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Jamal Musiala ran the show in Bayern Munich's 4-0 obliteration of Mainz as Harry Kane turned provider in the DFB Pokal clash.

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• Bayern beat Mainz 4-0
• Musiala scored first-half hat-trick
• Sailed into third round without breaking a sweat

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  TELL ME MORE

  The German giants were in rampage mode right from the first whistle as it took them just two minutes to draw first blood through Musiala. Alphonso Davies drilled in a low cross which was put on a platter by Harry Kane for the young German talent, who made no mistake to score from close range.

  After taking an early lead, Bayern continued to push for their second goal and it was Musiala again who popped up in the right place and at the right time. After Kane saw his header saved by the keeper, the 21-year-old pounced on the rebound and scored the insurance goal. Bayern ended the first half by adding two more to the scoreline in stoppage time, with Leroy Sane scoring the third and Musiala the fourth – to complete his hat-trick.

  Vincent Kompany decided to take his foot off the gas after the break as he hooked both Musiala and Kane. The intensity dropped as the Bavarians were more keen on retaining possession and making their opponents chase the game. However, they kept conjuring goal-scoring chances and if not for Mainz keeper, Robin Zentner, the scoreline could have been more embarrassing for the hosts.

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• THE MVP

  Musiala was the star of the match. The German international once again shone bright and emerged as the difference-maker with his clinical finishing. He followed the ball to the right places and kept his composure in front of the goal to convert the chances that fell for him. Notably, it was his first competitive hat-trick for Bayern and has now scored 50 goals in 174 matches.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Mainz's defence looked too brittle in the first half and the difference in quality between the two sides was evident. The onslaught from Musiala and Kane was too hot to handle for them and towards the end of the first half, they fell like a pack of cards.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  After a dominant display against Mainz in the DFB Pokal, Bayern will host Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday as they look to maintain their slim lead at the top.

Ruud van Nistelrooy says he wants to become Manchester United's permanent manager one day as he prepares to hand the reins to Ruben Amorim.

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• Van Nistelrooy is Man Utd's interim boss
• Amorim set to become permanent manager
• Dutchman admits he wants role one day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United legend returned to the club this summer as part of Erik ten Hag's coaching staff but since the Dutchman's sacking, the former striker has been leading the first-team ahead of Ruben Amorim's arrival. While he may go back to being an assistant, this time under the Portuguese, he would like the top job at the Red Devils in the future.

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  WHAT RUUD VAN NISTELROOY SAID

  Asked if he would like to manage United one day, he told reporters: "Yeah, of course. I thought this through well when I made the decision to come to United as an assistant manager or assistant coach. I knew that coming to Manchester United was for me a special occasion, where I felt I wanted to be part of this journey with the club in also an assistant role. I had clear ambitions to manage. I made the decision to sign a two-year deal as an assistant and I'm still in that frame of mind to stay in that capacity."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Van Nistelrooy has somewhat steadied the United ship during his three games in charge. The ex-Real Madrid forward has led the Red Devils to two wins and one draw so far but there is uncertainty over whether he will be retained by Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim when he takes over at Old Trafford on November 11. Sunday's clash with Leicester City could end up being Van Nistelrooy's second United farewell.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  With Van Nistelrooy taking charge of the Leicester game at Old Trafford this weekend, it remains to be seen if he will be kept on when Amorim takes over the reins against Ipswich Town on November 24 at Portman Road.

It's been over three weeks since the transfer window swung open, and while there has been some movement here and there, it feels like clubs are waiting for the European Championships to end before really splashing the cash.

In the case of Arsenal, they have made two permanent signings thus far, welcoming 18-year-old Lucas Nygaard to the team and executing the option to buy in David Raya's loan deal from Brentford.

However, based on recent reports, Mikel Arteta looks set to welcome a player who has caught the footballing world's attention recently and shares many similarities with the Gunners' star right-back, Ben White.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are edging closer to securing the services of Bologna's star defender Riccardo Calafiori after agreeing personal terms with the Italian.

The journalist revealed that the Gunners are now the clear favourites to land the player's signature, as there have been no talks with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, or Chelsea Football Club.

An earlier report from Romano revealed that the North Londoners have agreed to a five-year deal with the 22-year-old that will see him earn €4m-per-year, the equivalent of around £3.4m.

Reports over the last week or so claim that the transfer fee will cost Arsenal around £42m, and while it's a lot of money altogether, Calafiori looks like an incredibly exciting defender, and the fact he shares some similarities with White is undoubtedly reassuring.

The similarities between Calafiori and White

So, while Calafirori enjoyed an exceptional Serie A campaign with Bologna last season and helped them qualify for the Champions League, he really caught the eye of the wider footballing world thanks to his impressive displays for a lacklustre Italy team at the Euros this summer.

He started and starred in all three group games for the Azzurri in Germany and only missed the round of 16 match against Switzerland – the game that saw the team eliminated – due to picking up two yellow cards.

In the three games he did feature, he played as a centre-back, but across his career, he's started more games at full-back, in the first fundamental similarity he shares with White.

For example, in 129 appearances, he has started 49 games at left-back and two at right-back while starting 43 at centre-back. The Englishman, who is four years his senior, has now reached 100 starts at right-back, and with how his career has progressed in recent seasons, he seems destined to surpass his 200 starts at centre-back within a few years.

Alongside their positional versatility, the two stars are also progressive and forward-thinking defenders. For example, last season, the Italian "monster," as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, scored two goals and provided five assists in 33 appearances for the Rossoblu, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 4.71 games.

Likewise, the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem scored four goals and provided five assists in 51 appearances for the Gunners, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 5.66 games for the Premier League runners-up.

Ultimately, if Arsenal are to go on and finally overtake Manchester City as the best team in England, they will need a squad bursting to the seams with talent. While they already had the best defence in the league last season, adding a player like Calafiori can only be a good thing, especially as he already seems to have a lot in common with the incredible White.

Arsenal struck gold on a star who's worth more than Calafiori & Gyokeres

The “phenomenal” talent has has been unreal for Arteta.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 7, 2024

Arsenal, led by sporting director Edu Gaspar, have agreed to pay £86 million to sign a very in-form forward for manager Mikel Arteta, according to a report this week.

Edu and Arteta targeting four key signings for Arsenal

According to some reports, Arsenal are targeting four key signings before the summer window deadline on August 30 – coming in the form of a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.

"Special" Arsenal player agrees to leave as West Ham chase quick deal

They want it done this week.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 18, 2024

As talks remain ongoing over a deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, as widely reported, a large section of supporters are especially keen to see a talismanic new striker come through the door at London Colney.

A goalscoring out-and-out centre-forward has long been seen by many critics as the final missing piece of Arteta's jigsaw. Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford star Ivan Toney to fill the role last summer, but murmurs of a move for the England international have since cooled.

While their fondness for Toney appears to have waned, the north Londoners are still believed to be in the market for a new striker if the right opportunity presents itself.

Arteta is rumoured to be a fan of Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as a possible alternative to Gabriel Jesus, while more marquee options like Napoli star Victor Osimhen have been mentioned in parts as well.

Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz bagged a brilliant 51 goals between them in all competitions last season, but Arteta apparently wants a striking partner for Havertz going forward next season.

Arsenal made a good proposal to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko to fill the role earlier this window, but Edu and co were met with a swift rejection as the Slovenia international chose to stay in the Bundesliga and further his development at his current club.

There are other opportunities for Arsenal in the market, but they may have to invest heavily, with an interesting report now claiming they're willing to do just that.

Arsenal agree to pay £86 million to sign Viktor Gyokeres

As per Leonino, via Standard Sport [17/07/2024, 07:00], Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres remains on Arsenal's wanted list after being heavily linked earlier this year.

It is now claimed that Arsenal have agreed to pay Sporting £86 million to sign Gyokeres, which is believed to be the value of his release clause. The Swede, called "unplayable" by former Coventry City teammate Maxime Biamou, scored a phenomenal 43 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions last season.

Gyokeres bagged a further 15 assists as well, totalling 58 goal contributions over what was a truly exceptional debut season in Portugal. There is a growing clamor for his services as a result, and it will be interesting to see if this report comes to fruition as Edu looks to end the club's long search for a new vocal point up front.

Cristiano Ronaldo is tipped to emulate David Beckham's post-retirement success thanks to his vast business empire & record-breaking YouTube channel.

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• Ronaldo still going strong at 39
• Rumours of retirement continue to swirl
• Saha believes the forward will still shine after retiring

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo's entrepreneurial journey began well before he started considering life after football. The Portuguese star boasts a diversified portfolio, ranging from hospitality to fashion. His hotel chain, Pestana CR7, has been widely praised, while his CR7 clothing and lifestyle brand, which includes a hair transplant clinic, has established him as a fashion mogul. In addition to these ventures, Ronaldo has delved into the fitness industry, launching several gyms under his brand.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Much like Ronaldo, Beckham transitioned seamlessly from a footballer to a business magnate after hanging up his boots. The former England captain owns Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and holds a stake in Salford City, showcasing his commitment to the sport. His business ventures in football ownership and branding have inspired Ronaldo to consider similar paths and the Portuguese recently revealed his openness to owning a football club as well.

  "I don't rule out becoming a club owner," Ronaldo, 39, told reporters during an event in Madrid. Whereas, in another instance, he spoke about his aspirations to expand his business.

  "I (will) work on my business and I might be a little lost [after retiring], but I have other things to worry about which is a business part, a new chapter that I'm excited for which will also be a challenge for me," the Portugal captain added.

• WHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID

  Former Manchester United teammate Saha, in a chat with who offer the latest Premier League odds, expressed his belief in Ronaldo’s potential to replicate Beckham’s success and said: "I think Cristiano Ronaldo will be as successful as David Beckham in retirement, he is obsessed with football but also being successful in business and you can see that in all the ventures he has. He can transform nutrition and I think everything that he decides to do will be a success because he is a huge attraction, his social media says it all."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo’s financial strength positions him well for future ventures. According to , his current net worth, derived from footballing income and endorsements with brands like Nike, Unilever, and Binance, stands at £200 million ($260 million). When factoring in his business ventures, his estimated net worth rises to between £424 million and £500 million. This immense wealth, combined with his entrepreneurial drive, ensures that Ronaldo will remain a dominant figure even after hanging up his boots.

Clubs in England's top flight are worried semi-automated offsides will not be implemented until next season after a problem in La Liga.

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• Premier League waiting on new technology
• Controversy in Spain may cause new delay
• Barcelona saw goal wrongly disallowed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Premier League had been set to implement semi-automated offside technology after Christmas but that date could now be pushed back until next season, according to . Fresh concerns about the technology have been raised after Robert Lewandowski saw a goal controversially ruled out for offside against Real Sociedad due to a 'glitch' in the system. Barcelona fans were left raging at the technology after it appeared to wrongly confuse Lewandowski's boot with defender Nayef Aguerd's.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona have also demanded answers from the RFEF over the incident, and the controversy could have ramifications back in England. According to the report, Premier League clubs "want to ensure the new system is foolproof" before it is implemented in order to avoid such incidents happening in the English top flight.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Barcelona sporting director Deco has called for more clarity in the aftermath of the disallowed goal. He told : "Why is it semi-automatic? I am lost. I still don't know if the boots were yellow or black. We don't want to go there because we don't want excuses, but there's a question: what happened? Where's the error occurred, if there's an error? If not, no problem, but we need an explanation because we're lost with what semi-automatic means. If there's an involvement from VAR, if the referee really can't do anything. If the semi-automatic system doesn't work, then we need to return to another system. This isn't a Barca issue, it's about improvements for all teams. Some things have improved, but in other areas we still have one person's interpretation. We still have controversial decisions, like the one at Anoeta on Sunday, which was probably incorrect."

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  WHAT NEXT

  Premier League bosses are expected to discuss the current situation around semi-automated offsides and the recent controversy in La Liga before making a decision on when the technology will be brought to the top flight, meaning it could well be delayed until next season.

Since the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United have struggled to find a striker who can guarantee them goals. There were plenty of deadly marksmen under the legendary Scot, but since his retirement in 2013, the Red Devils have not managed to find someone who can hit the back of the net consistently.

However, that is not for lack of trying to find a replacement. They have had many centre-forwards over the years, some have had more success than others. Radamel Falcao struggled to make an impact in red and scored just four times during his one-year loan stint at Old Trafford in 2014/15.

The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Edinson Cavani also represented the club, two of the 21st century’s biggest names. Lukaku’s numbers were not bad, with 42 goals in 96 games, and Cavani was excellent, but sadly injury-prone. The Uruguayan scored 19 goals in 59 outings for the Red Devils.

Of course, the biggest of these names is Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary Portugal striker scored 27 goals across 54 appearances during his second spell at the club but fell out with Erik ten Hag and left the club.

United are still looking to find the perfect striker to consistently find the back of the net. With the transfer window now open, they have been linked with one man who could be their main man up front.

Man Utd target Premier League striker

The player in question here is Everton and England international Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The 27-year-old has been consistently linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer, with United offering a potential destination for the striker.

At least, that is according to a report from The Athletic who report that 'talks have taken place' amongst the new hierarchy at Old Trafford for a potential deal with Calvert-Lewin, with Brentford striker Ivan Toney also under consideration.

According to the report, Everton are 'open to selling' their talismanic striker this summer, due to their current financial issues, as opposed to letting him leave for free once his contract expires next summer.

A deal for the Englishman would cost around £30m and may well represent an alternative to Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman is said to be closing in on a move to Old Trafford according to some reports.

Why Calvert-Lewin would be a good signing

The Everton striker played 32 times in the Premier League last season, scoring seven goals and registering two assists along the way. However, his best season in the top flight came in 2020/21, when Calvert-Lewin bagged 16 times in 33 appearances.

That season, the Englishman played under one of the all-time great managers, Carlo Ancelotti. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called the striker a “pure poacher”, explaining that the Italian turned Calvert-Lewin into “a monster” of a centre-forward. He may not be so prolific anymore but he still has some exciting attributes that help him live up to Ancelotti's billing of a few years ago.

Indeed, in terms of his profile, the Englishman uses his height to his advantage and is widely renowned as one of the best strikers in the air in the Premier League, with Richarlison once suggesting that he has a "leap on him like Cristiano Ronaldo".

He is also excellent in the penalty box and can sniff out a chance with great instinct like any top striker, hence why Kulig called him a “poacher”.

One of the things to be cautious about when it comes to Calvert-Lewin is his injury record. Whilst, last season, his fitness issues were not as bad as previous campaigns, the Englishman has missed a lot of football in recent times. In 2021/22, he missed 34 matches with injury, and 2022/23 was not much better. The Everton number nine missed 29 games sidelined with an injury.

He is a different profile to Rasmus Hojlund, who likes to run the channels rather than hold the ball up. This is something which was pointed out by football analyst Adam Bate in an article with Sky Sports, who explained that the young Dane “would prefer to be running channels, finding space with his movement” rather than act as the hold-up striker Ten Hag used him as last season.

According to Fbref, last season in the Premier League, Calvert-Lewin averaged 5.68 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 3% of strikers in the division. This gave him a win rate of 48.8%, placing him in the top 13% of strikers.

His instinct in front of goal is also backed up by the stats from Fbref. Calvert-Lewin’s expected goals per game last season in the top flight was 0.53xG, ranking him in the top 17% of centre forwards. He also averaged 0.12 shots per game which then led to a goal-scoring shot, which placed him in the top 7%.

He has had previous successes against Manchester United for the Toffees. The England international grabbed a goal and an assist in a memorable 3-3 draw at Old Trafford during 2020/21, against a Red Devils defence that included Harry Maguire and David de Gea. His 95th-minute equaliser broke United hearts at the death having dominated the club's defence.

Should the Red Devils look to sign Calvert-Lewin this summer, he could become the centre-forward United have lacked in the years since Ferguson left the club. Although he has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, he is a quality penalty box striker with an eye for goal and offers something completely different to Rasmus Hojlund. For £30m, it could be an excellent deal for United.

Man Utd hit gold on exceptional star who's worth way more than Zirkzee

The talented youngster’s valuation is sky-high.

3

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 9, 2024

Mario Gotze has admitted that he rues missing out on a Premier League move when Jurgen Klopp offered him a chance with Liverpool in 2016.

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• Gotze could have joined LFC in 2016
• Turned down the opportunity and rejoined BVB
• Admitted that he missed out on a "special journey"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gotze rose to prominence at Borussia Dortmund under Klopp's guidance. Between 2010 and 2013, he played a crucial role in helping the team secure two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal. His contributions also propelled the club to the UEFA Champions League final in 2013, showcasing his talents on the global stage.

  However, like many of Dortmund’s brightest stars, Gotze eventually moved to Bayern Munich, where he hoped to achieve even greater success. During his three seasons at Bayern Munich, Gotze added three more Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokal trophies to his collection but struggled to make an impact on the pitch.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As Gotze prepared to leave Bayern, Klopp, who had since moved to Liverpool, expressed a keen interest in bringing him to Merseyside. However, Liverpool were in the midst of a rebuilding phase, having finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League and were to miss out on European football for the upcoming season. Hence, Gotze felt Dortmund was a safer choice, who had just signed Andre Schurrle, one of Gotze’s close friends, making the return to Dortmund even more appealing.

• WHAT GOTZE SAID

  In his column for Gotze wrote: "In 2016, I nearly went to a famous team in England called Liverpool. The coach there was a man named Jürgen Klopp.

  "I went to his house in Liverpool, where we sat down together in the living room with our wives. What makes Jürgen special is that he sees Mario the person. We did not talk much about football. He wasn’t saying, 'How can I convince you? What do you want?' He asked me about life in general, and I think he said something like, 'Look, Mario, you’ll play a lot, and you’ll have fun here. I know that’s the most important thing for you. The club is amazing. Have a think about it.' I really wanted to play for him again."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  However, Gotze admitted that his impatience and desire for immediate success clouded his judgment.

  "But I also wanted to win things right away. I was so impatient! Liverpool had just finished eighth in England, and Dortmund had come second in Germany," he wrote. "Dortmund had also signed André Schürrle, one of my best friends in football. I remembered how much fun it had been the first time, when we won two league titles and made it to the Champions League final. Maybe things would be like in the good old days, you know?

  "So I went back. And as much as I love Dortmund, I do feel that I missed out on a special journey with Jürgen. I didn’t understand that he needed time to build a great team at Liverpool. There was not really any need for me to play in the Champions League right away. I just didn’t think that far ahead."

Everton might be embroiled in an alarming ownership (or lack thereof) situation that places the club's future in uncertainty, but Sean Dyche is hard at work as he musters his troops ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

It would seem that avoiding relegation from the Premier League would be the primary objective, but the Toffees have showcased resilience and robustness under their gritty manager, finishing 15th last term despite being hit with an eight-point deduction for financial breaches.

They are also displaying a willingness to improve. Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam have been welcomed to the fold, while Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Napoli winger Jesper Lindstrom is currently in the process of completing a loan move with a £19m buy option inserted.

A host of players have been sold, notably Amadou Onana to Aston Villa in a £50m deal, but long-serving defender Ben Godfrey is also among the departees, having joined Atalanta in Serie A for a £10m fee.

Everton hope that Jarrad Branthwaite remains at Goodison Park for the 2024/25 season despite the vested interest of Manchester United, but a new face is needed at the rear, and Dyche is hoping to make a signing.

Everton want new defender

According to Foot Mercato over in France, there's a lot of excitement bubbling around Lyon centre-back Jake O'Brien, with Everton and Brentford tussling for his signature. O'Brien, 23, is also attracting interest from West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brentford have the lead, holding talks with the Ligue 1 side to discuss the possibility of a transfer, but the Toffees are expected to accelerate their interest if Thomas Frank's side ramp it up a gear.

What's so good about Jake O'Brien

Standing at a lofty 6 foot 6, O'Brien has gone from strength to strength in France, joining from Crystal Palace last summer after never making a senior appearance for the Eagles.

The Republic of Ireland international failed to enter the field of play over Lyon's opening five Ligue 1 matches last season, though started 27 times henceforth, missing out only once due to a one-match suspension.

Remarkably, it was his first taste of sustained top-flight action after loan spells at Swindon Town and RWD Molenbeek (second-flight Belgian side) in recent years. Still, across all competitions, O'Brien demonstrated his brilliant attacking sense by notching five goals.

Not just a goalscorer from deep, O'Brien also completed 88% of his passes in the French top flight, won 61% of his duels and averaged 4.7 ball recoveries and 3.6 clearances per game, as per Sofascore.

He's got what it takes to be a complete-performing centre-half in the Premier League, but his attacking ability is hard to ignore, ranking among the 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 10% for assists per 90, as per FBref. No wonder he's been dubbed a "revelation" by writer Zach Lowy…

With such impressive aerial qualities and an innate attacking instinct, O'Brien could be the perfect addition to an already-imposing Toffees backline, with his height and aptitude in the final third making him the dream partner for Dwight McNeil, whose set-piece delivery is something to behold.

Why O'Brien would be perfect for McNeil

McNeil, principally a left winger, joined Everton from Burnley for a £20m fee following the Clarets' relegation from the Premier League in 2022, since clinching ten goals and ten assists apiece over 80 appearances.

Last season, his ball-playing quality was on full show, averaging two key passes and 1.9 crosses per outing, creating 17 big chances for his teammates.

That's a pretty special number of created chances, speaking highly of his creative acumen and what it brings to Dyche's outfit, adept at utilising its bulk to impose itself on opponents and pressing for goals.

As you can see, McNeil's up against some knockout names right there. Journalist Joe Thomas has praised him for his "magic" talents in the past, while Dyche has been particularly vocal in his effusions.

The manager said: “He’s a really good player, he’s improving, his calmness at the end – I’m saying get it in the corner – but he cuts in, and his calmness to cross it into a dangerous area, and then gets his reward. Before then, his calmness to dribble out of trouble – he’s a really good player, really good, and he can only mature.”

After all, ranking among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating action and the top 13% for progressive carries per 90, his workrate is clear and so too is his drive to improve his team. His skill as a creator would certainly prove to be a happy marriage as far as O'Brien is concerned, with the defender so devastating as an aerial threat.

Indeed, signing O'Brien would add another string to Everton's bow, increasing the depth and dynamism at a crucial point in the club's history.

The Merseysiders were reported to be considering a bid totalling around £17m earlier in the summer, so it wouldn't be out of the question to imagine that the club have the funds to get the deal done – especially after selling Onana for such a sizeable figure.

The road ahead might look to be fraught with peril, but Everton have proved themselves resilient and determined under Dyche's management, and the forthcoming season might just prove to hatch a sense of optimism.

Imagine him & Lindstrom: Everton make contact to sign £72k-p/w sensation

The attacker has huge experience playing all over Europe.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 24, 2024

Southampton have another pair of pre-season friendlies to get out of the way before Premier League football beckons again for the Saints, with a tricky away test to Newcastle United opening the bumper 38-game schedule for Russell Martin's men.

The business in through the door shows no signs of slowing down as Martin attempts to have the best possible squad at his disposal for the lengthy trip up to Tyneside and beyond, with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Matt O'Riley still being linked to join the newly promoted side as two major coups.

There is another name floating about too that could improve Southampton in attack ahead of the daunting step-up to the top flight, with the player in question simply just moving a little across the South Coast to his potential new home.

Southampton making move for their next Alcaraz

According to Dutch outlet 1908.nl, fringe Brighton and Hove Albion forward Facundo Buonanotte is now wanted by Southampton on a loan deal this summer, having previously caught the eye of Eredivisie giants Feyenoord.

It will now be a choice between staying put in the Premier League or relocating out to the Netherlands for the Argentine attacker, therefore, with the outlet speculating that his minutes for the Seagulls will be very infrequent if he doesn't opt to test himself away from Fabian Hürzeler's men, owing to the squad depth available to the new Brighton boss.

What Buonanotte can offer Southampton

Capable of playing down the right wing, or through the centre as an attacking midfield option, Buonanotte would undoubtedly strengthen Southampton ahead of their voyage up to the elite division, with the potential there for the 19-year-old to become the club's new Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz is back amongst the ranks at St. Mary's after a loan stint out at Juventus last campaign, and is keen to enter back into Martin's first-team plans. However, the new 5 foot 9 kid on the block could take priority over his fellow compatriot if he signs on the dotted line.

Buonanotte would very much be a beneficial signing for the newly promoted outfit, away from thundering in strikes like this one against Sheffield United last campaign, owing to the fact Martin and Co are somewhat threadbare down the right flank and in attacking midfield.

Only Samuel Amo-Ameyaw in the current Saints squad is an out-and-out right-wing presence, when looking at Southampton's numbers on Transfermarkt, whilst the experienced Adam Lallana is the only designated attacking midfielder.

Yet, Alcaraz has starred in Lallana's spot in the past for the South Coast outfit, with two of his four Premier League strikes for the club coming from this further forward position.

Looking at Buonanotte's numbers above for Brighton, however, three of his goals for the Seagulls have also come from this attacking midfield position, with his versatility to play down the right also presumably piquing Martin's interest.

Martin could get the best out of his new South American recruit by starting him down this flank, away from his preferred spot, having got so much more out of David Brooks when he joined on loan from AFC Bournemouth last season to add depth, with two goals and six assists mustered up from just 20 games.

Ryan Fraser also excelled when given a new lease of life away from his parent club Newcastle last campaign playing down the left, with Buonanotte – who has been described as a "top talent" by Fabrizio Romano – hopeful he can become a key player for the Saints too, away from settling for a background role back at Brighton.

Southampton supporters will be just itching for the top-flight campaign to get going now, hopeful that their side can stay up this coming season with all these new exciting recruits in through the door.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 5, 2024