They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but in Wilfried Zaha’s case after Saturday’s mauling of 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park, the old saying may well be much further from the truth.
To put it simply, the Ivorian forward was unstoppable as Nuno Espirito Santo and his Spurs side felt the full force of Zaha who completely tormented new signing Emerson Royal and their much depleted back-line.
Patrick Vieira could not have asked for a better way to record his first win as Crystal Palace boss, in such a manner against his old fierce rivals from his own playing days.
A renewed, reinvigorated Zaha, a clinical double from new signing Odsonne Edouard and a promising cameo from Palace’s other exciting new summer addition Michael Olise means Crystal Palace are a club progressively on its way to much clearer waters in the Barclays Premier League.
The concerns and doubts that had understandably arisen over their creativity and clinical edge in the final third from their first few games under Vieira were completely blown away in an enthralling second-half performance in their 3-0 win over Tottenham who came into the game unbeaten and two points clear at the top of the early Premier League table.
On the eve of their London-derby fixture against West Ham before the international break, Palace faced much criticism for their lack of incision and cutting edge in creating chances following their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, their 0-0 draw at home against newcomers Brentford and their very premature Carabao cup exit against Watford at Vicarage Road losing 1-0.
However, fast forward a couple weeks and Vieira’s men have now scored 5 goals in two games. You wait a long time for a South London bus, and soon after you get a variety of them arriving in quick succession.
Against their London rivals West Ham and Tottenham that famous comical theme reigned supreme. Much of that will of course be placed on the brilliant Connor Gallagher who hit two superb strikes against West Ham and continued his soaring emergence against Spurs, or the clinical edge of their exciting new addition Odsonne Edouard or of course Palace’s new found confidence under Vieira, however, it was down to their old dog and reliable talisman Wilfried Zaha who looks more hungrier than ever.
Japhet Tanganga’s red card for two silly bookings in quick succession early in a then-goalless second half certainly allowed Palace the opportunity to exploit the space vacated by the young defender, but the question was whether Palace would be clinical enough to actually take advantage, an opportunity they regularly failed to exploit under Roy Hodgson in the past.
However, those former concerning traits were put to bed in an instant and Wilfried Zaha’s faultless performance proved the catalyst for Palace’s Saturday lunchtime success.
It will be Edouard’s two ruthless finishes that steal the limelight and not since James Vaughan’s impressive hat-trick on his own Palace debut over a decade ago this week has the Palace faithful been entertained by a fine display of finishing by a striker tasting first appearance in Palace colours, but the usual sight of Zaha racing down the left-flank at full speed remains worth the admission fee alone.
Certainly fans are used to such a sight, they are expectant of it – especially on a more consistent basis – because of the Ivorian’s immeasurable abilities but with this current crop of players under Vieira’s tutelage, Odsonne Edouard, Connor Gallagher and Michael Olise (remember the superfluous Ebere Eze is still to return from injury), Zaha may finally possess the tools to become a prominent Premier League player alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah, Jack Grealish and so on and so forth.
For too long, Zaha has wowed only for a moment to then fade back into obscurity, seeming disinterested, lacking motivation and failing to live up to his in-house hype.
For the opening three league matches of the season, Zaha had been in that all too similar zone which in the past had been Palace’s own undoing. When Zaha doesn’t perform, the whole team follows suit and suffers as a result.
But now, things have changed, he may not have to do things on his own. Finally, he holds wealth of talents alongside him to entertain, capture the imagination of the Palace faithful and to most importantly link up expertly with.
Against Tottenham, we saw just that. Looking and feeling confident, enjoying linking up with the likes of Connor Gallagher and Edouard when he came on, buoyed by the perceived injustice and the energy of the crowd putting in a match-defining performance.
Finally, Palace have a squad potentially capable of matching Zaha’s abilities and ambitions.
In full flight, Wilfried Zaha is electrifying, bordering on unplayable even for the most accomplished full-backs as Emerson Royal found out on his Tottenham debut.
Also keeping his cool to not react too aggressively to Japhet Tanganga and risk a red card himself, before the Spurs defender then walked for a second booking after a lunging challenge on Jordan Ayew soon afterwards, was to Zaha’s credit.
This is a new and improved footballer, a mature but rampant and electrifying one.
For so long, there has been little in Palace’s side to take the pressure off Zaha, and even in the early stages of this season, it was unclear whether anyone other than on-loan midfielder Gallagher could offer playing on the same wavelength. But credit must go to the recruitment team at Selhurst Park and Patrick Vieira for identifying the issue and quickly addressing it.
As we saw in Edouard’s first of his two goals, Zaha providing the assist and a much more capable player confidently taking on the pass to clinically find the back of the net. This is what Zaha has desired all long, for the club to sign players who can complement his game. Odsonne Edouard is a footballer who fits the mould, someone who could assist Zaha and vice-versa.
Let’s take a mention Palace’s new and exciting attacking crop of players again: Connor Gallagher, Michael Olise, Ebere Eze, Odsonne Edouard and Jordan Ayew. This is Wilfried Zaha’s Selhurst Park dream, to play with the best footballing talents, and the Ivorian international can finally now lead the club into an exciting new era.
With Hector Bellerin strongly desiring to be part of the Arsenal exodus, Mikel Arteta felt it was necessary Arsenal went in search of an elite right-back replacement despite already possessing the likes of Cedric and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to choose from.
The Arsenal boss personally pushed the hardest for the club to recruit Takehiro Tomiyasu, and in the end they got their man on transfer deadline day. Tomiyasu, 22, who can play at either centre-back or right-back, signed for £16m on a four-year deal.
(Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
When Arsenal’s recruitment staff submitted their list of targets for the summer window, 22-year-old Bologna defender Tomiyasu was amongst that list.
For the right-back spot, Arsenal targeted a specific profile, one who won’t bomb forward like a Kieran Tierney on the opposite flank but can tuck into the central areas in possession, enabling the team to build up within a back-three while Tierney stood high-and-wide on the left-flank, if so desired.
Arsenal were also in need of a player who could provide adequate cover and combine with new £50million pound man Ben White on the right side of defence. Tomiyasu is seen by Arteta as the kind of “hybrid” player he needs. The Japanese international has predominantly played at right-back and centre-back and has also occasionally filled in at right wing-back for Bologna.
Bologna’s asymmetrical system and philosophy is similar to Arsenal’s in that the team defends in a back-four, but when in possession, the system shifts to a three-man back-line.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Tomiyasu is incredibly adept in possession but also possesses the height, build and physical presence that Arsenal desperately need in their back-line. So far this campaign, Arsenal have been bullied and imposed on by all three of their opponents because of their lack of dominant figures within their defence. Tomiyasu provides that characteristic first and foremost.
The versatile defender is also relatively two-footed, meaning that if he is pressed as is regularly the case in the Premier League, he is more than capable of evading it, progressing the ball with his left-foot.
In fact, his stats in possession is very promising. He is fairly accurate in both his short and long passes recording a success rate of 90% and 68% respectively. Tomiyasu is a fine ball-progressor without being too extravagant or out of the ordinary, he performs his role in possession very professionally and astutely, averaging 4.17 progressive passes per 90.
As befitting of a player who is capable playing both at full-back or as a central defender, one of Tomiyasu’s strengths lies in his ability and willingness to drive forward with the ball at his feet. As stated previously, his positioning as a central defender almost exclusively as part of a back three, Bologna often have numerical superiority in their build-up play.
This means that as Tomiyasu receives the ball in these areas he often has the space and time to receive and to drive forward in possession. While he is more than capable of playing line-breaking progressive passes into the middle third of the pitch, he can also carry the ball forward aggressively and confidently in order to drive his team up the pitch.
Last season, the Japanese defender averaged 4.14 progressive carries and 1.23 carries into the final-third highlighting his incredible bravery, willingness to take the responsibility of his team’s ball progression on himself.
Possessing central defenders who are confident in possession of the ball as they build attacks is an extremely effective and prominent method of ball progression. Tomiyasu’s courage in performing such moves will certainly aid Arsenal’s building of attacks significantly. While they gain ground towards the opposition goal, they force the opposing defence to divert from their midfield block and engage the ball which then creates an opportunity for the ball to be played into pockets of space where players like Emile Smith-Rowe or Martin Odegaard tend to thrive in as they look to disrupt the opposition defensive structure.
Across the 2020/21 campaign, Tomiyasu averaged 6.88 passes into the final third per90. He possesses the unique ability to perform line-breaking passes that accesses the more forward-thinking players directly in front of him. The 22-years is also intelligent enough to realise that performing such a pass may not always work so he progresses the ball on the outside with a first or second-line pass to open up proceedings.
As good as he is on the ball, his ability to defend spaces and engage his opponents is just as effective. Arsenal significantly require a defender who is so combative and adept at defending 1v1 and the spaces in behind the defence. During the 2020/21, Tomiyasu averaged 3.11 tackles + interceptions, 1.95 blocks and 4.80 clearances per 90 highlighting his intelligence and dominance when engaging opposition attacking moves.
Tomiyasu is a defender who relies on his pace, athleticism and imposing figure to shepherd attackers out of possession or sweep balls in front of his back-line. He is very intelligent and displays very good levels of anticipation and concentration when defending, especially against wingers with quick feet and swift changes of pace.
Tomiyasu will be faced with a lot these attackers in the Premier League, but its a task that he is perfectly capable in overcoming, arguably better at it than anyone in Arsenal’s back-line. He rarely switches off or makes an obvious positional error but he also holds the ability to quickly re-position his hips to switch defensive stances, and stand up against his opponents covering all areas of the pitch in the defensive third.
Through his positional versatility, Tomiyasu is capable of defending when pulled out and isolated wide or when the ball is played over the top and he has to recover space and defend towards his own goal.
When defending the spaces in front of his defensive line, Tomiyasu typically impresses. He is more comfortable as the free defender than defending with a striker pressed up against him but his ability to anticipate opposition movements and read attacking moves means that he is quick in plugging an potential gaps that may arise in his team’s defensive line.
He is superb in his all-round defending whether within a defensive unit, keeping the defensive line, remaining intact and solid or when faced up with situations that he has to deal with himself. Tomiyasu is imposing, flexible, strong, very agile but also very adept and effective aerially. Last season, he won 64.6% of his aerial duels, 3.51 per 90 minutes marking him out as the seventh best in the air in Serie A in winning (106) duels. He is just what Arsenal need aerially when defending set-pieces especially as shown through Manchester City’s first goal headed in by one of the shortest players on the pitch in Ilkay Gundogan in their 5-0 rout. Tomiyasu is perfectly capable to address those weaknesses aerially shown through Callum Chambers and Rob Holding’s poor defending.
Tomiyasu sitting alongside the likes of Ben White, Gabriel and Tierney in a back-four come back-three when building from the back already sounds like an exciting prospect for Arsenal fans and may just be Mikel Arteta’s intended defensive lineup for the foreseeable future.
As Tomiyasu’s career in Europe has blossomed, so has his standing at international level. The 22-yeard-old defender has already represented Japan at every level from the under-13s right through to the senior side, now sitting at 23 caps and is vastly becoming a valued member and a key outlet for Japan’s defence.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has swiftly morphed into one of the most modern defenders currently playing in Europe’s top five leagues. His athleticism, mobility, physical presence, tactical awareness combined with his willingness and courage to join the attacking phase in possession of the ball makes him a very telling contributor.
It’s no surprise that Tomiyasu has outgrown Bologna and is now ready to perform at the top-level in the Barclays Premier League for Arsenal, considerably making them a much better defensive outfit too. Do not be surprised to see the Japanese defender somehow make the team of the season come May, he’s that good as well as consistent and reliable. Remember, Mikel Arteta personally pushed for this move so Tomiyasu already looks every bit a very smart buy tasked in improving Arsenal’s fortunes this season.
Crystal Palace have enjoyed a productive, efficient and tremendous summer transfer window transforming what was an ageing, rigid and in-balanced squad into arguably one of the most exciting outside the Premier League’s so called ‘top-six’ clubs.
New coach Patrick Vieira has been significantly backed in this window, and now possesses a thrilling group of players at his disposal, filled with youthful exuberance, quality, precision, industry and dynamism, a far cry from the depleted squad Roy Hodgson possessed in the latter years of his reign.
The squad desperately needed a revamp, a refreshed outlook and Vieira has now got what he needs to take the club into the next level.
Roy Hogdson could only take the club as far as he could, year-after-year consummately steering them away from the dreaded state of relegation, and therefore solidifying their positioning as a stable Premier League outfit.
Vieira will now be tasked in leading this new-look Palace side into much more loftier waters, and the players he now holds at his disposal means the expectations to deliver are now higher than ever.
Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Michael Olise, Will Hughes, and Connor Gallagher have all been recruited to provide the club with a much more attractive and pleasing-on-the-eye outfit, one that will certainly excite the Selhurst Park faithful.
Though, arguably the most exciting capture of the lot could certainly be the dramatic transfer deadline day capture of Celtic’s French goal-machine Odsonne Edouard, bought for a fee of around £14.67m.
The 23-year-old became Palace’s seventh signing of the summer in a deal that could potentially rise as high as £18 million via add-ons, depending upon the level of success Edouard enjoys at Selhurst Park.
The whole deal in all fairness plainly reads ‘bargain’.
There is much for Palace fans to be excited about in Crystal Palace’s acquisition of Edouard. The club have for a long while needed a consistent goalscorer, or even a player who exudes goals not just in scoring them but creating them also.
The Paris Saint-Germain academy product’s ability is far from limited to just his goalscoring, but it is his record in finding the back of the net that firstly stands out above all else.
Since his move to Celtic Park from Paris Saint-Germain, his goalscoring record reads at 77 goals in 150 games for the Scottish giants, an astonishing rate.
Every single season, Edouard is guaranteed over 20 goals. 23 during the 2018/19 first domestic treble winning campaign under Brendan Rodgers, 29 in another treble triumph during the 2019/20 season and 22 goals last season while Celtic unfortunately finished trophyless.
Despite a healthy goal-return last season, Edouard did have his difficulties largely as a result of him wanting a move away from Scotland to a much bigger outfit. There is now an opportunity for the striker to kick on in a career where his impressive rise has somewhat faltered.
The promise of a move away from Celtic before the 2020/21 campaign failed to materialise, leaving him unsettled, but he still recorded such impressive numbers scoring 22 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions. He averaged a goal every 99 minutes in the Scottish Premiership last season, a superb return by anyone’s standards.
His underlying stats were excellent, with an average expected goals (xG) of 0.74 per 90 minutes, and 0.21 expected assists (xA) per 90 meaning the Frenchman is an incredibly efficient goalscorer as well as a flamboyant creator. Crystal Palace hugely require both, as evidenced by their only two goals in the opening 3 Premier League games so far.
Can’t tell you how excited I am about Odsonne Edoaurd deal to Crystal Palace. Arguably their best and most impressive deal of the summer.
Evidently clear Vieira needs creativity and goals at Selhurst Park, with Edouard they can potentially kill two birds with one stone.
At times so far this season, Vieira’s attacks have often looked disjointed, or lacking in any real precision and fluidity until Connor Gallagher stepped up to the plate in Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke’s influential absence against West Ham. In Edouard, Palace can potentially kill two birds with one stone solving both their goalscoring deficiencies and their imbalance when creating chances.
Edouard is a tremendously elegant and multi-functional player. The Frenchman oozes confidence and quality when he steps on the pitch. Up-front maybe his natural position, but his contributions and influence in attack run deeper. This is a footballer who is very technically gifted, with a deceptively good first touch, terrific close control and a vast range of finishing.
As well as being a ruthless goalscorer, Edouard recorded impressive assist numbers in the SPFL, 21 in his five years at Celtic Park, showcasing his creative spark and abilities in the final third.
Edouard regularly acts as the team’s main creative hub from the front in order to create space and opportunities for his teammates. He loves to drop into the half-space to exchange passes before moving into spaces vacated by the defence. While its so effective and complimentary of Celtic’s attacking play, it is also bamboozling for opposing defenders, they are often left confused as to who to mark.
We all know Crystal Palace need such a player, for too long during Roy Hodgson’s tenure, they’ve heavily relied on the spark and creativity of Wilfried Zaha, often looking lost and hopeless without him. Now under Vieira, Palace possess players who can unlock defences in abundance. Odsonne Edouard is the common denominator, potentially along with Ebere Eze when he returns from injury and Michael Olise too – a trio of creative enforcers who will tantalize the taste buds of Crystal Palace fans.
Edouard’s dribbling abilities emerge from his South American roots. He is rarely exuberant or the showboating type with the ball, but he exhibits an effective use of his control in tight spaces and a technique which few players in the Scottish division can match. It’s abilities such as this, his fantastic movement, and effective link-up play making him such a dangerous outlet within the final third.
Averaging both 0.70 goals per 90 minutes, and 0.15 assists per 90, it’s no wonder why he was the Scottish Premiership’s most deadliest forward.
His goals and assist ratio per 90 last year, read at 0.85. The forward is a creative phenom, performing as Celtic’s driving force spearheading almost every attacking scenario.
Palace have acquired a striker who is more than just a goalscorer. There’s not many strikers in the Premier League currently who can boast at such a wealth of versatile qualities.
It is his movement and positioning which stands out in particular, while the 23-year-old has also demonstrated many of the features required for the role he will likely play under Vieira; excellent at dropping deep, linking up with his fellow forwards, drifting wide and spearheading Vieira’s knack for playing a possession-based game.
That constant movement and mobility will aid Palace’s game considerably, with Edouard just as good in the air as he is with his feet. He is considerably more agile, more flexible and more intelligent than Christian Benteke, whilst also capable of creating openings on his own rather than relying on others to provide for him – as Benteke’s game is based.
Edouard is also highly adaptable too. He has performed admirably and consistently despite the changes in philosophy Celtic underwent in the past few years, from the patient possession-based system under Brendan Rodgers, to the risk-taking approach under former manager Neil Lennon. It is a sign of his suitability to different systems and his versatility also.
He possesses the pass and move intelligence to perform well in a possession-based system and the speed of thought, movement and clinical edge to also thrive in a pressing, and counter-attacking system.
Edouard fits perfectly into the Palace’s refreshing model of recruitment this summer. The risky decision to prioritise youth to reach a degree of sustainability will have been factored heavily in this move. The silky forward will provide plenty of competition for Benteke, but it also means Palace will possess two very different forwards: one who fits Vieira’s mode of playing and the other who will strongly disrupt and dispel opposition forwards to aid his teammates, an effective plan B.
It provides an alternative style of forward player who can be utilised effectively when switching between game-plans during matches. More importantly though, Palace will now no longer just be the defensively resolute and counter-attacking side they were under Roy Hodgson, they will hopefully be more fluid, more expansive and certainly more clinical with the addition of the brilliant Odsonne Edouard.
Lining up alongside Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher and Wilfried Zaha will certainly be an absolutey thrilling prospect for Patrick Vieira to unleash, possessing arguably the most exciting of forward lines in the Premier League.
How Crystal Palace could line-up with a fully fit squad to choose from:
If the giant strides Odsonne Edouard enjoyed at Celtic is replicated at Premier League level then the fee, reduced anyway as a result of only having a year left on his contract in Glasgow, then the 23-year-old will prove a yet another superb bargain as Palace continue their impressive transition this summer.
Building such an alternate side takes time, but the capture of a player possessing the abilities of Odsonne Edouard can only compliment Palace’s rebuild even further. What a magnificent summer Crystal Palace have had.
New RB Leipzig head coach Jesse Marsch believes his side have “probably the most strength in depth in the (German) Bundesliga” ahead of the start of the 2021/22 season.
A bold claim made by Red Bull Salzburg’s former boss, but a claim that could well prove true in the context of Leipzig’s summer business. While supposed ‘title rivals’ Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have arguably grown weaker this summer, Leipzig have taken advantage through another period of steady growth, recruitment & development.
Ever since their rapid emergence on the scene in the German Bundesliga in 2016/17, Leipzig have been a breath of fresh air providing a huge sense of euphoria, energy and optimism around the country. The brand of football introduced by the Red-Bull has allowed the Bundesliga to now become one of the most entertaining leagues in the world.
The club didn’t earn their place into the Bundesliga just to make up the numbers. They have more than made their mark, only finishing outside the top four, once in the last five years, finishing sixth in 2018. In the last five years, they’ve finished second, third, sixth, third, third and last year finished second 13 points behind the ever-dominant Bayern Munich.
This season, they aim to go that one step further – towards an unprecedented first German Bundesliga triumph, ending Bayern Munich’s nine year dominance. Leipzig won’t be doing it with Nagelsmann though, who departed to their title rivals in May.
However, they’ve introduced a familiar face.
Arguably the club’s greatest capture this summer, American tactician Jesse Marsch returned to Leipzig, where he had been assistant to Ralf Rangnick in 2018/19, following a successful two-year stint in charge at Red Bull Salzburg.
Known for his fresh, vibrant and exciting style to management, especially his high-energy, intensity and counter-pressing attacking approach which will almost certainly give the Leipzig faithful more reason to be optimistic so soon after Julian Nagelsmann’s departure to Bayern Munich.
This summer, Bayern continued its long-held practice of snatching up top talent from its biggest German rivals, nabbing Nagelsmann and also star center back Dayot Upamecano after the 12-year-old club finished second in the Bundesliga last season. Bayern might not be done raiding either, with recent reports linking them to influential Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.
Jesse Marsch left an exciting squad in Austria, soon after winning league and cup double to join an even much more exciting squad at Leipzig.
The American coach will be taking the reins of a side currently brimming with thrilling talent, including Dani Olmo, Emil Forsberg, Christopher Nkunku, Josko Gvardiol, Marcel Sabitzer (who could be on the move to Munich), Dominik Szoboszlai, a player Marsch previously worked with at Salzburg, and also Tyler Adams.
To add to that the new signings brought in certainly brings an added touch of sprinkle dust on a refreshingly built squad. Brian Bobbey, Mohamed Simakan, Josko Gvardiol & devastating goalscorer Andre Silva were brought in, while deals for Angeliño and Benjamin Henrichs were made permanent following their fine loan spells last season.
Such signings mean RB Leipzig are well equipped to push on and challenge former coach Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich for the league title.
“The players have tremendous potential,” Marsch told rblive.com. “I think we probably have the most strength in depth in the league. Theoretically, we could send out two Bundesliga teams. If we’re able to fully unlock that potential, we can have a lot of fun together.”
Indeed, the club and its fans are surely due a bit of fun, entertainment and huge optimism heading into their opening game away to Mainz.
In particular, the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Andre Silva, who finished second top-scorer last term with 28 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances – an astonishing goalscoring record. A move which addresses an area of the squad that had been lacking since Timo Werner’s move to Chelsea in the summer of 2020.
Silva’s unexpected signing is a move which will help bolster what was just the Bundesliga’s sixth most prolific attack in 2020/21 with 60 goals (compared to Bayern’s 99 and Borussia Dortmund’s 75). The Portuguese showed his extraordinary qualities in front of goal last year as Frankfurt narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot.
Silva felt a move to a Champions League playing team was an opportunity he could not turn down. Leipzig will be expecting the forward to continue his goalscoring hot-streak, especially with such superb and dynamic creative players behind him in Dani Olmo, Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Sabitzer and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The latter will be returning from a long injury lay-off , and will be eager to finally get started at his new club after being kept out since his move to Leipzig from Salzburg in the January transfer window.
Szoboszlai as Jesse Marsch already knows, is a player blessed with tremendous creative qualities, and could prove yet another difference maker in a side filled with players with the so-called X-factor.
In Jesse Marsch’s only full season working with Szoboszlai in 2019-20 at Red Bull Salzburg, the Hungarian international was instrumental in helping his side win the domestic double after the mid-season departures of Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino and throughout his time working with Marsch, he scored 21 goals in 62 appearances.
As well as creativity, Leipzig are also blessed with much needed energy, dynamism and cutting thrust in midfield. Players like Amadou Haidara, Tyler Adams, Konrad Laimer, Kevin Kampl along with their talisman Marcel Sabitzer. Midfielders bagged with so much quality, certainly allows Marsch room to rotate in what will be a demanding season.
Possessing such midfielders means Leipzig will be a destructive team to play against, with their usual high-intensity, pressing and counter-pressing style, but with more need potency and creativity in attack. A perfectly balanced unit.
Leipzig will be looking to be within a shot of winning the league title when the time comes.
For the future, Brian Brobbey was signed on a free from Ajax – something Jesse Marsch heavily vouched for, even admitting that he visited the player in Amsterdam and told him that he was keen to work with him after the young Dutchman had doubts about joining following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure.
Additionally, Leipzig once again used the Red Bull connections to agree a deal for highly-rated midfielder Caden Clark in the winter transfer window from the New York Red Bulls. Overall, a busy but effective window, and there could still be another more accomplished centre-half coming through soon.
Despite the departures of Dayot Upamecano, and Ibrahim Konate, RB Leipzig find themselves well stocked at centre-back with new captures Josko Gvardiol who impressed at the Euros for Croatia, Mohamed Simakan, – touted one of Ligue 1’s most talented young centre-backs last term – Nordi Mukiele and the vastly experienced Willi Orbán.
Staying true to the Red Bull philosophy, the average age of their seven signings this summer is just 21.4-years-old, proving once again that they’re focusing on the future. It fits in with the kind of model Jesse Marsch desires to work with, young and vibrant footballers who are willing to learn and improve, with real bags of potential.
There are real expectations for Marsch and the club to perform well this season. A top-four finish and another Champions League berth are the minimum requirements. But whose to say they can’t challenge Bayern Munich, and even go on win the gong? The squad is certainly good enough and capable.
This season may see Bayern Munich possess their most weakest squad in a long time, and its an opportunity Leipzig will be looking to take advantage of.
They’ll be playing under a coach who knows what it takes to win trophies – unlike his predecessor.
In a short space of time, Jesse Marsch has become one of the most highly regarded managers in Europe after an impressive two-season stint with RB Leipzig’s sister-club in Austria, Red Bull Salzburg. Over the two seasons, he won the league and cup double twice, but more impressively, took Salzburg to the Champions League group stages – something they never achieved previously in the Red Bull era, starting in 2005.
There will be plenty of eyes on him, especially from an American perspective. American coaches haven’t always carried the torch well in Europe, and Marsch joins Stuttgart’s Pellegrino Matarazzo as the Bundesliga’s second American head coach. Matarazzo has impressed in recent years, taking Stuttgart up from the second division and keeping them there, and Marsch will hope to excel at a higher level in the table as well as in the Champions League.
Marsch has been open about his desire to press higher and harder than Leipzig did under Nagelsmann, telling reporters last month that the team “will be aggressive to win balls in the attacking part of the field and will be aggressive to convert those turnovers into goals and big chances.” That all spells such exciting news for the Leipzig faithful, who will also be hoping that the club can continue to match it with the best clubs in Europe.
The UEFA Champions League will almost certainly test Marsch’s squad and resolve given that they’re still a Pot 3 team for the group stage, things are unlikely to be smooth sailing. Above them are teams like Chelsea, Manchester City, a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain team now including Lionel Messi, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus and others, meaning there’s a good chance Leipzig will be drawn in a bumper group come September.
Nagelsmann took the club to the Champions League semi-final in the 2019/2020 campaign, a feat that Marsch can only dream of, but its certainly within his remit to have a go at matching.
With his focus on mentality, building a true team and fitness, it would be easy to label Marsch as a stereotypical American type figure; one who places emphasis on team morale, camaraderie and togetherness than tactics. But that is very futher from the truth. Jesse Marsch is a true tactician and technician. The American is intense and very much knows his tactics. He conducts all team business in German. He’s been in the Red Bull family for years.
Jesse Marsch also knows that most of his team already knows his system — it’s essentially what they played for years prior to Nagelsmann’s arrival. He just feels getting Leipzig past Bayern and to an unprecedented Bundesliga title will require a little something more.
The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend, and Arsenal still haven’t addressed their pressing need of acquiring an elite attacking midfielder armed in providing them with the creative abilities to take their game under Mikel Arteta to the next level.
Their pre-season friendly defeat to rivals Tottenham Hotspur was a game which showed a lot of promise, especially the new signings Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga who both put in dominant and assured performances as they continue the acclimatization into their new surroundings.
(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
However, it was a game which looked all to familiar for Arsenal’s supporters, a lot of nice intricate passing around the final third without some real penetration to complement it. Emile Smith-Rowe has been a lovely sight for Arsenal fans, and a welcome one too. A very talented and fresh addition straight from the academy, but he cannot be relied upon to drive Arsenal into that brand new era, its too much responsibility and weight on his shoulders.
Both he and Bukayo Saka need help in those areas.
How the Gunners need the qualities of Mesut Ozil (in his prime), Cesc Fabregas or even Santi Cazorla again, players who were blessed in creating the unthinkable.
You hand them the ball in those dangerous areas, and its as if time stands still. That’s what Mikel Arteta needs right now, its what Arsenal need in order to challenge for those top four places again, or to go even further.
Arsenal are arguably in the same position Manchester United were before January 2020, lacking that incision and precision in the final third before they went out and ferociously addressed that burning desire, signing Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon. Since then, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fortunes as Manchester United boss has dramatically changed – they’re on the upward curve.
Mikel Arteta needs to go out do the same, regardless of the potential risk and cost. Leicester City’s James Maddison is reportedly a top target, however Brendan Rodgers is in no pressure to sell and it would take in the regions of £70m to prize him away from the King Power.
Since James Maddison made his Premier League debut, only Kevin De Bruyne has created more chances in the competition:
🥇 De Bruyne [252] 🥈 Maddison [230] 🥉 Alexander-Arnold [212]
It is a costly risk, one which could very much address Arsenal’s pressing need. Maddison is indeed one of the Premier League’s most reliable creators, especially in those final third areas, as shown above. But, Leicester City are unlikely to sell one of their most prized assets, especially so close to the start of the new season, and without a readied replacement.
Alternatives will need to be considered at the Emirates, quality ones too. So here’s a few cheaper, more attainable and arguably more acquired tastes that could blend in with Arsenal’s game perfectly:
Daichi Kamada, EintrachtFrankfurt
Arguably the best performing Asian footballer in Europe over the past year. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Japanese magician Daichi Kamada is a stunning footballer, an efficient workhorse and a creative maestro.
Have a look at Frankfurt’s attacks and you’ll see how pivotal Kamada is, he is at the centre of almost everything.
His movement, the positions he picks up, the space he occupies and the passes he delivers is simply sublime and a testament to his extraordinary understanding and nous when it comes to creating chances for his teammates.
The Japanese international may be something of an unknown quantity to some Arsenal supporters, but he’s a player who currently deserves some rich acclaim and attention right now.
5 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, as Frankfurt narrowly missed out on an unprecedented Champions League place on the last day of the season. However, it was a stunning campaign for the club and for Kamada personally, and the Japanese is sure to be on a number of top club’s list of targets this summer.
Mikel Arteta would do exceptionally well to consider targeting the source of Frankfurt’s goals.
Daichi Kamada moment of magic and brilliance vs Hertha Berlin was a joy to watch. Andre Silva gave a finish worthy of the move. Happy 25th birthday to the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder. pic.twitter.com/1Is6jqjVdb
Kamada is one of those players who manages to be technically impressive without being flamboyant. Carries the ball neatly, with some sumptuous little touches and swift shifts in direction, and he exploits passing angles and lanes in the attacking third in a way that’s so clever, intricate but unusual.
He’s a unique player, and another one who deserves to test himself at the highest level. 2.90 final third passes, 1.8 key passes and an astonishing 4.05 shot-creating actions per 90 highlights his incredible efficiency and effectiveness in the final third. Kamada has so much to offer, not only in his skill, tenaciousness and technical qualities but in his application and willingness to learn and improve.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, AS Roma
Yet another uniquely gifted midfielder who surprisingly still graces the Stadio Olimpico.
Lorenzo Pellegrini is a Champions League-quality midfielder, who deserves to be playing at the highest level for one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. It’s a shocking surprise that no top club in Europe has managed to trigger his relatively low release clause which stands at around €30million.
Lorenzo Pellegrini would represent an outstanding acquisition for Mikel Arteta simply because of his devastating abilities in the final third. Pellegrini is a creative magician, a technically savvy orchestrator.
The 25-year old would be Arsenal’s very own ‘Bruno Fernandes-type signing’. A player who will fit in swiftly and seamlessly without no bedding-in period, without no teething issues because he is simply that intelligent, classy and decisive.
Traditionally an attacking midfielder, Lorenzo Pellegrini holds all the tools necessary to play anywhere across the midfield. As a deep-lying no.6, a roaming no. 8 and a play-making, creative no.10.
In Paulo Fonseca’s system, he played the attacking midfield role, as a no.10 in their 4-2-3-1 shape or 3-4-2-1, operating just behind Edin Dzeko.
This role allowed him to become the team’s main source of creativity and a hub in which every attacking player can link with. While teams in the current age, have their main creative hubs in the deep-lying positions in front of the defence, Roma’s orchestrator is Lorenzo Pellegrini at no.10.
As well as possessing the qualities to perform in a traditional no.10 role, he’s a more unorthodox attacking midfielder, regularly drifting into the wide areas or half-spaces. It keeps defensive midfielders and the back-line guessing, also causing a state of disruption and panic in their defensive shape.
Arsenal regularly deploy the 4-2-3-1 shape, in which Pellegrini could easily slot in behind the lone frontman. It could well mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to the role up-front, simply because of Pellegrini’s superb ability to pick the unthinkable eye-of-the-needle passes.
The Italian would have been another key figure for European Champions Italy this summer had he not picked up an injury just before the tournament got underway, but he’s a player many cannot ignore.
2.18 key passes, 3.98 final third passes, 4.36 progressive passes and 1.42 passes into the 18-yard box per 90 just highlights Pellegrini’s astonishing abilities to dissect opposition defences at will. A no-brainer acquisition for Arsenal.
Houssem Aouar, Lyon
How Houssem Aouar is not on Arsenal’s list of priorities to fill that no.10 position is simply baffling, even to the Arsenal faithful. It may well be in part because of his latest disciplinary issues at Lyon, however, it is clear the player desires a new challenge elsewhere and Lyon are indeed resigned to losing him in the the near future.
It is an opportunity Arsenal cannot afford to pass up on. Houssem Aouar is a player blessed with such extraordinary technical qualities.
A meticulous ball-player, harnessing the uniqueness of when to hold on to the ball, and when to release it. His amazing sense of gravity and close control means its difficult for his markers to have an understanding of where he’s going or when to dispossess him.
Mikel Arteta craves a player who goes about performing risks in the final third, or taking people on to create space for himself and his forwards. Aouar possesses those unique qualities. He averaged 7.00 progressive carries and 2.47 carries into the final third last season, better than all of Arsenal’s attacking options.
The midfielder also holds such fantastic spatial awareness and capacity to switch directions in an instant. If he finds there’s nowhere to go when dribbling, he’ll instantly change direction with a swift drop of the shoulder and such crisp close control.
Whenever, the ball is at Aouar’s feet, his teammates know something special is about to happen especially within the attacking third. Per 90 last season, he averaged 6 passes into the final third meaning he plays risky passes with such considerable regularity. Stats serving as a true indication as to his incredible expertise in creating chances, further shown through his 5.10 shot-creating actions per90 too.
The 23-year-old only recorded three assists in Ligue 1 last year which is very surprising considering his invention and imagination in the final third, but he’s importance and influence in those areas for Lyon were very stark.
As soon as he picks up the ball, he already has a picture of what he’s going to do, whether to dribble past opponents, or dissect an eye of the needle pass to his forwards. No matter the amount of opponents around him, Aouar holds the balance, silky footwork and quickness of thought required to conjure up magic despite being under pressure.
His ball-carrying capabilities could prove vital to Arsenal’s system, allowing them to get out of trouble but most importantly in creating opportunities and openings in the final third.
Houssem Aouar is also a meticulous and imaginative number 8, and if 4-3-3 really is Arteta’s preferred formation then the French international will potentially fit in seamlessly.
Marcel Sabitzer, RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig’s new coach Jesse Marsch admitted that midfield dynamo Marcel Sabitzer’s future will lie away from Leipzig in the near future, and considering the price the Austrian is currently valued at, Arsenal would do very very well in recruiting his services.
The 26-year-old is available for a cut-price deal at just €18million, an extraordinary bargain, and whoever captures him could well be rewarded with the ‘smartest buy of the summer’ gong.
Marcel Sabitzer is a wonderful midfield performer, but a very orthodox one. To the eye, he’s your regular midfielder who is energetic, technically very good and has a good eye for the pass, but what stands him out so well is that he performs such roles with great application, professionalism and a real cutting edge that even the best teams on the continent would kill for.
He’s very versatile, capable of playing at no.10. at no.8, as a no.6 or even as a left-winger. Sabitzer is so good to watch. No matter where you put him on the pitch, he’ll give you his best.
Capable of cutting defences with such unerring vigour and precision, also capable of running at defences, linking well with his teammates and also holds the unique qualities of picking out the top-corner from all of about 35-yards. He is a jack-of-all-trades type player, and its no wonder new Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is so desperate to reunite with him, after possessing his qualities for Leipzig.
Not only will be brilliant for Bayern Munich, who also desperately need his services but he’d be brilliant for Mikel Arteta. He’s very cheap, attainable and arguably a better player than James Maddison – more consistent in fact. The midfielder averaged 5.38 passes into the final third per90 despite playing in a variety of positions under Nagelsmann, but that owes to his tremendous technical acumen in creating chances no matter where he is on the pitch. Sabitzer also averaged 2.13 passes into the 18-yard box and an outstanding 7.07 progressive passes per 90.
He is not afraid in conjuring up the most outrageous, if you need any evidence, just check out his extraordinary assist for Austria at the Euros, setting up Stefan Lainer with a ridiculous long-raking pass.
It’s that sort of audaciousness in the final third that Arsenal so desperately crave.
Carlos Soler, Valencia
Mikel Arteta will almost certainly be silly if he doesn’t try and recruit a player who is his splitting image on the pitch; Valencia’s Carlos Soler.
Valencia’s creative orchestrator has been due a big move for a long while and Soler is a player ready for the big leagues.
The club are in a bit of a free-fall right now both on the pitch and off it, and are reportedly willing to listen to offers for some of their big names at cut-price deals.
If that is indeed the case, Arsenal should roll the dice and prioritize the signing of Carlos Soler. A tremendously consistent performer, even if his club isn’t registering the points they need.
It’s clear Soler deserves a club who matches his qualities and ambitions. He’s simply too good a player to not be performing on the biggest stages in Europe, whether that is Europa League or the UEFA Champions League.
Despite Valencia’s struggles last season, Soler still managed an astonishing 11 goals and 8 assists in La Liga highlighting his significance to the team, but also his extraordinary abilities.
A wonderfully gifted midfielder who always gives his all in every match he’s involved in. Soler is incredibly versatile too, capable of playing at no.10, no.8 on the flanks and a deep-lying orchestrator, he’d offer so much variation and tactical flexibility when needed.
Soler is as creative as all of the names on this list, providing eight assists last year. He is simply a superb player to watch, and has been on Arsenal’s radar before. He outperformed his expected goals and expected assists, as well as providing 0.26 assists per 90 minutes which means he is one of Europe’s most consistent creators. 1.45 key passes and 5.20 final third passes only highlights his efficiency and nous in those dangerous areas.
Where Valencia would be without Carlos Soler is a matter for another day, but it is about time he moves on from the Mestalla and embarks on a new challenge elsewhere.
Arsenal could certainly prove the most telling environment for him to thrive in.
Manchester City have completed the signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m in the biggest deal in English football history.
The 25-year-old midfielder joins on a six-year deal after the Premier League champions activated the £100m release clause in his Villa contract on Friday.
The transfer fee also breaks the previous record in English football held by Paul Pogba when he re-joined Manchester United for £93.25m from Juventus in 2016.
It’s a deal which also makes Jack Grealish the most expensive British footballer in football history, surpassing Gareth Bale when he joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 for £85million.
The deal marks a stunning statement of intent from Pep Guardiola and Manchester City as the Premier League champions embark on retaining their crown next season.
Jack Grealish has proved one of the most creative players in the Premier League since Aston Villa’s promotion three years ago, whether through his passing, his unerring dribbling with the ball, and his sheer will and bravery to take opponents on, its no surprise Pep Guardiola feels he is the right man to refresh his star-studded squad.
The Aston Villa faithful will of course, be gutted and disheartened at this move, after all Grealish has achieved with the club, not least his remarkable gifts and talents that have rescued them out of various difficult situations since his emergence in the first team.
….£100million for a player with fewer than 100 Premier League appearances, who has never played in Europe, never scored an international goal and who has missed chunks from two of the last three seasons with injury, is in many respects a truly remarkable deal… #avfc
Grealish has indeed become an iconic figure at his boyhood club, but certainly now feels the move to Manchester City, one of the best clubs in Europe and the best in England is one he cannot turn down, especially the lure of playing in Europe’s most prestigious competitions, the UEFA Champions League.
Also, playing under one of football’s most decorated coaches ever in Pep Guardiola is an opportunity many footballers right now would certainly kill for.
At 25 years of age, its an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often, so you’d almost forgive Grealish for making such a huge career decision.
While Aston Villa lick their wounds at the sight of Grealish’s departure, Manchester City and Guardiola will be licking their lips at the sight of possessing one of the best creators in the country and one of the most talented players this great nation has had to offer.
Now, Guardiola will be contemplating with both joy and anguish at how Grealish will fit in at such a talented and world class squad. How do you fit in both Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish in the same XI? How will Guardiola look to improve Jack Grealish? What qualities will Grealish bring, and how will it complement Guardiola’s style?
First and foremost, the 25-year-old will add more of a cutting edge to Manchester City’s play. Guardiola’s side scored 83 goals last season, the most of any team in the division, and possessing someone of Grealish’s ilk will only increase that figure even further.
They do say in a title winning team, that adding more quality to it and improving the following year means even more greatness and sustained success, than just sticking with the same batch of players. The whole squad becomes hungrier, competitive and more vibrant and Guardiola is doing just that with the capture of Jack Grealish.
Aston Villa’s great loss, is Manchester City’s great gain.
Without Jack Grealish last year, Villa only won three of the 12 games he sat out injured. He is a player of great reward, incision, precision, dynamism, cutting thrust and a skill set that proves so unique and masterful in comparison to his fellow English counterparts.
Grealish’s talent is obvious.
In terms of total chances created, chances created from open play and assists, Grealish is right in the midst of the Premier League’s most devastating creators.
81 – @JackGrealish has created 81 chances following ball carries in the Premier League in the last two seasons; this is more than any other player in the competition in this period, as well as the most across the top five European leagues. Game-changer. pic.twitter.com/m76HUmWJx2
Grealish created 70 chances from open play last season, second only to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (77). He also formed 81 opportunities following ball carries in the last two Premier League seasons as shown above. This is all from just 26 Premier League games last year, even. 6 goals and 10 assists from 26 games is mightily impressive.
3.42 key passes, 3.46 final third passes, 6.91 progressive passes, 6.18 shot-creating actions (the two offensive actions leading directly to a shot, through passes, dribbles or drawing fouls) and 12.6 progressive carries per 90minutes all highlight how effective and influential Jack Grealish was to the Aston Villa cause.
All of those stats may increase at Manchester City, which poses such a scary thought for City’s rivals this coming season.
Many of the chances Grealish creates come after he’s dribbled with the ball, and he led the Premier League standings for 2020/21 in that particular field. Only Harry Kane, Hueng-Min Son and Bruno Fernandes had more assists following a carry and only Son, Marcus Rashford and Harvey Barnes scored more following a carry.
Grealish played far fewer minutes than any of those players, apart from Harvey Barnes, which only goes to show how dangerous Grealish is and just how much he runs with the ball. Progressive carries usually occur in the opposition half, are greater than five metres and move the ball at least five metres towards the opposition’s goal.
Grealish is absolutely devastating at performing such roles. Only three players – Adama Traore, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pablo Hernandez – completed more per 90 than Grealish last season, but none of them were as devastating and as decisive with their carries as Grealish was.
Last season, Grealish carried the ball into the opposition penalty area a staggering 80 times, 3.29 times per 90mins. 18 more than Raheem Sterling, 32 more than Riyad Mahrez and 48 more than Bernardo Silva, already highlighting how much he offers more than Manchester City’s current options. Again, all of these staggering statistics despite Grealish only playing 26 games. He also ranks third in terms of passes into the box per 90 (2.96), behind his future teammate Kevin De Bruyne (3.56).
Grealish compared to City attackers (2020/21)
Grealish
Sterling
Foden
Mahrez
Silva
De Bruyne
Games played
26
31
28
27
26
25
Goals
6
10
9
9
2
6
Assists
10
7
5
6
6
12
Chances created
81
39
36
44
27
80
Dribbles completed
65
66
38
45
41
48
Fouls won
110
41
34
30
18
31
Provided by BBC Sport
Interestingly, Manchester City were the team who performed the most carries into the penalty area last season with 68, more than second-placed Chelsea. When City players get into the box, they are expected to make things happen, effect the game and Grealish, Foden, Sterling, Silva and Mahrez are all in the top 10 for passes attempted and completed inside the opposition’s penalty area last season.
The ability to carry the ball at long distances, evade pressure, beat opponents at will as well as drawing so many fouls is a trait that appeals so much to Guardiola and the City faithful. Manchester City will be getting a player who will vastly improve their football next season. However, there is a caveat to Grealish’s game that Guardiola may look to alter.
Maybe most interesting thing from that perspective is that Grealish is probably the most individualistic player in the league – which makes him so exciting – and he's going into one of the most structured attacks.
As journalist Miguel Delaney so correctly points out, Grealish is allowed so much freedom and warranty at Villa, in that his game is expressed individually, being able to perform so many actions on his own which drives his team and gets them out of difficult situations. That won’t be the case at City, Guardiola calls on a more structured approach to his attacking play, its all about the collective rather than the individual, and that’s something Grealish will have to adapt to.
He may not be able to just get the ball and dribble all he likes – as he did at Villa – he’ll be asked to keep up the tempo in City’s passing, with breaking opposition lines and carving out opportunities in the penalty area. It will certainly be interesting to see how Guardiola may adapt to Grealish’s style or teaching the Villa talisman to adapt and adhere to his own.
Grealish will need to release the ball quicker than he does, and to be more attentive when working with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. A major part of City’s superb approach was their ability to slow the game down with their subtle, intricate and decisive passing only to then speed it up at particular moments, taking advantages of spaces when they open up.
Defenders will be drawn to Grealish like he was at Villa, which means him winning free-kicks across the park could frustrate City’s build-up, with opposition teams reverting quickly back into a defensive shape. What’s so devastating about Grealish is his huge decisiveness once dribbling with the ball, which means City will only benefit, but they’d benefit even greater if he works on his game releasing the ball much more efficiently and more sooner.
The question on everybody’s lips will certainly be where Jack Grealish could line-up next season. Sources close to Guardiola say that Grealish could be deployed as a creative no.8 alongside Kevin De Bruyne in their customary and fluid 4-3-3 shape. With Raheem Sterling regularly deployed on the left, Grealish’s regular spot will be occupied, but there’s always a chance for rotation and flexibility.
Grealish in more central areas, as we’ve seen before is of course a devastating sight to behold. As soon as he picks up the ball, its incredibly difficult to get him off it – unless fouling him. At City, he may well be given more space to roam, with opposition midfielders occupied with Kevin De Bruyne’s ability to dissect opposition defences at will. If this is the case, Guardiola will be capable of breaching the most combative of defences from not just one area in the half-space, but two.
Both Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne are both destructive in those areas which gives the opposition much more danger than they bargained for.
Of course, Grealish could also expected to be deployed on the left side of City’s attack, his most common position, although with Sterling and Foden already on that side (and given the left-footed Foden finished last campaign on that flank) it is a very competitive area of the pitch for City.
The prospect of a Grealish and Foden partnership will be mouthwatering for any Manchester City fan, and there’s certainly been flashes of the pair when the two are on duty for England. Their superb ability to combine through delicious first touch passes and swift interchanging of movement could really aid City in cutting through opponent’s steep defences.
They would have no problems switching roles temporarily too.
How about Grealish and Sterling together? Southgate has tried that partnership with ruthless aplomb before, if you need any evidence just ask the Czech Republic.
If City don’t get in Harry Kane this summer, and Guardiola opts for a false nine setup, then Grealish could be unleashed in midfield alongside Gundogan with Kevin De Bruyne coming off the front-line. Why not Grealish operating in those false-nine areas too?
The imperious quality at Guardiola’s disposal leaves a lot of room for rotation and flexibility certainly, which means Jack Grealish will be thrust into a much more competitive and much testing dynamic than at Aston Villa.
Some will argue that the grass isn’t always greener, but its a move and challenge that Grealish will relish and be excited by. It will be incredibly intriguing how Guardiola mixes and meshes his various attacking options, especially if they do manage to get in both Jack Grealish and Harry Kane this summer.
Jack Grealish’s move certainly raises as much questions as answers as to how City could line-up next season and how his game could complement the team’s and vice-versa. It’s an exciting headache for Pep Guardiola to have. However, what’s certain is that Jack Grealish will improve City considerably, and on a more personal measure, Grealish’s game may well be taken to a whole new level under Guardiola’s tutelage.
This is a call to Manchester City’s Premier League rivals (not just the red half of Manchester)… be very afraid.
How City could line-up next season with both Kane and Grealish
Tottenham have agreed a deal with Atalanta to sign highly-rated defender Cristian Romero.
Spurs increased their offer to £42.7m (€50m) plus bonuses, making a total package worth £47m (€55m) for the Argentina centre-back.
The Argentinian international and Copa America winner, 23, is Spurs’ primary target to strengthen the heart of new coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s defence for the start of the season in mid-August.
Romero, 23, will fly to London to complete his move, before agreeing personal terms on a five-year deal.
Club sporting director Fabio Paratici, who’s already making his mark in his new role, knows the player from his time at Juventus and sees him as a player who would suit the Premier League.
Cristian Romero is already being touted as one of the most prestigious young centre-backs on the continent, and rightly so. The 23-year-old enjoyed a superb campaign for Atalanta, being named the Serie A defender of the year last season.
In fact, he’s been an outstanding performer in the last three years after starting in Serie A with Genoa and getting loaned back there for a second season after Juventus bought him, which was a deal on Paratici’s watch.
The defender enjoyed a promising maiden Champions League campaign while on loan at Atalanta, also while helping them to a stunning third placed finish as a regular and commendable presence at the heart of Gian Piero Gasperini’s defence.
Spurs are in desperate need of a fresh input in their back-line, with the ageing Toby Alderweireld’s Spurs future uncertain, Eric Dier’s game declining, and Davinson Sanchez struggling to make a name for himself so far during his time in North London.
Cristian Romero provides the perfect solution to address the stark decline and underperformance in defence.
A tremendous breakthrough year, becoming a key figure for Argentina in their Copa America this summer, at the heart of their defence alongside veteran and former Manchester City defender Nicolás Otamendi.
Despite featuring in three of Argentina’s six games during the tournament, he played and dominated in the most important game of them all, in the final against fierce international rivals Brazil. The 23-year-old was fearless against Neymar and co. not giving any of them a sniff as Argentina performed one of their most impressive shut out against fellow South American giants.
Cristiano Romero was simply unstoppable, standing guard against the likes of Richarlison, Neymar and Lucas Paqueta, and showcasing why he is indeed one of Europe’s most impressive young centre-backs.
So what will Tottenham be getting?
First of all, Nuno Espirito Santo will be recruiting a defender who simply loves to defend. A no-nonsense type.
Cristian Romero holds an intriguing skillset. Elements of his game are true relics of a bygone era: he looks impressive as a sweeper, mopping up loose passes and breaking up attacks that threaten to get behind his defensive line.
He is no-nonsense, combative, aggressive tackles hard, picks up too many yellow cards (36 and three reds in three Serie A seasons) however, an element of his game which will be tested heavily in the Premier League.
However, with some quality coaching adding to maturity and high levels of exposure and experience, that part of his game will be more refined as he gets older.
As a sweeper, the 22-year-old is extremely alert to the play developing in front of him. In fact, he is so good at reading play that he made the third-most interceptions (81) of any player in Serie A last season, whilst also recording 5.51 tackles + interceptions per90 making him the best around performing such defensive actions.
He is happy to sit back, waiting to clean up loose balls or cover runs behind the defensive line, but he plays on the front foot too, stepping up to pressure attackers that take a loose touch, highlighted by the above per 90 tackles and interceptions figure.
The Argentinian centre-back also averaged 6.11 successful pressures per 90, meaning he isn’t afraid to step out of his defensive line to engage on-rushing attackers. He is quick, strong and agile but more importantly confident enough to win the duel. Already, he reads a much better upgrade on Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld, who aren’t as forthcoming and proactive in their approach.
(Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Romero is aided by a superb athletic profile – he is 6’1”, incredibly agile, has an enormous leap (won 67% of his aerial duels last season), and covers the ground quickly.
The Argentine defender typically plays either in the centre or on the right of a three-man defence. It’s unclear as of yet to predict how Santo will set up his Spurs back four, but Romero will prove a valuable and unique addition no matter the defensive setup.
He thrived in a two-man back four at the Copa America against some of the world’s best attackers, so he’d be right at home in the Premier League.
Though, the creativity of the central defender in a three-man defence is often integral in kick-starting attacks, but Romero sometimes lacks the willingness to take on such a burden, often playing too safe – slowing down potential attacks in the process and allowing teams to set up their defensive structure.
He completed 90% of his short passes, whilst also averaging 2.40 progressive passes. As shown through Conor Coady under Nuno Santo, the England international regularly took the responsibility in instigating attacks with his swift long-raking passes for Wolves.
That’s not to say Romero can’t perform them, but to do it at an increased regularity will take some quick learning and maturity in his game if he is to perform Nuno Espirito’s Santo’s instructions to the letter. Who knows, Eric Dier may be asked to fulfil that role in the middle of the back three instead.
It is an element Romero can gradually learn.
In terms of his build-up play, Romero has been known to be very simple, safe but astute. In fact, last season his final third passing average and progressive passes shown some considerable improvement. 1.77 final third passes per90, and 2.40 progressive passes, from 1.57 and 2.10 the following campaign at Genoa.
Whether that’s because of the step up in quality between Genoa and Atalanta could well be a strong factor, though it shows that Romero is capable of stepping up his game when playing with much more quality players around him, as he did at the Copa America.
At Tottenham, that quality will only increase which also means the quality of his performances will increase too. At 23 years of age, Cristian Romero has so much room to improve and grow.
Assuming Tottenham get their man it could well prove to be one of the most astute pieces of business Spurs complete in a long while.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Brighton’s highly-rated centre back Ben White has caused a bit of a stir amongst the Arsenal faithful.
For a side who surprisingly finished as the Premier League’s third best defence despite their lowly conclusion in eighth place, many are discussing whether the reported £50mfee would be better spent in other areas of the squad.
That is indeed true, but for a player of Ben White’s qualities, potential impact on Arteta’s team and current market value, its an opportunity the club could not afford to pass up on.
For Arteta, like many of the top coaches in the modern era – especially his managerial mentor at his former club Manchester City – a centre-back’s job description isn’t just to defend their own goal, but to be as effective and influential in distributing the ball upfield, and in doing so become the starting point of team’s attacking play.
Arteta regards playing out from the back as a key tenet of his philosophy, but progressing the ball from one end of the pitch to the other has been a persistent problem during his tenure as coach – particularly when without David Luiz, whose departure this summer has left a ball-playing void in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Brazilian and former Lille defender Gabriel does indeed have the qualities to perform the role, averaging 2.39 progressive passes per 90, and 3.69 final third passes with a 91% short pass accuracy, which is impressive data from his first campaign in English football, but he will need someone alongside him to add to that dynamic and provide Arsenal with various modes of building from the back.
Many supporters have wanted to see the returning William Saliba given a chance to fill that void, only for the defender to join Marseille on a season-long loan, his third during his spell as an Arsenal player.
Brighton’s Ben White fits the mould perfectly, and is just the player Mikel Arteta needs to provide an added dimension to his possession-based style.
There can be no disputing Ben White’s calibre and propensity to perform such a key role.
Throughout his time at Leeds United and Brighton, and even during his first international cap for England, Ben White has shown he isn’t afraid in taking on new challenges, and a move to the Emirates represents the perfect step up for him.
The 23-year-old took in the demands and rigours of the Sky Bet Championship with much assuredness and maturity under the tutelage Marcelo Bielsa, he acclimatized brilliantly during his first full campaign in the Barclays Premier League, so who’s to say he wouldn’t immediately capture Arsenal hearts this coming season?
Ben White is a tremendous footballer and defender.
He showed it at Brighton last season, starting all but two of their Premier League games under Graham Potter having made a similarly positive impression on Marcelo Bielsa a year earlier.
The Argentinian was desperate to sign him permanently after he played every minute of their promotion-winning Championship campaign, but the club’s offers – worth as much as £25m – were knocked back. White’s value has swiftly doubled ever since.
Potter and Bielsa, like Arteta, are committed to building from the back and the same is true of Gareth Southgate, who fast-tracked White into the England squad ahead of Euro 2020 and is said to regard him as a key figure in the future of the national side, and rightly so.
White’s burgeoning reputation has a lot to do with his outstanding technical ability and versatility.
He is excellent on the ball and boasts a fine range of passing. His composure and confidence in possession are such that Potter and Bielsa have even used him in central midfield. He is also capable of playing at right-back or at wing-back.
Most of all, he is an excellent and efficient ball-progressor, and distributor – elements of which Mikel Arteta value so highly. Last season, he averaged 3.13 final third passes, 3.27 progressive passes from 41 passes per game with a 90% accuracy.
Arsenal previously looked to David Luiz to initiate their attacks from that position, playing through opposition lines and picking out attacking players in dangerous areas. But it will now fall to White to take on that responsibility and he is well equipped for the task.
Ben White is the composite, modern day centre-back. His smooth transition from League Two level football to the Championship and the Premier League has seen him maintain his unique trait of performing so coolly in possession, and its further helped by the fact that Bielsa, Potter and Southgate’s philosophies are hell-bent on progressive play from the centre-backs. He is steadfast in style, which is perhaps why he is such a good fit for such tactics; he is fast-paced and fearless at times, stepping out to open passing lanes, but equally considered and meticulously calculated.
In fact, despite averaging fewer passes per game than his Arsenal counterparts last season, White played a notably higher percentage of his passes forward reflecting his willingness to send his team on to the attack rather than simply recycle possession.
White contributed handsomely to Brighton’s attacking play not just through his passing but his dribbling too. At times last season, you’d find him running with the ball at full throttle trying to disrupt organised midfield shapes in the opposition or to carry his team up the pitch when there are no options in front of him.
He recorded 0.68 successful dribbles for Brighton last season, better than any of Arsenal’s current options with Pablo Mari coming a distant second with just 0.30. He averaged 3.08 progressive carries per 90 (carries that move the ball towards the opposing goal at least 5yards or into the penalty area) and also recorded 1.04 carries into the final third of the pitch.
White’s dribbling is one of his most unique qualities, recording the most dribbles (24) by a central defender in the Premier League last season, and completed the most carries with take-ons (18) than any other centre back.
Ridiculously impressive.
It’s a testament to his admirable bravery, maturity and ball-playing abilities. It doesn’t stop there, Ben White boasted considerable numbers defensively in comparison to his future Arsenal teammates. More interceptions per90 (1.75), and coming a close second in terms of tackles (1.38) to Rob Holding who recording 1.51 tackles per 90.
White’s dribbling is facilitated by his athletic profile as well as his technical skill. The defender is strong in the duel and boasts impressive pace and acceleration. Together with his close control, those attributes help him glide past opponents with ease and assuredness.
The ideal modern day centre-back. Quick, agile, a fantastic reader of the game and hugely adaptable, was superb for Leeds & first Prem campaign at Brighton.
A future England 1st teamer too, he’s combative, assured on the ball and a silent leader. It’s a superb #AFC purchase.
— #AnthonyScouts 🕵🏾♂️⚽️🗣 (@antzhumbleent) July 25, 2021
As well as being an astute and capable passer of the ball, he’s a warrior and a rugged defender when he needs to be.
Arteta favours a high line, much like his mentor Pep Guardiola, but a lack of pace among his existing centre-back options leaves Arsenal vulnerable in behind. White’s recovery speed will dramatically improve that.
So too could his ability to read the game. White is relatively inexperienced at 23, but he is always alert to danger – he averaged more interceptions per 90 minutes than any of Arsenal centre-backs last season – and always aware of what’s going on around him. White is also decent aerially, winning 53% of his aerial duels last season.
Ben White may not look the most physically dominant player, but his image is not the whole picture. He is consummate when shepherding out the most physically built players, and standing up to them. His match intelligence is there for all to see when facing up to his opponents, allowing him to position himself well to coax forwards away from threatening positions and make blocks. He times his tackles very well too and a very fine and adept reader of the game.
White’s been dribbled past on average only 0.9 times per game meaning he is so difficult to get past due to his brilliant positional sense and understanding of the differing defensive phases of play.
Brighton finished 16th in the Premier League but defensively they were one of the best sides in the division, keeping 12 clean sheets – the same number as Liverpool and Arsenal – and conceding 46 goals – only two more than second-placed Manchester United. All with White playing more minutes than any other player.
His potential partnership with Gabriel next season looks very enticing as Arteta will possess two capable possession-based, imposing, quick and efficient centre-backs who could potentially be Arsenal’s long-term defensive pairing for a whole number of years to come, and a solid base that Arteta could build for future.
He is ever-so reliable, a silent leader and a consummate professional. At 23-years of age, White already looks somewhere close to the full defensive package. Mikel Arteta will hope his thrilling development continues along the same trajectory at the Emirates Stadium.
£50m in the next few years will look a very worthy investment.
How I Would Like to See Arsenal Line-Up Next Season?
According to TheTelegraph, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signalled his intention shift to a more forward-thinking and attack-minded approach for his team in the forthcoming season. A move which could disband the McTominay and Fred midfield pivot that has served the Norwegian well during his time as United boss.
Solskjaer has told those players who have returned to pre-season training that he is eager to implement a more adventurous 4-3-3 formation next term as he bids to end the club’s eight-year title drought.
Solskjaer favoured a double defensive midfield pivot of Fred and McTominay last season and invited criticism at times for being too cautious and defensive. Despite the success of such a setup, United fans will of course be expecting a change of formula next season, hence Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reported shift in formation and mentality.
The Norwegian’s thinking of a more mobile, dynamic and energetic duo of ‘McFred’ could well have been influenced in part by United’s 6-1 hammering by Tottenham in early October, when a midfield trio of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic were easily bypassed as Spurs ran riot at Old Trafford, and a desire to afford his central defenders more protection against pace.
However, Solskjaer and his staff are understood to have discussed playing two more forward-thinking midfielders ahead of a single defensive midfielder next season and have raised that possibility with the players this summer.
With the arrival of Jadon Sancho, and hopeful signing of Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane adds pedigree, and additions which are of high quality and perfectionists in their individual roles. For too long United have been made to fill round pegs in square holes, which has hampered their pursuit of the Premier League title, a trophy that has eluded them since 2013.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been excellent in fixing those issues, but there is indeed more work to be done on a squad that is progressively improving and is also steadily on its way to ideally fitting the Manchester United DNA.
It remains to be seen how adventurous Solskjaer proves to be but he is eager for United to play on the front foot more at home especially, with Old Trafford expected to welcome back capacity crowds next season.
To do that, United do of course need a quality, assured, dynamic and dominant defensive midfielder who is also very good on the ball – similar in the mould of Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes – and is able to progress the ball expertly too, whilst also perfectly fulfilling his screening and shielding duties in front of the back four.
The club have been linked with West Ham captain and England international Declan Rice, however, West Ham continually insist he is not for sale, even a potential swap deal for Jesse Lingard will not be entertained. United also retain an interest in Rennes’ exciting teenage wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga, though his preference is to remain in France, or play in Spain for Real Madrid.
Nemanja Matic, Fred and Scott McTominay have indeed served the club well, but its time for United to go out an address a serious need in that defensive midfield role. All three unfortunately don’t possess the ability or nous to fulfil such a role.
Whether Manchester United have the funds to sign a quality defensive midfielder is unclear, but there is no doubt Solskjaer realizes that in order for his team to progress further this coming season, they must acquire an elite one.
So which players could potentially fit the mould at Old Trafford?
Teun Koopmeiners, AZ Alkmaar
Unquestionably, one of the most exciting and talented young midfielders in Europe right now, Teun Koopmeiners has been one of the hot topic of transfer rumours over the past few months.
Linked with a whole host of top clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, AS Roma, Atalanta, Leeds United, Inter Milan, Everton and AS Monaco, the man who joined AZ Alkmaar at 11 appears destined to leave his beloved club. AZ are reportedly resigned to losing him this summer, even for a relatively low fee of around £20million which is pretty much a snip for a player of his stunning qualities.
Having gained so much experience in Europe and domestically over his 150 appearances, there’s no doubting he’s now ready to make the step up to one of the top five European leagues.
First and foremost, Koopmeiners is a leader, a talker and an impressive authoritative figure on the pitch for AZ, and those are the type of players Manchester United need, especially where they are in their evolution under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 23-year-ol will bring an assured and dominant presence in front of the back, giving Solskjaer a very very strong spine in his starting line-up. As well as his measured and sturdy characteristics on the pitch, its his qualities on the pitch that makes him the complete package.
Adaptable and familiar with a range of systems, the 23-year-old’s primarily deployed as a central midfielder, but is perfectly capable of dropping back to act as a central defender, where his quality on the ball helps massively during AZ Alkmaar’s build up play.
United require a player who can effortlessly progress the ball and break the lines of play, and Koopmeiners is amongst the best midfielders in Europe in doing just that.
Koopmeiners is a true metronome on the ball, controlling possession, dictating the tempo of games and providing his team with the rhythm they need to breach opposing defences. He also hit an impeccable 17 goals and 7 assists last season with 7 of them from the penalty spot owing to his admirable versatility, technical excellence and a cool head when needed.
So comfortable and composed in possession, his exceptional distribution ensures he’s proficient at dictating passing passages and breathing life into attacks. Such an expert at helping his team beat the press with his penetrative line breaking passing, this means he can remove multiple opponents with a single pass. Not only is he a superb passer of the ball and is hugely reliable off it too.
Combative in the tackle, and a really strong presence when standing up to attackers, averaging 2.7 tackles per game.
How Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes would love to play with such a player behind them.
Koopmeiners is a low-risk, low-fee acquisition and is a perfect candidate to fulfil that gaping hole in defensive midfield. He provides security, composure, assuredness and a self-belief that few players in his age bracket could match. He’ll be a very sensible addition for Manchester United, a no-brainer.
Aurelien Tchouameni, AS Monaco
Arguably Ligue 1’s breakout star of the 2020/21 campaign, Monaco’s French under-21 international Aurelien Tchouameni is on his way to worldwide acclaim. He’s been recently talked up by club teammate and Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas, who said on Twitter that Tchouameni: “has the potential to become the complete midfielder.”
Indeed he is, Tchouameni is an unstoppable force both on and off the ball, and proved a key figure in Monaco’s tremendous first campaign under Niko Kovac where they finished third five points off new champions LOSC Lille.
Tchouameni ranked second in Ligue 1 last season for successful tackles (142), and ranked fourth for interceptions (64). Per 90 minutes, the French wonderkid registered an astonishing 6.06 tackles + interceptions highlighting his dominant and combative defensive contributions. He is an elegant but also a sturdy midfield destroyer, also averaging a tremendous 7.06 successful pressures per 90.
Manchester United need a destroyer, Fred and McTominay have succeeded as a pair performing that demanding role, but none of them can fulfil that role on their own. Tchouameni holds the ability, energy, defensive positioning, and understanding required for the role, despite his tender age of just 21. He would be incredibly much cheaper than main target Declan Rice and will provide Solskjaer with the reliable solid base needed in front of United’s back four.
Not only is he a imposing figure defensively, he’s also a fine progressor of the ball both in his dribbling and in his passing. Capable of breaking lines, to evade pressure and drive his team up the pitch. He averaged 4.06 progressive passes, 4.44 progressive carries, 1.38 carries into the final third and 4.53 final third passes. His key passes is relatively low in comparison to his counterparts (0.50) but that is not a weakness, but is a result of the position he takes up on the pitch, sitting deep and dictating play as well as breaking it up. He does however, contribute much in the attacking sense, recording two goals and 4 assists in Ligue 1 last season.
He would likely cost around £40 million and at the age of 21 he is a prospect worth pursuing, seeing as he’s also reportedly a target for Chelsea. Tchouameni is a future world star, and would represent a quality addition, especially if Manchester United don’t acquire his international teammate Eduardo Camavinga.
Ruben Neves, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ruben Neves, has reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal over the past few weeks of the window, but now according to TalksSPORT, Manchester United have reportedly stolen a march on the Portuguese midfielder, with international teammate Bruno Fernandes pushing for the club to sign him this summer.
The Portuguese midfielder is Premier League proven, and sometimes doesn’t get the credit he deserves. A few United fans could well state their reservations over signing Neves, which doesn’t make sense. The midfielder is simply good enough to be playing for a top six Premier League club.
Ruben Neves has become a serial leader and a key figure since his move to Wolves in 2017 and he’d be a tremendous capture for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Superb long-raking passes, vision, technical qualities, good positional awareness, tactical understanding and a desire that so few midfielders can match.
Rúben Neves p90 since making his PL debut:
61.13 attempted passes 50.08 successful passes 18.07 attempted long passes 13.66 successful long passes 10.06 passes into the final third 8.35 ball recoveries 2.29 tackles 2.00 interceptions
Rather than signing a player with no Premier League experience, Neves will provide a ready-made Premier League quality acquisition and a reliable presence in the face of the demands of the English top-flight.
The 25-year-old ranked fifth across the Premier League for tackles won (66) in 2020/21 and also averaged a stunning 6.84 passes into the final third. He would be a welcome upgrade in central midfield for Solskjaer. A player capable of the unimaginative long-raking and eye of the needle passes as well as his scorching efforts from outside the box.
Ruben Neves is certainly ready for that next step in his impressive career.
Yves Bissouma, Brighton
Yves Bissouma has quickly transformed into one of the Premier League’s most destructive midfielders, and any of the top six clubs would do incredibly well in recruiting his services in the near future.
If Solskjaer wasn’t impressed by Bissouma’s performance against his side at Old Trafford earlier this year, then what did he take from that game in April? Yves Bissouma was absolutely tremendous despite Brighton’s close-run defeat, completing six interceptions and winning three tackles.
However, that performance is a reflection of his growth, maturity and dominance all throughout last season. Bissouma is unquestionably one of the best defensive midfielders in the English top-flight. The Malian international made the 2nd most tackles (114), won the 2nd most tackles (74), the seventh most interceptions (60) and committed the fourth most fouls (54) in the Premier League.
You don’t need to read into that too much to understand his important and decisive defensive contributions. He is simply outstanding. He is, like the other players on this list, so good on the ball as well as he is off it. Bissouma averaged 3.55 final third passes, 3.29 progressive passes, completing 88.7% of his distributions. Bissouma is also a unstoppable freight train when moving with the ball at his feet, evading opposition pressure and providing a much needed outlet for Brighton’s build-up play, averaging 4.54 progressive carries, whilst also recording 1.45 successful dribbles.
Bissouma has swiftly morphed into the complete midfield package in the Premier League, and its equally impressive considering how he started out in the English game. How Manchester United could do with his destructive presence in midfield. The 24-year-old looks primed for a big move and passing up on him could be a mistake.
Boubacar Kamara, Olympique de Marseille
The Red Devils’ search for a quality number six has been well documented, and Marseille’s talented 21-year-old defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara could provide the ideal solution to the McFred pivot problem. He betters both this season in terms of goal-creating actions (seven), press success rate (35%), progressive dribbles (128) and aerial duel win rate (63%).
Of course, team style and its influence on player outputs must be accounted for, but given he is younger than both and currently statistically outperforming them, the potential long-term value in this signing is huge. It also is valuable that he clocked considerably more minutes than both, as player availability is key currently, and avoiding injuries/burnout in a congested season speaks volumes about the resilience of a player.
United’s problem this season just gone was certainly keeping goals out – Spurs (45) were the only of the super league clubs to conceded more than Solskjaer’s side (44), and they ranked in the bottom six Premier League sides for tackles and pressures in the midfield third, an area where Kamara thrives. StatsBomb data also has United as the third most dispossessed side in the league last season, so the Frenchman could offer some much needed security in-possession.
A superb ball-winner in multiple forms – a presser, dueler and interceptor – but also as comfortable against the press as he is when pressing himself. The 21-year-old is typically Marseille’s deepest midfielder in-possession, comfortable in drawing opponents in through ball retention, then bypassing them through silky footwork or combinations with teammates.
He’s certainly the most risky, outside bet on this list of potential solutions for Manchester United’s lack of a capable defensive midfielder, but he’s a player worth looking at to fill the void. He’d be very cost-effective too, considering his remarkable potential and room to become one of the best in Europe in his position.
Wimar Barrios, Zenit St Petersburg
Every top club in Europe needs a defensive midfielder who just loves to screen and protect, to do the dirty work, to be destructible. Manchester United have not possessed a player of that ilk since the legendary Paul Scholes or even Roy Keane.
It was the hallmark of Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams, to have that perfect balance between defence and attack, someone who can destroy in the middle of the park, and then allow his more forward thinking teammates to run amok in attack. What was it that Sir Alex famously said back then? “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is indeed looking to address that lack in his squad for next season, with the pursuit of Raphael Varane, and a quality, elite defensive midfielder will do to, and that brings us to Zenit St Petersburg’s tremendous Columbian destroyer Wilmar Barrios. The 27-year-old is the archetypal midfield destroyer and more.
Barrios has arguably been Columbia’s most important player since his international debut in 2017 and has been a dominant and destructive presence in Zenit’s team, one which has triumphed in the Russian division for three seasons in a row. Much of that has been down to Barrios’ consistency, leadership, and complete performances in front of his back four. It’s a shame, his high levels of consistency has somewhat gone under the radar for too long, and its only right he is placed on this list as a man who could solve United’s deficiencies in the middle of the park.
Barrios is a player with such unerring, wiry strength, great recovery pace and a pure destroyer in midfield. He is indeed a modern day Roy Keane. According to Wyscout, Barrios averages an astonishing 13.4 successful defensive actions per90, whether its a tackle (2.3 per game), an interception (1.8 per game), a pressure or an aerial duel, also he only gets dribbled past 0.6 times per game meaning he is incredibly difficult to get past when attacking. He is a defensive machine.
He also wins 66% of his defensive duels, which is second amongst any defensive midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues. Barrios, as well as his defensive contributions, is also a good ball-progressor too either with his passing or his line-breaking runs evading pressure and operating in tight areas, he is unstoppable when performing these actions making him a perfect Premier League defensive midfielder.
At 27, he’s entering his prime years but also has such prestige experience and history in his career already, winning titles with Boca Juniors and Zenit St Petersburg throughout his impressive career. He’s the perfect candidate, at the perfect age to drive United forward once again.
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