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Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Bosnian side Zrinjski on Thursday evening in their final Europa Conference League group stage match allowed them to secure top spot in the group.

The result ensured they would miss the knockout round playoffs which take place in February and progress straight to the round of 16, thus enjoying an extended break from European football.

This will give Unai Emery the chance to devote his energy to maintaining the wonderful Premier League form that they have displayed over the previous few months.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star

It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024

With ties coming up against Brentford, Sheffield United, Manchester United and Burnley before 2024, the Spaniard will surely be aiming for 12 points from 12 and this could transform the Midlands side from top four hopefuls to title challengers.

With the tie against the Bees coming just three days after another energy-sapping continental match, Emery could well rotate his squad and we at Football FanCast predict what his starting XI will be…

1 GK – Emiliano Martínez

The Argentinian was given a rest against the Bosnian outfit on Thursday as youngster Filip Marschall was making his first start of the campaign.

Martinez has missed the previous two European ties, but against Manchester City and Arsenal in his last two league outings, he has kept two clean sheets and another one against the Bees on Sunday would go a long way to securing another important three points.

2 RB – Matty Cash

Matty Cash was solid against Zrinkjski in midweek, but he was withdrawn after 69 minutes and replaced by Calum Chambers and this was perhaps in order to manage his game.

He should be unleashed against Brentford and in the top flight this term, the right-back has registered two goals and an assist, showcasing his attacking skills in the process.

3 CB – Pau Torres

Prior to their final group stage tie, Torres had played just one minute of Conference League football, and it looked as though Clement Lenglet would once again come into the starting XI.

The 26-year-old was given his first start of the group stage, however, and he recorded a pass success rate of 91% while winning 100% of his aerial duels.

He will retain his place against Brentford and the former La Liga star is becoming one of the finest players at the club.

4 CB – Diego Carlos

Ezri Konsa was given the nod in midweek, but the Brazilian will likely return to the starting XI for the away tie on the weekend.

Carlos has started the previous four Premier League matches for Villa and the club have conceded just three goals in that time.

Alongside Torres, the former Sevilla defender can keep Brentford at bay this weekend and help the club secure another league win.

5 LB – Alex Moreno

With Lucas Digne suspended for the clash against Brentford, it looked as though Alex Moreno would be rested in midweek in preparation for the tie this weekend, but Emery unleashed him from the start on Thursday evening.

He netted the winner in the previous European clash but didn’t have quite the same impact against Zrinjski, and he will need to improve against Thomas Frank’s men on Sunday afternoon.

6 RM – Moussa Diaby

The French winger made his first start since the previous European clash against Legia Warsaw in November and was deployed out on the right wing.

He succeeded with 50% of his attempted dribbles and had a 97% pass success during his spell on the pitch, and although he didn’t score or grab an assist, his performance indicates that he deserves a first league start since the match against Tottenham Hotspur.

7 CM – John McGinn

The Scot has often found himself performing on the left of the midfield this season, but with Douglas Luiz suspended this weekend, Emery may well move him back into a more central role.

McGinn has started all but two of Villa’s 25 games so far during 2023/24 and has established himself as an integral part of Emery’s side.

He assisted Nicolo Zaniolo’s goal against the Bosnian side on Thursday evening, and he could cause plenty of damage from a central role against the Bees.

8 CM – Boubacar Kamara

Another player who was given a rest for the continental clash and this ensures he will be raring to come tomorrow afternoon.

Kamara has firmly established himself as one of Emery’s standout performers and the only match he has missed in the top flight this season was against Bournemouth and that was due to a suspension.

The 24-year-old will slot in alongside McGinn for the trip to London, and he will be hoping for another excellent showing.

9 LM – Nicolo Zaniolo

The Italian has endured a tough start to life in the Midlands as he failed to score and grab an assist during his first 17 matches for the club.

That run came to an end against Zrinjski as he slotted home the opener and while the match finished 1-1, the goal will surely have given him plenty of confidence to chip in with a few more goal contributions between now and the end of the year.

10 AM – Youri Tielemans

While the Belgian is typically a central midfielder, Emery has utilised his skills slightly further forward during the wins over City and Gunners and this is a tactic he will be keen on using again tomorrow.

He even grabbed an assist against the current Premier League champions and Emery will be hoping he can replicate that performance when they face Brentford on Sunday.

Sunderland will be eager to win away at Plymouth Argyle this Saturday in Championship action, a potentially pivotal three points for the Black Cats could be secured at the expense of Carlos Corberan's West Bromwich Albion if the Baggies slip up versus Ipswich Town in the evening.

West Brom are directly below Tony Mowbray's playoff chasers at the moment in seventh spot, only behind Sunderland on goal difference at this moment in time with the Black Cats' potency in front of goal giving them a slight edge in this early season butting of heads for the final playoff position.

6th – Sunderland: 26 points, GD: +10

7th – West Brom: 26 points, GD +9

8th – Hull City: 26 points, GD +3

Plymouth are an opponent Sunderland cannot take lightly this weekend, however, especially with the Pilgrims hosting the contest at Home Park – Steven Schumacher's men picking up four wins from eight home games in the Championship so far after lifting the League One title at the end of last campaign.

A selection conundrum that Mowbray will contend with prior to this game in Devon will be who starts in the centre-back positions, with young defender Jenson Seelt underwhelming in the 3-1 home win over Birmingham City despite the positive result.

Jenson Seelt's numbers vs Birmingham

The 20-year-old, who was a summer buy from PSV Eindhoven to add some more bodies defensively, has shown signs of nerves when fielded by Mowbray in the starting line-up this season.

This was particularly evident against Birmingham, but his poor showing didn't derail his side at all to the relief of the die-hard Stadium of Light faithful watching on.

Seelt was weak when it came to asserting himself up against the Blues attackers, only winning half of his overall duels, as per Sofascore.

Whereas, his defensive colleague Trai Hume won six of his nine ground duels on the day to make up for Seelt's below-par display.

It led to Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson giving Seelt a 5/10 rating in an article after the game, saying the pace of the game was 'too much' for the 20-year-old to cope with.

Bellingham rested in Sunderland's predicted lineup vs Plymouth

Jobe Bellingham could be rested for Sunderland’s next Championship match away in Devon against Plymouth Argyle.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 23, 2023

The former PSV youngster could well be dropped from Mowbray's first team for the trip down to Devon as a result, especially with the news that senior centre-back option Luke O'Nien will be back and ready for action after serving a suspension.

Luke O'Nien as Seelt's replacement

Predominantly playing as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder throughout his career, O'Nien has excelled under Mowbray this campaign featuring even further back in the heart of defence.

O'Nien's own hot-headedness can be his undoing – picking up his fifth yellow card of the season already against Swansea meant he was unavailable for the Birmingham win – but the commitment and determination shown by Sunderland's number 13 on a regular basis when picked is a trait the Black Cats masses can't help but love.

Winning four out of his five aerial duels in that Swansea 0-0 draw, O'Nien's ability on the ball – which has seen him play centrally under Mowbray – also shone even from the back.

Sunderland's captain was accurate with both of his crosses into the Swans area on the day, attempting to unlock a dogged defence all afternoon, even whilst carrying out his standard defensive duties.

For a tough test away at the Pilgrims, Mowbray could well opt to start the former Wycombe Wanderers man over his promising Dutch defender to give Seelt a breather and to ensure Sunderland are rock solid up against Schumacher's Argyle.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in a proven Championship goalscorer who is also wanted by a Premier League club.

Leeds transfer news – Ben Brereton Diaz

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the Whites have Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz on their "radar" and they could explore a deal for the Villarreal forward in the future.

The reporter claims that it is a move that they could look to complete if they are promoted to the top flight at the end of the current campaign.

He also adds that Sheffield United are attempting to snap him up on loan for the rest of this season, but they are not in talks to add an option-to-buy in the summer.

If Daniel Farke and Leeds could convince him to make the drop back down to the Championship this month then they could land an exciting partner for Crysencio Summerville in the final third. If not, the prospect of a summer arrival is still tantalising.

Summerville's season in numbers

The 22-year-old winger has been in phenomenal form in the second tier this season and has proven himself to be a constant threat out wide.

He has produced 12 goals, six assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 23 league appearances for the Whites, which includes six goals in his last ten matches.

Non-penalty goals (0.55)

Top 2%

Expected Assisted Goals (0.36)

Top 3%

Shot-creating actions (6.86)

Top 1%

Progressive carries (5.52)

Top 9%

Assists (0.30)

Top 8%

The Dutch attacker has made 3.0 key passes per game for Leeds and none of his teammates have managed more than 2.1 per match, which shows that Summerville has been an outstanding creative force down the left flank.

Farke could now secure an exciting forward for him to combine with by signing Brereton Diaz ahead of Sheffield United, or in the summer, as he is a proven Championship scorer.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Brereton Diaz

The Chile international has zero goals and zero assists in 14 LaLiga matches for Villarreal this season but that return does not fairly reflect his quality in the final third.

Last term, Brereton Diaz produced 14 goals, four assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 43 Championship games for Blackburn, and only missed eight 'big chances' in front of goal.

That came after the 24-year-old whiz plundered an eye-catching 22 goals and three assists in 37 league matches for Rovers during the 2021/22 campaign.

The £33k-per-week ace, who played centrally and out wide at times, ranked within the top 1% of Championship wingers and attacking midfielders, and the top 11% of forwards, for non-penalty goals (0.53) per 90 that term.

These statistics show that the "extraordinary" – as he was once described by ex-boss Tony Mowbray – dynamo is a sublime attacker in the second tier of English football.

He has the quality to be an outstanding scorer at the level Leeds are currently playing at and the talented gem would be playing alongside a fantastic creative talent in Summerville, who could provide him with a constant stream of chances.

Therefore, Brereton Diaz and the flying Dutchman could form an exciting partnership for Farke at the top end of the pitch if the club can secure a deal for the Villarreal flop.

Former Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta went through the highs and the lows in the transfer market throughout his six seasons at Elland Road.

The Spanish chief, who moved to Sevilla earlier this year after being relieved of his duties in Yorkshire, unearthed some gems and signed some duds during his spell with the Whites.

One of his transfer success stories, that some supporters may not even be aware of, was the sale of academy graduate Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who has struggled since his exit from the club.

How much did Leeds sell Peacock-Farrell for?

TEAMtalk reported that Burnley agreed a £3.5m deal to sign the Northern Ireland international from Leeds during the summer transfer window in 2019.

His move to the Premier League side came after a disappointing 2018/19 campaign, in which he lost his place in the starting XI to Spanish shot-stopper Kiko Casilla.

The young titan started 28 Championship games for Marcelo Bielsa and only saved 65% of the efforts on his goal, to go along with two errors that directly led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition, as per Sofascore.

That came after he had made 11 league appearances for the Whites during the previous season and saved 67% of the shots against him, along with one error that directly led to a goal.

In total, the young prospect featured in 41 first-team matches for the club and conceded 53 goals as he failed to nail down the number one position on a regular basis.

What happened to Peacock-Farrell?

Despite being signed for £3.5m, Peacock-Farrell has only played 24 games for Burnley over the last four seasons as he has been unable to emerge as the club's first-choice option between the sticks.

Appearances

121

Goals conceded

144

Clean sheets

43

The English-born giant only made four Premier League appearances over his first two years at Turf Moor and conceded a staggering 14 goals in those matches.

That led to a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday for the 2021/22 campaign and the shot-stopper enjoyed a respectable campaign, with 15 clean sheets in 43 League One outings.

However, that was not enough to convince Vincent Kompany or Burnley that he was ready to be their number one and Peacock-Farrell made just eight league appearances for the Clarets last season.

His side were promoted to the Premier League and decided that the former Leeds man would not be needed. This led to a loan move to Aarhus GF in Denmark, where the 26-year-old stopper has struggled of late.

Peacock-Farrell, who was recently described as "shaky" by journalist Josh Bunting, had a nightmare last month as he gave away a penalty and was sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Brondby, which earned him a Sofascore rating of 4.3/10.

The ex-Whites colossus returned from suspension for AGF's clash with Kobenhavn last weekend but was an unused substitute for their 1-1 draw.

Therefore, Orta played a blinder with his sale of the £3.5m liability, who is currently valued at €1m (£860k) by Transfermarkt, as his performances have been poor since moving on from Elland Road and his market value has dipped significantly below the fee that the club received for his services.

What on earth is going on with Manchester City? They are on an incredibly poor run of form, having won just one win in 11 games. Their only win in that time has come against Nottingham Forest, a 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium. Aside from that, things have been bleak for the eight-time Premier League champions.

Their most recent defeat came at the hands of their biggest rivals, Manchester United. Ruben Amorim’s men came from 1-0 down to win 2-1, spearheaded by Amad Diallo who won the penalty for the first goal and scored the winner.

There were poor performances littered throughout the City side in the Manchester Derby, with decisions needing to be made for the trip to face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Man City’s worst performers vs. Man United

No doubt one of City’s worst performers against the Red Devils was Matheus Nunes. The Portugal international must be cut some slack for the fact he played out of position at left-back, although he did not appear comfortable in that role at times.

United exploited that, constantly looking to play down their right-hand side with Amad. After knocking on the door for the whole game, the Ivorian eventually wore the defender down, and Nunes gave away the penalty and couldn’t reach the ball to clear it off the line for the winner.

His limp performance led the Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski to give him a 4/10 rating for his performance. He explained Nunes ‘lost his head’ to allow United back into the game.

Kevin De Bruyne was another player who struggled at the Etihad Stadium. The Belgian legend has not been at his best for the last 18 months, and that was summed up against United, as he struggled to make any impact on the game.

City’s number 17 had poor stats from the game according to Sofascore. Incredibly, he failed to create a chance despite being on the pitch for 68 minutes and having 45 touches. The attacking midfielder lost possession 13 times and failed to complete one cross.

Stat

Player

Number

Successful dribbles

Amad

5

Defensive actions

Harry Maguire

12

Passes completed

Lisandro Martinez

60/61

Pass accuracy

Lisandro Martinez

98%

Chances created

Bruno Fernandes

3

Duels won

Bernardo Silva, Noussair Mazaroui

9

As bad as Nunes and De Bruyne were against United, there was someone who was arguably worse and now could be axed from the team to face Villa. That man is Kyle Walker.

Why Walker could be dropped vs Aston Villa

It has been a really poor season so far this term for the experienced defender. He has been incredibly frail defensively, as the numbers on FBref show.

The Englishman has made 0.71 blocks and one clearance per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the bottom 7% and 3% of defenders in Europe’s big five leagues, respectively.

Against United, the City number two was poor and received a 5/10 for his efforts from Bajkowski. He pointed out one moment that put the limelight on Walker for the wrong reason after he went down following a clash of heads with Rasmus Hojlund, if you can even call it that.

Roy Keane dubbed him “embarrassing” for his actions, as the £175k-per-week veteran seemingly tried to get the United number nine sent off.

It was certainly a moment to forget for Walker, who didn’t exactly cover himself in glory outside of that moment. He lost the ball a whopping 20 times and won just two out of four attempted ground duels. It was a shoddy performance from the Englishman.

Walker’s efforts against City’s cross-city rivals could certainly leave Pep Guardiola with some selection decisions before the clash against the Villans. He hasn’t exactly been a mainstay in the Cityzens lineup this season, missing nine games across all competitions since the first day of the league campaign.

There are options at Guardiola’s disposal should he wish to drop the right-back. John Stones is finally coming back to full fitness and was on the bench against United, and Rico Lewis will return from suspension after his red card away to Crystal Palace.

Academy defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is another option for the Spaniard if he wishes to drop Walker.

Chalkboard

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

After his antics with Hojlund and the fact both he and his team are in such horrendous form, it would not be hard to blame Guardiola if he drops Walker. Either way, the trip to Villa Park is a huge game for City and not a game they can afford to lose again.

Man City must regret selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

Man City made mistake selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

ByConnor Holden Dec 18, 2024

With Callum Wilson’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, Newcastle United have reportedly stepped up their interest in signing a replacement for the former Bournemouth forward.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have already been linked with a number of reinforcements as they look to reach the Premier League’s top four once again and make up for last summer’s recruitment disaster. Sporting director Paul Mitchell has already got his targets lined up, if recent reports are anything to go by, with Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo among those mentioned.

Following a difficult start to the campaign, Eddie Howe’s side have found their feet at the same time that Alexander Isak has returned to goalscoring form. Having eased past Nottingham Forest 3-1 last time out, those at St James’ Park will be desperate to pick up where they left off after the international break.

Meanwhile, as the international fixtures drag on, even more transfer rumours have arrived once again linking the Magpies with an attacking reinforcement and perhaps one who will replace Wilson.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Newcastle have stepped up their interest in signing Igor Jesus, who has also attracted the interest of Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

Gyokeres & £113m “monster” included: 5 options to replace Isak at Newcastle

Alexander Isak could be on the move, and Newcastle will need to sign a top-class replacement.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 15, 2024

Still just 23 years old, Jesus has been in fine form for Botafogo in the current campaign in Brazil and for Shabab Al-Ahli in the UAE before that, scoring 25 goals and assisting another seven in 49 appearances in all competitions. A younger, more injury-free option than Wilson, Newcastle would be landing an instant upgrade and a forward who would push Isak all the way.

After last summer, Mitchell would be sending quite the statement if he managed to win the race for the forward’s signature in 2025 amid several interested clubs.

"Exciting" Jesus would be an upgrade on Wilson

Whilst his injury history proves that Newcastle haven’t benefitted as much as they’d have liked since Wilson’s arrival, he is still a player who will need replacing. And that’s where Jesus should come in. A hot prospect and an in-demand forward, Newcastle may have to act quickly to secure the forward’s signature next year.

Of course, if those at St James’ Park fail to replace Wilson then their striker options will be few and far between. Without both Isak and Wilson earlier in the campaign, Newcastle turned towards Anthony Gordon to lead the line in a reality that they’ll want to avoid becoming permanent.

Jesus’ arrival would quickly ease those concerns and offer the Magpies an instant upgrade. The Brazilian has been the subject of praise more than once recently, with South American football expert Nathan Joyes describing Jesus as “exciting” earlier this year.

When next summer arrives, the 23-year-old will undoubtedly be one to keep an eye on.

Tottenham Hotspur have a “brilliant” academy talent who is going “under the radar” right now, with his performances away from the Spurs first team now attracting praise.

Tottenham draw with Roma as Postecoglou prepares Fulham

Spurs were held by Serie A strugglers Roma in the Europa League on Thursday evening, bringing them right back down to earth after their imperious 4-0 win over Man City last weekend.

Tottenham could sign £200k-per-week forward in major U-turn after Ange call

Spurs appear to have had a change of heart.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Nov 27, 2024

The Lilywhites were holding a 2-1 lead for the vast majority of the 90 minutes – courtesy of first-half strikes from Son Heung-min (penalty) and Brennan Johnson – but Spurs couldn’t press home their advantage in the second half.

Tottenham vs Fulham

December 1

Bournemouth vs Tottenham

December 5

Tottenham vs Chelsea

December 8

Southampton vs Tottenham

December 15

Tottenham vs Liverpool

December 22

Veteran defender Mats Hummels made Ange Postecoglou pay for Tottenham’s wasteful finishing in the final third, notching Roma’s equaliser in added time and robbing the home side of all three points.

“Yeah frustration with the way the game ended,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Roma.

“Yeah we should have killed it off a lot earlier. We should have killed it off in the first half with the chances we had. At 2-1 you’re always keeping the opposition in the game and they’re throwing men forward, so disappointing we weren’t able to see the game out. Ultimately we’re still in a decent position.

“It is what it is. We’ve been in this situation for quite a while. We are fairly thin in terms of squad depth at the moment. We had four kids on the bench tonight so we couldn’t even fill the quota. It is what it is, we’ve been dealing with this for quite a while and I still think we certainly had enough of the game and enough clear cut chances to win the game.”

Mikey Moore has been praised for his Europa League performances at Spurs this season, with striker Will Lankshear also getting an opportunity as these youngsters take advantage of Postecoglou’s thin squad.

Pundit hails Tottenham youngster George Abbott going "under the radar"

Unfortunately, 19-year-old midfielder George Abbott hasn’t had a chance to strut his stuff in the Europa League.

Abbott is currently out on loan at Notts County, but the N17 academy gem is impressing on-lookers in England’s lower tier. Pundit John Wenham, speaking to Tottenham News, says that Spurs youngster Abbott is going “under the radar” with his performances on a temporary spell at County.

“It is brilliant to see how well Abbott is doing,” Wenham said.

“He kind of goes under the radar because he is surrounded by players who get all the goals and assists. However, he is a really reliable player, and I’m pleased he is doing well in Nottingham.

“He seems to start every game and always tends to play the full 90 minutes. Therefore, for Abbott, it is just about continuing to impress. If he does that, I imagine he will be lined up for a Championship loan next season.”

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

As the 49ers Enterprises look ahead to next season, exit strategies are being prepared for a plethora of talents who have struggled for minutes at Leeds United.

Leeds braced for summer exits

As Leeds eye a potential return to the top flight, many of the players who have failed to make an impression in the Championship are set to be shown the door at Elland Road.

"I'm told" – Leeds United target open to joining on promotion condition

Daniel Farke’s side have further incentive for promotion.

ByBen Browning Mar 11, 2024

It was reported last week that Ian Poveda is among the group of Leeds players not to be offered a new contract at the end of the season. The 24-year-old is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and will not be returning to Elland Road when his time in South Yorkshire comes to an end.

Sam Greenwood is another Leeds player not expected to be sticking around once the transfer window opens. The forward is at Middlesbrough until the end of the season with reports suggesting he will be sold upon his return.

Joining Greenwood and Poveda on the chopping block look set to be Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson, with the duo also eyeing up permanent exits. They are currently with Everton and Union Berlin respectively.

With Daniel Farke eager to overhaul his squad ready for next season, it appears that the next player to be made surplus to requirements is a man once tipped to be a first-team regular at Elland Road.

Drameh has played his last game for Leeds

According to Football Insider journalist Pete O'Rourke, Cody Drameh is reported to leave Elland Road this summer. Sources have told the outlet that the defender "is not set to receive a Leeds United contract extension and has played his last game for the club".

Currently on loan at fellow second-tier outfit Birmingham City, O'Rourke states that the club would have the option to make his deal permanent. However, Leeds would be due a compensation fee owing to the Englishman's age. The 22-year-old arrived in West Yorkshire following a £1million transfer from Fulham back in 2018.

Since coming to Elland Road, the fullback has struggled to cement a consistent place in Leeds' plans only playing 10 times during his time with the club. Drameh has spent most of his career out on loan, with recent seasons seeing the defender impress for both Cardiff City and Luton Town.

Whilst the latter spell saw him play a key role in the Hatters' promotion last season, his time at Cardiff also saw Drameh earn plaudits in the form of the Blue Birds' Player of the Season award for the 2021/22 season.

It was his time in the Welsh capital that left many feeling that Drameh was ready to step into the first team at Elland Road. The fullback's manager at the time, Steve Morrison agreed with this sentiment, saying of the player's start to life at Cardiff:

"His home performance here against Nottingham Forest, he was looking fitter and sharper than he did in this first two games.

"Barnsley was a horrible game. He'd never experienced anything like that and he came in with a couple of last ditch tackles right at the death of the game, which was phenomenal.

"Tonight? Pff. It's a good thing they can't call him back after that because he was outstanding."

Whether it is Birmingham or another EFL side that ends up securing Drameh's services this summer, they could be getting a player that has the potential to be a solid full back in the division.

There is perhaps no better academy in world football than Manchester United’s. For many years, they have had an incredible production level of elite talent who have gone on to play for United and clubs elsewhere in England and the rest of Europe.

In the mid-20th century, it was the famous Busby Babes who were United’s elite academy players. Fast forward to the start of the Premier League era, and you have the Class of ‘92. More recently, local talents like Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford have played a part for the club.

The latest crop of academy talent has seen two players break into the first team and become key players. Alejandro Garnacho has nine goals and four assists in 42 games in his first season as a regular starter for the Red Devils. Kobbie Mainoo has revolutionised United’s midfield and has now played 24 first-team games this season. He may well be destined for a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Whilst injuries have affected United’s season, they have had 57 separate cases in total, it has given the chance for youth to shine through.

Now, with continued problems at left-back due to persistent injuries for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who was awarded a 2/10 match rating by the MEN against Brentford – struggling out of position there of late, United could well look to the academy again ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

Man Utd's left-back solution vs Coventry

17-year-old left-back Harry Amass is one of the most exciting talents in the Manchester United academy. He joined the club last summer from Watford, and after a superb season has been deservedly fast-tracked from the under-18s to the under-21s, where he has so far played twice.

Amass has had first-team experience before, although has not yet made his debut. Aged just 15, he was on the bench for Watford in the FA Cup, in a 2-0 defeat away to Reading. Since then, the youngster has featured on the bench for United’s first-team, with a debut perhaps not too far around the corner.

Journalist Daniel Martins explained that Amaas is “highly rated by Ten Hag and his coaches”, prior to the Premier League game away to Bournemouth last weekend, which ended 2-2 with United coming from behind twice.

A ready-made Luke Shaw “successor”

Amass was previously described as a "Luke Shaw successor” by journalist Alex Turk. Stylistically, the comparison between Amass and United’s first-choice left-back Shaw is more than reasonable.

The 17-year-old is a wonderful ball carrier, able to drive inside or down the line. Amass’ low centre of gravity makes him nimble on his feet, able to turn away from an opposition defender and ride challenges with relative ease. Not only that, Amass is a skilful player, dangerous in one-vs-one situations because of his unpredictability and speed in which he can dribble.

Like Shaw, Amass is a very technically gifted player and is so composed with the ball at his feet. He has one goal and three assists in 14 games for United’s under-18s, and is a wonderful crosser of the ball in the final third, confident when overlapping the winger.

Defensively, Amass is good in duels and reads the game well. He is a deceptively strong player, able to outmuscle the opponent off the ball before bursting forward to start an attack. One of Amass’ best defensive contributions this season came against Manchester City, when his last-minute sliding challenge in the penalty box stopped a certain City goal, showing his excellent reading of the game.

Indeed, Amass is rated so highly that United “want to look at” the youngster before deciding to sign a left-back this summer, according to one source on Twitter.

After Garnacho and Mainoo’s fast track into the first team, it would not be a surprise to see Amass get an opportunity, too. He is certainly a promising talent, and there is good reason for Red Devils supporters to be getting excited about him as a potential first-team player.

Chalkboard

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