Aston Villa boss Unai Emery may have a problem on his hands after one of his new summer signings took to the media to deliver a fairly strong assessment of his perceived lack of game time at Villa Park, according to reports.
What's the latest news involving Aston Villa?
As per Aston Villa's official account on social media platform X, Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho has completed a season-long loan move to Qatari side Al Duhail.
The Villans are in an intriguing period and sit tenth in the Premier League table, having taken six points from a possible 12 available so far; however, they also happen to have conceded the joint-second most goals in the division, tied with Luton Town.
Journalist Dean Jones has indicated GIVEMESPORT that in the midst of Aston Villa's defensive woes, new signing Pau Torres has struggled to get to grips with life in English football so far, as he stated: "I think Pau Torres has definitely struggled a bit with the transition into the Premier League, which is really interesting because one of the reasons that a few of the bigger clubs sat off Pau Torres in the end was because there were reservations around his physicality and adaptation to the Premier League, and how long it might take."
Among others, Emiliano Martinez, Jhon Duran, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara and Viljami Sinisalo are all currently on international duty and all managed to help inspire their respective nations to victories during the break from club football.
What has Youri Tielemans said about Unai Emery?
Earlier in the summer, Youri Tielemans arrived at Aston Villa on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at now-Sky Bet Championship side Leicester City.
Nevertheless, he looks to have grown disenfranchised with life in the West Midlands and has spoken about his struggles in a bizarre fashion to Belgian outlet DH, cited via Sport Witness.
The Belgium international said: “The situation is not pleasant. I told the manager that I came to Villa to play. He understands me, but at the moment, he prefers to play with the two midfielders from last season. He told me that soon, there will be a succession of games and I’ll get more playing time. I know that answer doesn’t get me anywhere, but what should I do? As soon as I get the opportunity, I want to take it. So far, I’ve started once, in the Conference League.”
Will Tielemans get opportunities to shine at Villa?
It seems likely that Tielemans will get a run in the Aston Villa side at some point; however, it does seem a little strange that he would be willing to go public with his grievances over game time this early into his career at Villa Park.
Overall, the 26-year-old has made six appearances in total for the Villans since joining, with his only start arriving in their 3-0 victory over Hibernian in the Europa Conference League, as per Transfermarkt.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
Tielemans has been neat and tidy in possession across his four Premier League appearances for Aston Villa so far, maintaining a pass success rate of 92.2%, according to WhoScored.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Emery will react to his comments and whether they will have altered his future plans for the Belgian midfielder at the club.
Qatari investors looking to complete a takeover at Manchester United are growing in confidence over a deal, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Takeover plans
Reports last month suggested that Qatari investors were planning a mega-money swoop at Old Trafford and had big plans.
The Qatari group wanted ‘things done quickly’ so they could help Erik ten Hag with transfer funds heading into the summer, with stadium redevelopment and fan engagement also at the heart of their bid.
The Latest: Positive update
Adam Williams, FI’s finance and governance correspondent, shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Qatari investors.
The title of the story claimed that the Qatari investors are in pole position to buy Manchester United, adding that they ‘are growing in confidence as fewer bidders than expected have met the Glazer family’s deadline for offers’.
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The Verdict: Record-breaking?
The Glazers value the club at around £6billion, which could see United become the most expensive sports team ever ahead of the Denver Broncos.
However, none of the bids received have matched their valuation yet, so a takeover could need some work despite this positive feeling involving Qatari investors.
Reports elsewhere suggest that a takeover is more likely to happen in May, so it looks as if speculation may continue over the coming months, but Ten Hag will have all of his focus on playing matters, with the Red Devils still in three more competitions after winning the Carabao Cup.
Bournemouth verus Tottenham Hotspur is not a fixture which runs deep in the history books of the Premier League. However, Football FanCast has everything you need to know ahead of their meeting on the south coast this Saturday.
Although it is still early days in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, the Cherries already find themselves lingering around the wrong end of the table having only taken one point from their opening two games.
In contrast, the Lilywhites are flying high under their new boss, Ange Postecoglou, following their impressive victory on Saturday against Manchester Unite.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their head-to-head record?
Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies celebrate a late winner for Tottenham Hotspur in their game against Bournemouth.
This fixture is one which has not provided a long history of meetings with just 13 clashes between these two sides across all competitions.
The majority of those meetings have come within the last eight years since the Cherries' initial promotion to the Premier League with 12 matches written in the history books since the 2015/16 campaign.
You have to go all the way back to the 1956/57 campaign to find the ver first meeting between the two sides which saw the Cherries run out 3-1 victors in the FA Cup.
Bournemouth wins: 3 Draws: 2 Tottenham wins: 8 Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their record at Bournemouth?
Rayo Vallecano coachAndoniIraola
Andoni Iraola's men were able to secure a point on their opening game of the campaign at the Vitality Stadium against West Ham United, however, their home record against Spurs is not one they can look back fondly on.
Out of the six meetings between these two sides on the south coast, the north Londoners have ran away with the points on three occasions, two draws have unfolded and only one win for the Cherries has been recorded.
This includes last season's stunning comeback from Spurs which saw Rodrigo Bentancur's last minute goal seal a dramatic 3-2 victory – rest assured Bournemouth fans, the Uruguayan remains unavailable for Saturday's meeting.
Bournemouth wins: 1 Draws: 2 Tottenham wins: 3 Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their Premier League record?
Dominic Solanke scores in Bournemouth's away victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The Cherries endured late heartbreak on the south coast against the Lilywhites last season, however, they were able to inflict revenge on the Londoners later in the season in the reverse meeting.
In an almost carbon copy of the game on the south coast, Dango Outtara sealed all three points for the visitors in the capital with a goal in the fifth minute of added time.
Although Saturday's hosts had the last laugh when these two sides previously met, it is not a fixture which has reflected kindly on the south coast side.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: Which team has the most goals?
Despite their only being 12 Premier League meetings between these two sides, it is a fixture which has provided a significant return of goals.
Across their six meetings at the Vitality Stadium and in north London, 40 goals have been scored between the two sides with 17 of those goals coming on the south coast.
More goals have, therefore, been scored in north London (23) but this is a fixture which has seen three meetings where there have been five or more goals scored at the Vitality.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What happened in last season's fixtures?
Arnaut Danjuma scores a late equaliser in the game against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Last season provided two stunning games between these two sides which significant similarities to how both of the meetings panned out.
Spurs were able to come back from what was a seriously underwhelming first half which saw them 2-0 down inside the opening 50 minutes of the game. Goals from unlikely sources in Ben Davies, Ryan Sessegnon and Bentancur proved enough to secure a stunning turnaround under Antonio Conte.
However, the Lilywhites were served their revenge when the two sides met in April after Arnaut Danjuma thought he had rescued the hosts a point with his 88th-minute goal. But it was Ouattara who was able to secure the points for the Cherries with a dramatic finish to the game in N17.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What is Dominic Solanke's record?
This is not typically a matchup which Solanke excels with the Englishman having only scored once against the north London outfit. However, that goal did come in their previous meeting when the Cherries sealed the points in dramatic fashion.
Although Solanke has not faired so well in his previous meetings against Spurs, the 25-year-old has made a bright start to the campaign having netted in their curtain raiser and provided an assist on the weekend against Liverpool.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What is Son Heung-min's record?
Son Heung-min celebrates his goal for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League against Bournemouth.
Unlike Solanke, Spurs' South Korean has seriously enjoyed this fixture with the 31-year-old having recorded six goals and two assists in his previous 10 outings against the Cherries.
Despite enduring a sub-par 2022/23 campaign – by his usual high standards – Son was still able to get his name on the score sheet in the defeat at home to Bournemouth in April.
Having been handed the captain's armband over the summer following Harry Kane's departure, the Korean forward is still in search of his first goal of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham:What is Bournemouth's biggest win?
Bournemouth celebrate their late winner against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Bournemouth have only tasted victory on two occasions when facing Tottenham in the Premier League and those two victories have both come through one-goal margins.
Back in the 2018/19 campaign, the Cherries secured a 1-0 victory over the north Londoners on the south coast, however, April's stunning victory at Tottenham will take the prize for one of the cub's most memorable wins in England's top flight.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham:What is Tottenham's biggest win?
Spurs, on the other hand, have enjoyed a number of high-scoring victories in this fixture with two four-goal margins wins coming against the Cherries in the Premier League era.
Their first meeting since the Cherries were promoted to England's top tier came in the 2015/16 campaign but was a game the hosts will not want to remember with Spurs coming out of the game as 5-1 victors.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What are the recent results?
Bournemouth score late in their Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
In their last five meetings, there have been four victories which have been decided by just one-goal margins.
Over that run of games, the two sides have shared two wins each with victories coming for both sides on each other's home soil. Along with the dramatic 3-2 victory on the south coast last season, Spurs were able to beat the Cherries by the same score line in N17 back in 2019.
The only other meeting in that time frame ended as a 0-0 draw on the south coast in the 2019/20 campaign.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: When is it?
Bournemouth welcome Tottenham to the south coast on Saturday 26 August for the Premier League's early kick-off (12:30 BST).
The Cherries go into the game with their campaign still really yet to take off following their opening two games against West Ham and Liverpool. Undoubtedly, Iraola's men have faced a difficult start to the campaign, but potentially coming out of their third game in the league with just one point to their name would be far from what their new manager would have had in mind.
As for the visitors, victory on the road would surely make for a real statement from Postecoglou's side. Having lost their all-time record goal scorer over the summer, big question marks were left hanging over the direction of the club, but coming out of their opening three games – potentially – with seven points would be a seriously impressive start to the season.
Both sides come into the campaign with new managers at the helm and the game on the weekend could certainly leave lasting impressions on the direction for their seasons.
As part of Tottenham Hotspur's summer spending thus far, new boss Ange Postecoglou notably sanctioned the permanent capture of Sweden international, Dejan Kulusveski, with the 23-year-old signing on a £25m deal after spending the last 18 months in north London.
The wing wizard was originally snapped up by former boss Antonio Conte on loan from Juventus back in January 2022, with the Lilywhites having opted to bring the forward to England alongside teammate, Rodrigo Bentancur.
While Conte – and ex-sporting director Fabio Paratici – are no longer at the helm at N17, it looks as if the Premier League side are still scouring the Serie A market in order to find possible recruits, having already sealed a deal for Empoli goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario earlier in the window.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
Postecoglou and co could again look to Italy to try and secure a repeat of their Kulusevski masterclass, amid reports that the club are interested in Juve full-back, Andrea Cambiaso.
Who is Andrea Cambiaso?
According to a report from Italian outlet, Tuttosport last week, Tottenham have been named alongside Nottingham Forest as the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old this summer, with the former Italy U21 international having spent last season on loan at Bologna.
As per the piece, the Old Lady are looking for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m) if they are to part ways with the former Genoa ace over the coming weeks, with the emerging talent having yet to make a first-team appearance for his parent club since making the move to Turin last year.
andrea cambiaso
While Cambiaso is yet to try his hand outside of Serie A – much like Kulusveski prior to joining Spurs – the promising defender could prove to be another wise investment as far as Daniel Levy is concerned.
How good is Andrea Cambiaso?
Having splashed the cash on Kulusevski of late, the Lilywhites seemingly liked what they saw from the wide man over the last year-and-a-half, with the one-time Parma ace having warranted that strong show of faith.
Despite enduring a difficult 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot 1 dynamo was still able to contribute a respectable haul of two goals and seven assists in 30 Premier League games, having previously registered 13 goal involvements in just 18 appearances in the competition in the tail-end of the previous season.
Lauded as "a real player" by pundit Paul Robinson, the hope will be that Kulusevski can kick on again next term now that his future is secure, with the Stockholm native having clearly shown more than just glimpses of his quality in a Tottenham shirt to date.
Dejan Kulusevski
While making the transition to life in the Premier League from Serie A may not be easy, Kulusevski has shown the benefits of looking to the Italian market, hence why snapping up Cambiaso – who has been "on fire" of late according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – could prove a wise move.
The Juve ace notably registered three assists in the league last season during his spell at Bologna as a marker of his creative threat, having also chipped in defensively after averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game – a greater record than Ben Davies achieved, for instance, for Spurs (1.5 tackles and interceptions per game).
A player who is comfortable on the ball and can easily beat a man down the flanks, the £31k-per-week machine notably ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for pass completion, as well as in the top 14% for successful take-ons.
Such traits could well help the Genoa native slot in nicely into Postecoglou's attack-minded, 4-3-3 formation, with the hope being that he can replicate Kulusevski's impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Manchester United's ongoing crisis encapsulates the demise that has occurred at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
During his glittering and long-serving tenure, the Scot brought unparalleled success to the club and spearheaded their dominance, scooping 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues in his 27-year spell.
Since his departure, United haven't come close to reaching the heights that were achieved under Ferguson, as mismanagement at the top and consistently poor recruitment in the transfer window has led them on a downward spiral in the decade that followed.
In his near three-year spell at the club between December 2018 and November 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the longest-serving manager in the post-Ferguson era, demonstrating that the managerial position at Man United really has transformed into a poisoned chalice.
Although he didn't manage to win a trophy as manager, the Norwegian did enjoy a certain degree of success in the transfer window, bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo for his second spell, Edinson Cavani, Raphael Varane and perhaps their most successful signing of the past decade, Bruno Fernandes.
While those additions achieved success in their own right, the 50-year-old also brought in his fair share of players who have gone on to endure an underwhelming time at the club, including Daniel James, Odion Ighalo, Alex Telles while Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek were the highest profile of his failed transfers.
Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.
Van de Beek arrived in the summer of 2020 from Ajax, joining the club on a five-year deal and was a player they trusted to become a fulcrum in their midfield for several years to come.
How much did Man United sign Donny van de Beek for?
In a season that saw Amad Diallo, Facundo Pellistri and Telles join the club for a combined total of £37m, Van de Beek became their marquee signing at a cost of £35m after chalking up eight goals and six assists in the Eredivisie.
The Netherlands international, who was 23-years-old at the time, was chased by several clubs following his impressive displays in the Champions League in 2018/19, helping Ajax reach the semi-finals against Tottenham.
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
Real Madrid were said to be battling it out for his signature, but a deal broke down, leaving van de Beek feeling "angry" as United swooped in to land the highly-rated Dutchman.
What was the reaction when Van de Beek signed?
Lauded as the "next Paul Scholes" by United legend Edwin Van der Sar, the hype surrounding the signing of Van de Beek was unprecedented as the Dutchman was met with waves of expectation upon arrival with many believing he had the ability and football brain to thrive in the Premier League.
In full, the ex-United stopper said: "He can play in different positions in midfield – he can be a six or an eight or a 10, he has a great eye for a goal. His technique is brilliant, he can go box to box.
"I’d compare him a little bit to Scholesy, although Scholesy had a cracker of a shot from 30,40 yards out and that’s not Donny’s strength, but he likes to come into the box and chip in with goals."
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
Rio Ferdinand was another who enjoyed what he saw, as the former Manchester United defender waxed lyrical about the player.
Speaking in 2020, shortly after the signing was announced, he said: “He brings goals, he brings assists, he runs into the box, [he has] a good work ethic and an unbelievable brain. [As an] Ajax guy, he knows how to play good football.
“Imagine van de Beek alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, being fed.
"In the last three seasons, if you put him up against any of the midfielders in the Premier League, in terms of goal involvements, he's second, only to Kevin de Bruyne."
With 40 goals and 29 assists in his last three seasons at Ajax, it's clear to see why rivalling De Bruyne for goal contributions would have people salivating over the prospect of seeing him play at United, and Solskjaer echoed that sentiment, saying:
"Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.
“His ability to see space, time his movements and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position."
Ultimately, having promised so much hype upon arrival, the Dutchman's career has gone on a downward spiral since joining the club and the 2019 Ballon d'Or nominee is desperate to leave after a rotten three years in Manchester.
What has gone wrong for Van de Beek at Man United?
In three years, the midfielder has only managed six Premier League starts and two goals, one on his debut and one in Solskjaer's last game in charge with a further 30 games coming from the bench.
During his time at the club, the 26-year-old has failed to impress any of his United managers which led to a loan move to Everton in January 2022, although he hoped this would be the catalyst to resurrect his career, the confidence shot midfielder failed at the Toffees too, managing just seven appearances in the league.
Manchester United'sDonnyvandeBeekapplauds fans after the match
With his confidence on the ground, Van de Beek's last hope of rekindling his Man United career was the arrival of his former manager, Erik ten Hag, in the summer of 2022.
The Dutchman would get a few chances last season but struggled to impress, failing to score in ten outings, before suffering a knee injury in January that ended his campaign.
Any hopes of him featuring this season were quickly halted by his exclusion from their 25-man squad for the Champions League group stages while in their opening five Premier League fixtures, van de Beek hasn't even made the bench.
From becoming one of the most productive midfielders on the planet, it's a shame how the talented midfielder's career has unravelled at United but at 26-years-old, there is still time for him to resurrect his footballing powers elsewhere and showcase why he was initially branded the "next Scholes".
Whilst Newcastle United currently sit outside of the Premier League's top four and have just suffered a 2-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund, Eddie Howe's side have shown plenty of glimpses that they're more than capable of making it back-to-back Champions League qualifications this season.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, they've been rather unlucky when it comes to their recent transfer dealings. On paper, it looked like the Magpies had enjoyed yet another solid summer of arrivals. Since then, however, Harvey Barnes has been sidelined through injury and Sandro Tonali has been handed a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.
With that said, Newcastle have reportedly made a move to welcome a former Manchester United man in an off-field boost that should see them return to their best in the transfer market.
Newcastle United transfer news
Since their big-money takeover, Newcastle have made several smart choices to give Howe the best chance when turning the Magpies into one of the Premier League's top sides. They instantly welcomed Dan Ashworth, who did an excellent job as Brighton & Hove Albion's technical director before taking the role of sporting director at St James' Park. Ashworth's influence saw them welcome the likes of Alexander Isak and Sven Botman, who have both played large parts in Newcastle's recent rise.
Now, according to Dutch newspaper AD, Newcastle have reached an agreement with Marcel Bout. The former Manchester United scout will reportedly take up a role based in the Netherlands and will be asked to travel around the world in search of the Magpies' next best talents.
Bout previously spoke about Newcastle, saying via Sport Witness: “I have recently come into contact with Newcastle. The steady expansion of the club appeals to me. I’m also happy to be back in England and at Champions League level.”
Players Marcel Bout has scouted
Admittedly, Bout's Manchester United career when working alongside Louis van Gaal and others didn't exactly go all too well, perhaps making Newcastle's appointment a risky one. A number of Bout's scouted players failed to ever make their mark at Old Trafford – some of which you can see below.
Players Man Utd signed under Bout
Angel di Maria
Luke Shaw
Anthony Martial
Memphis Depay
Paul Pogba
Nonetheless, time away from football and the Premier League may have handed Bout the chance to improve and go again. He certainly has the experience for a role such as Newcastle United's, now it's simply about proving his expertise once and for all. It's often harsh to judge members of Manchester United's staff on one stint, too, given how difficult an environment Old Trafford has become in the last decade or so.
Like his position at United, the scout won't be short on resources at Newcastle, who will be hoping to continue their transformation into a top Premier League club in the coming years by using Bout's potential recommendations. After the Magpies' reported appointment of Bout, their transfers will certainly be an interesting watch.
Glasgow Rangers head into the international break off the back of a disappointing week as they lost the Old Firm clash 1-0 on Sunday after their 5-1 defeat to PSV their Champions League qualifier in midweek.
How did Rangers lose to Celtic?
The Light Blues were on the back foot for the majority of the first half as Michael Beale's tactic appeared to be to sit back and soak up the pressure at Ibrox.
Kyogo Furuhashi had a glorious chance to open the scoring as Matt O’Riley sent him one-on-one against Jack Butland down the right channel but the Japan international saw his effort blocked by Connor Goldson.
The home side then thought they had the lead as Cyriel Dessers squared for Kemar Roofe to slam the ball in, only for the referee to rule it out for a foul in the build-up by the Gers number nine after a VAR check.
Kyogo then found his shooting boots just before halftime as a mistake from Goldson at the back allowed him to rifle a terrific half-volley into the bottom corner.
That said, the Gers centre-back wasn't the only underperformer as £4m signing Cyriel Dessers was also below par.
How did Cyriel Dessers perform against Celtic?
There were a number of disappointing performances on the pitch for the Gers and Dessers was arguably the worst of the lot as he struggled badly at the top end of the pitch.
Whilst Goldson was caught out with a poor header that led to Kyogo's goal, the English central defender also made a number of vital interventions, including his heroic block to deny the Japanese forward earlier in the match, and recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.5 – the highest of any Rangers player.
The Nigeria international, however, did very little to redeem himself in a lacklustre display in his first experience of the Old Firm clash due to a lack of physicality and quality on the ball.
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.
Chris Sutton bemoaned the lack of bravery in possession by Rangers during the Sky Sports commentary of the game but the midfield and full-backs were not helped by a lack of movement ahead of them at times.
Dessers did make a few interesting runs in behind to stretch the Celtic defence but did not do it often enough to forge any real chances and looked far too isolated at times due to his failure to pick up intelligent positions to receive the ball and link up the play.
This was reflected in his passing numbers as he ended the match with a meagre six completed passes out of 13 attempted, which is a success rate of just 46%, as per Sofascore.
With those touches, the 6 foot 1 flop managed to complete one of his two attempted dribbles and missed one 'big chance' as he failed to make the most of a creative pass from Todd Cantwell into the box.
He also lost six of his eight ground duels as the Nigerian frontman allowed Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales to dominate him on the deck with ease, which meant that the ball continually came back towards Rangers' goal as he was unable to retain possession or hold it up to help out his teammates.
Evidently, Dessers was the Old Firm villain for Beale as his poor performance, on and off the ball, played a significant role in their struggles going forward, whereas Goldson had one dreadful moment but fortunately regained composure to put in a solid display.
Aston Villa moving for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso this summer under Unai Emery would not be a 'complete surprise', according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
Is Giovani Lo Celso moving to Aston Villa?
According to Birmingham Live, Lo Celso is on a list of targets at Villa Park this summer; nevertheless, Tottenham are likely to ask for an obligation to buy to be included in any prospective loan deal for the £70k-a-week ace.
Napoli have also been in the mix to sign the Argentina international in this off-season, though they could pull the plug on their interest due to the contract renewal of Piotr Zielinski.
Spanish journalist Javi Miguel claimed earlier in the window that Barcelona manager Xavi requested to his employers' hierarchy that La Blaugrana target Lo Celso alongside Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo and now-signed midfielder Oriol Romeu.
Nevertheless, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor indicated that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou would be keen to keep Lo Celso around this term alongside teammate Tanguy Ndombele, stating to GIVEMESPORT: "I would keep both players, and it looks like Postecoglou will do that despite interest from elsewhere."
Last term, Lo Celso, who has been hailed as "technically gifted", featured 29 times in all competitions on loan at Villarreal, registering two goals and three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.
His future at Tottenham remains up in the air and transfer insider Jones wouldn't be shocked to see him link up with Aston Villa boss Emery in the West Midlands.
Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones stated: "He’s had a good pre-season yet still serious doubts remain over whether he has a future at Spurs and if that drags on it would not be a complete surprise to see Emery look into whether an agreement can be found. To be fair, Lo Celso probably has more chance of succeeding under Ange than anyone else in the recent past but if even now he can’t find a role in the set-up then he really does have to get out of there."
What next for Aston Villa?
Aston Villa are shaping up well ahead of the new campaign and have been savvy in the transfer market, recruiting three additions in the form of Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres, as per Transfermarkt.
Reports from Spain transcribed via Sport Witness claim that Barcelona forward Ferran Torres is another potential arrival at Villa Park and they are still pushing to land his signature.
Football Insider have revealed that former Wolves winger Adama Traore has emerged as a surprise target for Aston Villa this summer and is being pursued by Emery due to his 'pace and cutting edge' that could be put to use in the final third.
Czech outlet Idnez via METRO have signalled that Manchester United backup goalkeeper Matej Kovar is being courted by the Villans to provide competition for Emiliano Martinez and Robin Olsen between the sticks.
Sparta Prague and clubs in Germany are keen to snap up the 23-year-old stopper; nevertheless, they are put off by the £6 million price tag set by Manchester United.
Over the next few weeks, Aston Villa could be set to shake things up and bring in further squad depth as they get ready to juggle both domestic and European football in 2023/24.
The fresh feeling around Burnley, generated by Vincent Kompany’s attacking, free-flowing football and a glorious promotion back to the top flight, has opened a realm of new transfer opportunities.
The club are heading in the right direction and Turf Moor has become a realistic home for young prospects.
Another played tipped to join the Clarets’ revolution is Johan Bakayoko.
Burnley transfer news – what's the latest?
On 11 August, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Burnley had asked for the conditions on a Bakayoko deal and Kompany was driving the interest.
However, the Italian journalist reaffirmed that it isn't an easy deal as many clubs are chasing the PSV winger, with the Dutch outfit set to command a ‘big fee’ to sanction his departure.
But, according to Sacha Tavolieri, a recent development has emerged which has seen Everton open talks for Bakayoko, and they are set to make an ‘official approach.’
This is likely to prompt a domino effect, encouraging Burnley to accelerate their interest in the deliciously talented youngster.
Who is Johan Bakayoko?
Featuring predominantly as a right-winger for various PSV youth sides and the senior team, Bakayoko has registered 62 goal contributions in 105 appearances from this position and formed a formidable reputation for his skilful dribbling, hypnotic technique, and blistering directness.
Last season, the Belgian bagged nine goals and crafted six assists in 30 starts across all competitions, with ten of those coming in the Eredivisie.
Although is still in the infancy of his career, the £12k-per-week sensation has resoundingly demonstrated that he is untouchable in the Dutch top flight. Over the past 365 days, in comparison to his positional peers outside of Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks within the top 10% for assists per 90, shot-creating actions per 90, progressive carries per 90, and successful take-ons per 90.
His form has generated huge acclaim from former PSV manager and Manchester United Ruud van Nistelrooy, who said: “He is so dominant. He’s a boy who, if he continues to invest in what he’s doing now, hopefully at the end of the season can make a nice step towards first. He’s worked hard on multiple facets of his game, and that’s showing through now. Maintaining this level in the longer term is his goal.”
Bakayoko has seemingly fulfilled his target and looks set to embark on a new challenge.
The right-wing spot at Burnley is there for the taking too.
In the club’s season opener against Manchester City, Luca Koleosho began in that position but failed to make any meaningful impact. In 61 minutes, the attacker failed to record any accurate long balls and crosses or forge any successful dribbles, as Burnley were defeated 3-0 by the reigning European champions.
Of course, it is hard to judge a player in these circumstances on his Premier League debut against the most elite opposition. However, to place a large portion of trust with less than ten senior appearances to his name is extremely risky, and the club could clearly benefit from the arrival of an exciting prospect such as Bakayoko. Indeed, he would surely represent a big upgrade.
Tottenham Hotspur are "informed on the conditions" required to land an exciting forward described as being "born to score", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.
Tottenham Hotspur news – what is the latest?
It has been a real summer of ups and downs for the Spurs faithful this year, with brilliant signings and painful departures.
On the positive side of things, the club have been able to genuinely improve elements of the first team with the signing of the ever-exciting James Maddison and the Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
The arrival of Manor Solomon, whilst not necessarily improving the first eleven, is clearly still a positive addition and should help to strengthen the squad as a whole.
Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…
However, for as good as those three are and as convincing as Ange Postecoglou has been, the exit of club talisman Harry Kane is an enormous blow to the side's attacking output, an output that the current crop of forwards do not seem equipped to replace.
With that in mind, it appears that Spurs have identified one of Europe's most exciting and prolific goalscorers as the man who could potentially come in and help the team find those 20-plus goals a season they are bound to lose in the absence of Kane, Gift Orban.
According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, the north Londoners have "appreciated" the youngster for some time now and are well aware of what is required to bring him to N17 this summer.
He explained the situation on his Here We Go podcast, saying:
"Orban is appreciated, Tottenham are informed on the conditions of the deal so let's see if they decide to bid. At the moment, they have not sent any bid. I saw some rumours saying it's close or something like that; no, there is no bid yet. It can't be close without a bid.
"Tottenham know the conditions of the deal, [they have] been following the player for a long time. I told you this two weeks ago on here that they like Gift Orban, but at the moment nothing else evolved yet."
How many goals has Gift Orban scored?
It has been a rapid rise to fame for the 21-year-old former Stabæk striker, with prolific form propelling him to the forefront of transfer lists across the continent.
So far, the Nigeria under-23 star has scored 44 senior club goals and provided nine assists in just 50 appearances in Belgium and Norway, which is only 37 fewer than Richarlison's 81 career goals at club level.
In his 16 league appearances for Gent last year, the "superb finisher" scored 15 goals, provided two assists, won four Man-of-the-Match awards and averaged a genuinely impressive match rating of 7.40, per WhoScored.
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With a goal involvement on average every 85 minutes in senior football, it isn't hard to see why Spurs are interested in the player that football talent scout Jacek Kulig described as "born to score."
With Kane out the door and their current crop of forwards struggling in front of goal, the Lilywhites need to do what they can to secure Orban's services before he inevitably joins one of Europe's super clubs and continues to score for fun on the biggest stage.