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Aston Villa will partake in the group stage of the Champions League next season, which means a major step up in quality of opposition.
The moment the club secured fourth place in the Premier League back in May, Unai Emery knew that he had to bolster his squad during the transfer window, otherwise their highly anticipated European adventure could end sooner than expected.
Ian Maatsen has been added to the side, while a deal for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana looks set to be finalised in the coming days, with the Midlands side spending £50m to lure the Belgian starlet away from Goodison Park.
So far so good for the Spaniard, and that is despite losing Douglas Luiz to Juventus a few weeks ago.
With Euro 2024 coming to an end on Sunday evening, thoughts now turn to the start of the Premier League season in just a few weeks.
Emery was clearly keeping a close eye on the action in Germany, as he looks keen to bring one of the best players in the tournament to Villa this summer…
According to TEAMtalk, Villa have held talks with the representatives of Spanish gem Nico Williams in the hopes of securing his services before the transfer window slams shut next month.
Moussa Diaby looks set to be departing Villa after just a single season in England, as interest from Saudi Arabia intensifies, and Williams is seen as the ideal replacement for the Frenchman.
Monchi is currently working on the transfer behind the scenes, and he will be hoping to beat off some serious competition from both Chelsea and Barcelona, who are also keen admirers of the Athletic Bilbao winger.
While he may have a release clause that stands at €55m (£46m), the sale of Diaby could essentially fund the signing of the Spanish starlet, although Barcelona are currently the favourites to secure his signature.
While Spain were one of the favourites to claim glory in Germany at the recent European Championships, many felt the likes of France and England would prove to be too strong for Luis de la Fuente’s side.
La Roja got better and better as the tournament wore on, however, becoming the first side in European Championship history to win all seven of their matches in a single edition, with Williams being a key component.
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Nico Williams's stats for Spain at Euro 2024 |
|
|---|---|
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
4 |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
|
Key passes per game |
2.2 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
2.2 |
|
Total duels won per game |
3.3 |
|
Shots on target per game |
0.5 |
|
Via Sofascore |
|
Not only did he score twice during the tournament, but the winger also grabbed an assist, created four big chances, averaged 2.2 key passes per game and succeeded with 2.2 dribbles per match, showing how effective he was in the final third.
Out of every player in the competition, Williams ranked third for big chances created and 12th for successful dribbles per match, more evidence of his impressive showings for Spain.
If Emery pulls off his signing, it will certainly signal a major statement of intent, with the dazzling winger potentially possessing the ability to replace Jack Grealish's impact at Villa Park.
The homegrown talent emerged through the youth system before making his debut for Villa during the 2013/14 campaign. Seven years and 213 appearances later, Grealish left the club to join Manchester City for a record £100m transfer.
Dean Smith couldn’t turn down an offer of this magnitude, yet since 2021, the Villans have failed to properly replace Grealish’s talent on the left wing, going through a plethora of wingers in the process.
Mahmoud Trezeguet failed to impress during the 2020/21 season – scoring just twice – while Philippe Coutinho was signed in order to give Steven Gerrard’s side a much-needed spark, yet he scored only six times in 43 matches before departing on loan.
Morgan Rogers was signed in January after shining for Championship side Middlesbrough, scoring eight times while registering nine assists during the first half of the season.
Despite three Premier League goals in just 11 matches for Villa, it remains to be seen whether he will be the heir apparent to Grealish, but it looks as though Williams is high on Emery’s wish list in order to fill the void.
His displays at Euro 2024 shouldn’t detract from how impressive he was for his club side during the 2023/24 campaign either.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Williams ranked in the top 2% for assists (0.44), the top 7% for progressive carries (5.69) and the top 6% for successful take-ons (3.42) per 90 over the previous 365 days.
This not only shows how vital he is at creating chances for others, but also his willingness to burst into the opposition penalty area as often as possible, creating chaos among the defence. He certainly brings the same tricky qualities as a certain Grealish once did.
U23 scout Antonio Mango previously hailed the youngster for being “extremely dangerous in counter attacks” back in 2022, and he clearly used his pace and trickery to good effect for both club and country over the previous year.
While Villa have moved on from Grealish, there is no doubting what he brought to the team on the left flank.
Therefore, signing Williams could be a game-changer for Villa, especially as they gear up for a tilt at the Champions League next term.
He has yet to play in the biggest club competition on the continent, but after his imperious showings for Spain at Euro 2024, there is no doubting he is ready to finally make that mark at club level.
A fee of £46m may sound daunting on the surface, but if Emery could sell a few players in the next few weeks, it should see him raise the money in order to fend off Barcelona and Chelsea for the 22-year-old wizard.
If so, he could be the catalyst which sees Villa finish in the top four of the Premier League yet again.
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Despite winning a third consecutive Scottish Premiership title, Celtic are reportedly now set to lose one of Brendan Rodgers' future stars, with a medical already scheduled.
It's been a quiet transfer window so far at Celtic Park with Sead Haksabanovic the only departure and not a single incoming through the door as of yet.
Of course, that hasn't stopped the rumours from coming, however. The Bhoys have been linked with the likes of Adam Idah and even Euro 2024 star Giorgi Mamardashvili. The latter would be a particularly impressive arrival to replace the retired Joe Hart, whilst Idah would also be a welcome arrival on a permanent basis.
The Norwich City striker starred on loan last season, finally discovering his goalscoring touch, and even made himself a hero by netting a late winner in the Scottish Cup final against Old Firm rivals Rangers. With that said, a permanent deal this summer would make perfect sense for both parties. On the outgoings front, meanwhile, Matt O'Riley's future continues to be questioned, but it is a future star heading for a summer exit.
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According to Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph, Rocco Vata is now set to join Watford with a medical scheduled as soon as today and a four-year deal on the line, which would see Celtic receive £240,000 in training compensation.
Just 19 years old, Vata's exit will deal Celtic a frustrating blow, especially for such a low compensation price for a player who could yet reach his potential in years to come.
If Rodgers' previous praise is anything to go by, then he's certainly a fan of the young striker. The former Leicester City boss told BBC Sport: "There’s been a lot of noise around Rocco but any young player has to earn the opportunity. I’ve given many young players opportunities in my career. But I like Rocco, he has qualities. He is strong, he’s aggressive, he wants to get goals. When he came on he got his goal and he had other opportunities."
Speaking about Vata's future at the time, the Celtic boss continued: "That will be up to him. He’s a talent. It depends what the mentality is with him and his representatives. You get some young players whose representatives will tell you if they are not playing in the first team, starting, they don’t want to stay. You better go then, because you have got to earn the right."
Months later, of course, we know Vata's decision despite that praise and Celtic may now need to look elsewhere for future stars. The young Irishman featured for the first-team twice last season, scoring once to offer Glasgow a glimpse of his impressive potential. It's Watford who will now benefit from that potential, however, in what could quickly look like a solid deal this summer.
West Ham United have reportedly made contact to sign an international left-back ahead of Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
New manager Julen Lopetegui has promised to put his own stamp on things at the London Stadium, saying after being announced as David Moyes’ successor last month: “I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big Club. We will try to put our stamp on the Club.
"I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.”
In the transfer market, the Hammers officially made Luis Guilherme their first summer signing, with the Brazilian costing a total of €30m. Guilherme looks set to be the first of many through the door at the London Stadium, with the Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten also agreeing a deal to sign goalkeeper Wes Foderingham for free when his Sheffield United contract officially expires at the end of the month.
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In defence, a new centre-back and left-back also appear to be high on Lopetegui’s wishlist. Centrally, Wolves’ Max Kilman appears to be the top target, with the Hammers already having two proposals turned down and are now preparing a third offer.
Meanwhile, at left-back, contact has been made for Ryan Sessegnon, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Tottenham. Another mooted target is Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce, with the Irons holding talks with the player’s representatives and are reportedly preparing an offer.
Now, a new name has emerged when it comes to Lopetegui bringing in a left-back to provide competition for Emerson Palmieri.
According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, both West Ham and Aston Villa have carried out surveys, and by extension, made contact with Lazio over left-back Luca Pellegrini.
The Italy international isn’t with his country at Euro 2024, and at club level, he’s currently on a two-year loan at Lazio from Juventus and have an obligation to buy him in 2025.
However, it looks as if both the Irons and Villa have made their first move to cut Pellegrini’s stay with Lazio short, although the Serie A side have sent those requests back and want to keep the 25-year-old, who cost Juventus £20m from Roma back in 2019.
Pellegrini, who can play further forward as a left midfielder if needed, made 34 appearances for Lazio last season, and by the looks of things, he’ll continue to represent the Biancocelesti during the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.
That could leave West Ham focusing more on Sessegnon or Oosterwolde over the coming weeks, making the Hammers’ left-back search one to watch ahead of Lopetegui’s first season in charge.
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After a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Newcastle United could now sacrifice one of their top stars in order to bring new players through the door at St James' Park.
After struggling to settle on a nailed on back four last season, Eddie Howe appears to be in the market for players to reinforce his backline. One defender has already made the move to Tyneside with free agent Lloyd Kelly set to join the club at the start of July after leaving Bournemouth at the end of his contract.
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With one already through the door, the latest rumours out of St James' Park have linked Newcastle with a number of further defensive signings. AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori is one name linked with a move to the Magpies with the English defender potentially available for £42million this summer.
Another defender on PIF's shopping list is Juventus' Federico Gatti. The 26-year-old central defender is linked with a £25 million move away from the Turin outfit and Newcastle are reported to be ready to launch a formal bid for the player.
With fresh faces in defence clearly high on Newcastle's list of priorities, the club could now use the transfer window to sell one of their most reliable players in this area of the pitch.
As first reported by Sport Witness, the Turkish press are claiming that Trabzonspor are interested in signing Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar. The Swiss centre back has just one year left on his current deal at St James' Park meaning that he is likely to be moved on this summer.
The report goes on to state that Schar is now Trabzonspor's top target in their search for a new central defender after the 2022 Süper Lig winners failed to convince Marseille’s Samuel Gigot to join, and they have already reached out to the Magpies star.
Current Toon boss Howe spoke on Schar's unique abilities back in March, telling the press: “There won’t be many centre-halves like Fabby (Schar). He is a total one-off, he is a very good defender when he is absolutely concentrated and really well-trained.
"He is as good a defender as I’ve seen. But he would probably tell you that his biggest strengths are on the ball, and he can see things and execute things that I don’t see many other centre-halves capable of doing. That’s why he’s so important to us."
Schar made 36 league appearances for the Magpies last season, scoring four goals in the process. The 32-year-old's goal scoring prowess is well known with the player synonymous with well struck efforts that end up rippling the back of the net.
As he is currently away representing Switzerland at Euro 2024, Sport Witness states that any negotiations will not take place until the tournament has concluded.
With Newcastle eyeing up moves for a number of high profile defenders, shifting Schar's £45,000 per week wages off the books could be what allows the Magpies to go after some of their top targets.
England's abysmal defensive display against Germany on Friday highlighted a number of issues that need addressing before next summer's tournament
Until Germany came to visit on Friday, England had never conceded four goals in a single game under Sarina Wiegman. After letting in three before the break for the first time in almost 10 years, the fourth marked the worst defensive performance in the Dutchwoman's tenure – both statistically and on the eye. While the final score was eventually close at 4-3, it certainly flattered England.
In eight months' time, the Lionesses will start their European Championship title defence in Switzerland and so, in that sense, this defeat could be something of a blessing in disguise, as it could serve as a well-needed wake-up call for a team that has the ability to retain that trophy, but only with some improvements.
"None of us ever want to lose, but if we don't lose, we're never going to learn, and if we don't play top opponents like Germany, we're never going to be ready for the Euros," was the take of defender Jess Carter after the game. "I think we'd all take days like this now, rather than in however many months' time."
So, what will Wiegman, her staff and her players have taken from Friday's defeat? And, with three more friendlies in 2024 to come, how can those issues be addressed before Euro 2025 kicks off? GOAL picks out six areas that need attention…
Thomas Tuchel is set to be named as the new England manager after agreeing a deal with the FA this week.
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