquisition of Bowen back on January deadline day in 2020, with the winger impressing with Hull City in the Championship and looking every bit the successful forward in the top flight.
He started his new life in London with promise as Moyes looked to root his reign with a successful swerve of relegation, Bowen aiding his side in that feat with one goal and four assists across 13 Premier League outings.
He's somewhat flipped the switch at present, now regarded for his finishing ability and menacing presence in the final third, with his three-goal haul against Brentford taking him up to 14 strikes in the league this season, behind only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
Premier League 23/24: Top Scorers
#
Player
Stat
1.
Erling Haaland
17
2.
Mohamed Salah
15
3.
Jarrod Bowen
14
3.
Dominic Solanke
14
3.
Ollie Watkins
14
Source: Premier League
Noted for his "electric" ability in front of goal by journalist Rahman Osman, the England international is one of English football's standout forwards, having also scored the winning goal against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final last June to crown the Moyes era in gold.
Of course, while the 27-year-old's dart and drive into the danger area, preceding a sumptuous placed finish, was crucial to the club's lifting of the trophy – conclusive, in fact – he wasn't the only player to have crafted silver-laden success.
Jarrod Bowen with the Europa Conference League trophy.
It was Lucas Paqueta's delightful threaded ball to send Bowen wheeling toward goal, with the Brazilian playmaker possibly even a cut above the Hammers' prolific talisman.
Lucas Paqueta's value has soared at West Ham
This season, West Ham had been in fine fettle before a slump in form throughout January and February, and Paqueta has been one of the linchpins, posting five goals and six assists across 28 matches in all competitions.
The player made the move to London back in 2022, joining in a club-record £51m deal that confirmed to the division that West Ham were indeed striving for the top, not resting on their laurels after making progress and reaching the continent under Moyes' stewardship.
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta
And while he only scored five goals and supplied seven assists over 43 outings last term, his influence and intellect in his movement and guiding of the play transcended the expectations set by the blinkered view of a player's worth assessed only through their direct output.
That through ball to send Bowen through on goal was representative of his ball-playing quality, probably the most elegant and effective of any player in the squad, with former teammate Declan Rice awestruck by Paqueta's “mind-boggling” attributes.
As per FBref, Paqueta also ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 1% for tackles, the top 16% for interceptions, the top 13% for clearances and the top 75 for aerial duels won per 90.
While some might question whether the £150k-per-week phenomenon's metrics have been distorted by his fluctuation between an attacking midfield role and the very centre of the pitch, he has in fact only played in central midfield on three occasions across all competitions this term, thus strengthening the argument that, yes, he is indeed one of Europe's elite distributors.
Lucas Paqueta for West Ham.
His all-action prowess had even attracted the attention of Manchester City last summer, with Pep Guardiola's side launching a series of bids to secure his signature, even offering £80m to convince West Ham to part ways, though the likely-accepted approach never saw the next phase, that eventuality slammed shut after the emergence of an FA betting investigation into possible breaches from the player.
Still, the saga underpins Paqueta's value and quality that has left the best team in world football scrambling to augment their ranks with his talent.
Bowen might be the man of the moment right now but Brentford's drubbing was also Paqueta's first match back from injury that – surprise, surprise – coincided with an alarming drop in form. He's first-class. He's the cream of the crop.
Aston Villa’s season has been absolutely immense, with the side confident of securing Champions League football and the UEFA Conference League trophy.
Unai Emery has been the main influence in helping the Villans rise up the table to fourth, but it's not just the team as a whole that he’s having a positive impact on.
Moussa Diaby
The likes of Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz, and even Ollie Watkins have all progressed massively over the past two seasons, but there is one player that has stood out in particular.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the star whose value has soared since the arrival of the Spaniard.
Jacob Ramsey’s early Villa career
Boyhood Villa gem Jacob Ramsey has been at the club since U9’s level, progressing through the ranks to become a key player.
The 22-year-old made his debut in 2019 against West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, when he replaced Conor Hourihane as a half-time substitute.
Jacob Ramsey for Aston Villa
The England star had a very short loan spell at Doncaster Rovers before returning to Villa after just seven games, where he scored three goals.
In the 2020/21 season, Ramsey enjoyed his breakthrough campaign, featuring 22 times with an average of 28 minutes per game. Under Steven Gerrard in the following season, he scored six goals and developed into a constant figure in the starting XI.
Jacob Ramsey under Emery
Since Emery has been at the helm, Ramsey has developed into one of the most exciting midfielders in the Premier League, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelling him “amazing.”
It was last season when the number 41 really took off, and he was an instant hit under the current boss, as in his first game in charge, Ramsey scored and assisted in a 3-1 home win over Manchester United.
Jacob Ramsey
Over the campaign, the 5 foot 11 gem played 35 Premier League matches, scoring six goals while also providing seven assists, which is his best record to date.
In the summer, he was thriving in the England U21 team that eventually went on to win the European Championship before picking up an injury against Portugal in the quarterfinal, and the start of this season has been hampered by an injury that saw him miss eight games.
Villa's Squad Value Ranking
Player
Estimated Value
Diaby, Luiz
£68m
Watkins, Torres
£51m
Ramsey
£43m
Bailey, McGinn
£34m
Kamara, Konsa, Tielemans, Cash
£26m
Via CIES Football Observatory
As you can see from the table above, Ramsey is one of the most valuable assets in the Villa squad at £43m and the highest-valued player to have come from the academy. This is a £19m rise since Emery joined the club, which just further highlights the impact he's had on Ramsey's progress.
The tables notably indicates that the Englishman is also worth more than both Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans, two players who also cost the club nothing after joining on free transfers in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
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With Kamara, who is now sidelined with injury, having particularly shone of late – notably being hailed as an "incredible player" by Luiz – it is a testament to Ramsey's rise that he is still seemingly worth more than the French maestro.
It’s clear that Villa truly hit the jackpot with Ramsey, and he is arguably the best product of the academy since Jack Grealish. In truth, they’ll be lucky to keep hold of the maestro over the next few years, but if they do sell him, then the Villans will be in for a huge payday.