Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri has offered an update on Everton’s reported interest in Inter Milan midfielder Matias Vecino on Twitter.
What’s the latest?
Palmeri didn’t give too much away as he simply said that the Toffees have made contact with the Serie A outfit over a move, nevertheless the fact they have done it may suggest that the Merseyside outfit could be keen on bringing the 28-year-old to Goodison Park sooner rather than later.
The reliable Gianluca Di Marzio reported last week that Everton were keen on the Uruguay international, and it now appears as though they have initiated that initial correspondence, as per Palmeri.
Watch Everton Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
Di Marzio said at the time that Carlo Ancelotti took a liking to the South American star when he came up against him as Napoli manager.
Will he join this month?
It would certainly be a strange move in many ways.
While the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Gylfi Sigurdsson haven’t particularly impressed in the middle of the park with both coming under criticism from supporters on Twitter, the Toffees still have plenty of options there.
Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?
Tom Davies, Fabian Delph and even Mason Holgate can play there with the latter shining in the draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month with a higher WhoScored rating than any of his teammates, while Andre Gomes has returned to training after fracturing his ankle against Tottenham in November, and Jean-Philippe Gbamin is also closing in on a return.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
In Ancelotti’s preferred 4-4-2 formation that would leave at least seven players fighting for two positions, and that is overkill to say the least if no-one is leaving before January 31st.
Everton may well want Vecino, but they would be better off waiting until the summer to see where they are at.
In other Everton news, one Toffees transfer target has liked an official Everton club post on Instagram…
Former Premier League footballer Danny Mills has likened the up-and-down form of Marcus Rashford and some of his Manchester United teammates to Theo Walcott – saying the striker has a mild form of ‘Theo Walcott Syndrome’.
Rashford had scored in United’s three games prior to their weekend defeat at Bournemouth, following the 22-year-old’s goals against Liverpool and Norwich City as well as his match-winning double at Chelsea in midweek.
But as United drew a blank on the south coast on Saturday lunchtime, Mills compared the extreme highs and lows of Rashford’s form to that of Everton winger Walcott, claiming a lot of United players are suffering from similar disparities within their performances.
He told TalkSPORT: “One minute he’s a world-beater and the next you are going, ‘what’s happened? He’s gone?’
“It’s not quite as dramatic, but it’s almost like ‘Theo Walcott Syndrome’. He’d score a hat-trick and you’d think, ‘oh my goodness, he’s arrived! That’s it, he is going to kick on’.
“But then he went missing for the next five or six games.
“I think a lot of United’s players are like that.”
Mills’ harsh critique of Rashford makes it hard not to feel sorry for the England international, here. It is as if Mills expects Rashford to keep scoring game after game, without considering the weight of pressure he must be feeling having been left to lead the line for an underachieving United side.
Even so, he has notched seven times for the club this season already.
That he has managed to score four in his previous four starts for the club – as well as getting on the scoresheet for England recently, too – is a sure sign of the youngster’s promise, with Rashford already racking up 50 goals in United colours having turned 22 last week, making the timing of Mills’ comments all the more bizarre.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Meanwhile, Mills is also arguably harsh on Walcott, who but for a career stacked with injuries, could have got even more than the 108 Arsenal goals, three FA Cups and 47 England caps he has earned throughout his career to date.
However, that may leave Rashford well-placed to usurp the achievements of Walcott in the years to come, and prove Mills wrong – especially if he is tasked with spearheading United’s attack as he has done so far this season.
United fans, do you agree with Mills’ comments? How far can Rashford go at the club? Join the discussion in the comments below!
After lighting up the Emirates against Burnley, Dani Ceballos appeared to have the world at his feet following his season-long loan move from Real Madrid.
The Spain international ran the show against Sean Dyche’s side, and his inclusion from the off against Liverpool at Anfield was understandable.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, the game seemed to pass him by and he struggled to impose himself on the Reds’ dominant midfield.
Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
The Spaniard was dispossessed four times and managed just 29 passes in the hour that he was on the field.
After seeing Ceballos’ struggles, Arsenal fans took to Twitter to voice their concerns about the midfielder.
Many supporters of the north London side questioned why Emery chose to select him in the starting line-up, and said that he should have known the game may have been “too quick” for him.
Indeed, some fans even suggested Ceballos was out of his depth at Anfield as he endured a really difficult evening against the Reds.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Check out some of the reaction of Arsenal fans below:
What kind of transfer window will it be at all if Ed Woodward doesn’t end up eying the acquisition of another world-class star? What if United don’t make a statement and bring another big name to what can only be described as a circus of them now? We’re being sarcastic of course.
So, despite his “world-class” buys producing bittersweet results in recent years, Woodward’s fame-hungry eyes have seemingly glown up with Antoine Griezmann’s recent availability.
Indeed, according to reports from the Independent late last week, the Red Devils are aiming to snatch away the French superstar from Barcelona’s hands and sign him. While this is could mostly be a ploy to increase Griezmann’s value, United’s lavish financial state cannot be underestimated. It’s quite possible a deal goes through, but it won’t solve United’s problems at all.
More recently, talkSPORT pundit (via the Express) Tony Cascarino backed the potential addition, which just seems so far from what the club actually need.
As a matter of fact, their problems could be amplified with this potential transfer. Granted Paul Pogba might well stay with his best friend’s arrival, but the real issues won’t really get fixed. For one, Griezmann simply isn’t suited that well to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s system. He just isn’t the winger the Norwegian is reportedly (as per the Sun) craving for, nor is that creative outlet to get their pacy forwards firing.
The Norwegian will have to create a number 10 or second striker role for him, changing his formation. Stupid, stupid stuff.
However, for Woodward, Griezmann’s the perfect marketing project. Indeed, he’s associated with many brands and is extremely popular around the world. Indeed, the commercial revenue around him would surely be monumental.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
However, United’s development will remain static even after his potential arrival. The Red Devils won’t be able to spend much on reinforcing other roles if they splash everything out on Griezmann either, only adding to the problem. Frankly, the recurring nightmare could continue over next season if Woodward aims for another marquee signing over fixing the real problems plaguing Manchester United.
United fans, do you think Griezmann’s signing can fix the attacking problems? Join the discussion by commenting below…
Despite losing to Cardiff City, it was not an entirely disastrous weekend for West Ham, who have Eden Hazard to thank.
The Belgian’s stunning stoppage-time equaliser denied Wolves of all three points in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea, leaving the gap between Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and the Hammers at five points.
And that five-point gap is one that can easily be overturned, though West Ham will have to improve their away form if that is to happen, something which Manuel Pellegrini has recently been talking about.
The Breakdown
“We need to talk with them [the players] during the week. It is not normal to lose four away games and not score one goal,” Pellegrini told the Evening Standard.
“We must review what we are doing when we play away. We need to improve. We need to see what we are doing wrong playing away.”
With finishing in that spot just outside of the Premier League top six still a possibility, overall, it has been a good season for West Ham.
They have picked up some big results against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, while the football they have been playing under Pellegrini is exactly what supporters have been asking for for years.
Signings Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko before the Ukrainian picked up an Achilles injury, have helped the team do that and have been great acquisitions to a West Ham squad that was not blessed with technical quality.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
But for some, including Pellegrini, all of the above may feel a little wasted if things do not improve on the road and the east London club end up totally capitulating in the race for seventh place.
West Ham fans, are you still pleased with how this season is going despite the team’s away form? Join the discussion by commenting below.
There is plenty of doom and gloom to go around at West Ham United at the moment.
Understandably so, though, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were diabolically poor at home to Brentford on Monday night and are currently 19th in the Premier League.
However, all hope is not yet lost, as it is still early in the season, and while the performances have been poor, there are still some talented players in this squad, such as Jarrod Bowen and the exciting Crysencio Summerville.
Yet, to get the most out of the team and the Flying Dutchman, Nuno needs to make some quick changes.
Changes Nuno needs to make
Unfortunately, there is quite a lot that needs to be done to make West Ham a seriously dangerous team again, but there are a few ways in which Nuno could stop the rot.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
One of the big ones is to reintroduce some pace and power back into the midfield, as it was practically non-existent against Brentford.
The best way to do this would be to bring Soungoutou Magassa back into the starting lineup, as while he is still quite raw, he is, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, blessed with “pure athleticism.”
Moreover, he’d be able to better cover the backline, as, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks, the top 3% for tackles plus interceptions and the top 4% for recoveries, all per 90.
Another seemingly obvious action the manager could take for the Leeds game is to play Callum Wilson up top.
Yes, the former Newcastle United star is not the player he once was, nor a long-term solution, but he is an out-and-out number nine who would add a real focal point to the team.
Furthermore, he has already scored a goal for the club this season, and Lucas Paqueta looked utterly lost in the game on Monday.
With all that said, there is another change Nuno should be making for the game on Friday, one that could help get even more out of the dynamic Summerville.
The West Ham star who could supercharge Summerville
While the change up top and in the midfield should help Summerville in the game against his former side, unleashing El Hadji Malick Diouf at left-back would be far more consequential.
The former Slavia Prague gem was on the bench for the game against Brentford, and while the defensive side of his game certainly needs some work, the team missed his attacking qualities.
These qualities were last on show in the draw away to Everton, when he was hurtling up and down the touchline, sometimes beating his opposite number and often firing in brilliant crosses into the penalty area.
In fact, while he didn’t pick up an assist on Merseyside, it was a ball from him that led to Bowen’s equalising strike.
Fortunately, the 20-year-old monster is already doing rather well on the assists front this season, already providing three in eight league appearances, which lends some credence to Sky Sports’ Joe Thomlinson’s claim that he has been “one of the finds of the season.”
With that said, why would he be able to get more out of Summerville, then?
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Well, one of the most important ways would be through the space he’d create.
For example, because he possesses such “explosive acceleration,” according to one analyst, opposition defenders wouldn’t be able to leave him alone and could end up being dragged all over the pitch.
Moreover, should the Dutchman run into the penalty area, he can rely on the Senegalese international to find him with a pinpoint accurate cross.
Ultimately, bringing Diouf back into the team would improve West Ham’s overall attack, but it could have an even greater impact on Summerville.
Nuno gets January promise from West Ham board as Sullivan eyes ambitious move
Manchester United are in the market to sign a new centre-forward to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the 2025/26 campaign, and that could spell trouble for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.
The latest on Rasmus Hojlund's future at Man Utd
According to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by FCInterNews, Italian giants Inter want to sign the Denmark international to replace Mehdi Taremi this summer.
The Serie A side, who finished second in the league and were finalists in the Champions League, have ‘accelerated’ a move to snap up the former Atalanta attacker from the Red Devils.
Rasmus Hojlund
La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Hojlund has made it clear that he likes the idea of playing for Inter next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will really push for the transfer.
The outlet claims that Inter are pushing to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, whilst Manchester United would prefer an instant sale to boost their coffers.
Hojlund is said to be valued at around £38m by the Premier League giants, which is more than Inter are willing to spend on a new striker at this time, and the two clubs are in talks over a deal that would work for all parties.
His exit from Old Trafford would pave the way for a new centre-forward to arrive in Manchester, though, and the club are already reportedly eyeing his replacement.
Man Utd in positive talks to sign Bundesliga striker
According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign former France U21 international Hugo Ekitike from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.
The report claims that the Red Devils are progressing in positive talks to bring the former PSG marksman over to England during the summer transfer window, as they look to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.
It states that the Premier League side are accelerating a deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, after making positive contact with his representatives to discuss a move to Old Trafford.
Foot Mercato adds that United have also contacted Frankfurt to discuss a potential fee for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, and that all parties are feeling positive at this moment in time.
The outlet, however, also reveals that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in signing the French attacker and could provide competition for his signature.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
This may be why the Red Devils are ‘accelerating’ a swoop for the young marksman, amid talks with the player and Frankfurt, as they look to win the race for his services.
Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March, and his statistics in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would be a big upgrade on what United currently have at their disposal.
24/25 season
Rasmus Hojlund (Premier League)
Hugo Ekitike (Bundesliga)
Appearances
32
33
Shots on target per game
0.4
1.5
Goals
4
15
Goals per game
0.1
0.5
Big chances created
4
12
Assists
0
8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Ekitike vastly outperformed Hojlund at league level as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the number nine position, producing 27 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, in comparison to the Dane’s eight.
This is why this fresh report detailing United’s pursuit of the Frankfurt star should come as good news to Amorim, who could have a huge upgrade for his attack if the transfer goes through this summer.
Man Utd set to prioritise deal for £65m star if Tottenham sign Mbeumo
Arsenal are closely monitoring a “special” young midfielder, who has been cleared to leave his club for a fee of £25m in the summer, according to a report.
Gunners eyeing a midfielder
The Gunners had a quiet January, with Mikel Arteta ultimately deciding to wait until the end of the season before making any major additions to his squad, and there is a belief they are close to agreeing a deal for a midfielder.
Club chiefs hope to have the deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi wrapped up before the summer, with the Spaniard still high on the list of targets at the Emirates Stadium.
Zubimendi would set the north Londoners back around £50m, so he would not come cheap, and the 26-year-old is not the only midfielder Arsenal are interested in signing at the end of the season.
Arsenal now "most likely" team to sign £33m forward, Arteta loves his pace
The Spaniard is a big admirer of his attributes.
2 ByEmilio Galantini
According to a report from CaughtOffside, the Gunners are closely monitoring Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, and after a recent development, a deal could be a possibility.
The Black Cats have now cleared Rigg’s departure for a fee of £25m in the summer, with the Championship side now resigned to sanctioning his departure, having previously been resistant to letting him leave.
However, it could be a difficult task to win the race for the Sunderland star, as he is also attracting interest from a number of other top Premier League clubs, alongside the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
At this stage, it is unclear which club are leading the race for the 17-year-old, but a move to Arsenal or Liverpool could be tempting, with both clubs well-placed to compete for major trophies.
Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Leicester City (a)
February 15th
West Ham United (h)
February 22nd
Nottingham Forest (a)
February 26th
Manchester United (a)
March 9th
Chelsea (h)
March 16th
Rigg has shades of Jude Bellingham
Much like Jude Bellingham at Birmingham City, Rigg has managed to force his way into the first team of a Championship side at an extremely young age, scoring four goals in 27 league games this season.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The comparisons don’t stop there given the youngster’s keen eye for goal, becoming the second-youngest player to score in the second tier back in September 2023, missing out on Bellingham’s record by just 13 days.
The teenager was lauded as a “special talent” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley earlier this season, and it is clear to see why so many top clubs are queueing up for his signature in the summer.
A price tag of £25m may seem steep for a player who is still so young, but he has already gained a great deal of first-team experience at Sunderland, and there is every indication his value could skyrocket in the coming years.
A “massive” Manchester United player is now expected to be out injured for a number of weeks, according to a fresh claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Man Utd dogged by injury problems
The Red Devils have made such a disappointing start to the season, with the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag understandably huge, considering his side are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.
In fairness to the Dutchman, he hasn’t always been helped by injury problems to various players, however, with United having to make do without a number of key figures throughout the campaign to date, not least long-term absentee Luke Shaw at left-back.
The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are injury victims currently, with both withdrawing from their respective England and Argentina duties during the current international break. Meanwhile, exactly the same now applies to right-back Noussair Mazraoui, who won’t be representing Morocco over the next week or so because of a fitness issue.
Man Utd suffer fresh injury blow
Taking to X, Romano relayed the news that Harry Maguire will be out injured for Manchester United for a number of “weeks”, sharing the player’s comments:
Maguire may not be the long-term answer at the heart of United’s defence, considering he is now 31 years of age and not without his critics, but having him unavailable is still another undoubted blow for Ten Hag.
The Englishman hasn’t let the Red Devils down in recent weeks, scoring the vital equaliser away to Porto, as well as being picked ahead of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez against Aston Villa last weekend, and his manager at Old Trafford said of him last year:
“[Maguire] was playing a massive, massive game. A very good performance. He showed leadership and in and out of possession he was very good, so I’m very pleased with that performance from Harry.”
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Maguire may remain behind De Ligt and Martinez in the pecking order when everyone is fit and firing, but there is a reason why Ten Hag opted for him over them at Villa, feeling his experience and character would be important in a must-not-lose clash.
"Safe pair of hands" now interested in taking over from Ten Hag at Man Utd
Man Utd may not have to look far to find a replacement for ten Hag.
ByBrett Worthington
While a lack of quality and pace can arguably be aimed at the £190,000-a-week defender, his passion for United cannot be questioned, and supporters appreciate the effort he has put in ever since joining. For that reason, not having him as an option after the internationals is far from ideal, during a period in which mental fortitude is vitally important, both for the players and the manager.
It is remarkable to think that just over 18 months ago, Aston Villa found themselves languishing perilously close to the drop zone, after losing six of their opening 11 Premier League games of the season under Steven Gerrard.
Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool legend was duly sacked, with the Midlands side opting to give a certain Unai Emery a second stab at Premier League life – the Spaniard having previously been sacked after just over a year-and-a-half at Arsenal.
Once derided at the Emirates, Emery is now something of a hero at Villa Park, having steered the club to Europa Conference League qualification last season, before romping to a top-four finish this time around.
While a run of four league games without a win to end the campaign has somewhat dampened spirits, it would appear that the Villans are set to swiftly strengthen ahead of that upcoming Champions League campaign, with reports indicating that a deal for Luton Town's Ross Barkley is nearing completion.
With a chance to land the former England international – who Paul Merson claimed was "not far off player of the season" – on the cheap, Emery and co appear to be moving astutely already, amid additional reports that another midfielder could be targetted in the coming weeks.
Aston Villa's search for a midfielder
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Villa are reportedly set to make a bid for Lazio maestro, Matteo Guendouzi, with the fiery Frenchman believed to have had a falling out with manager Igor Tudor in Rome.
The report suggests that the Serie A side are seeking to rake in roughly €30m (£26m) with the sale of the 24-year-old, with Emery – who previously signed the mercurial talent back in 2018 while in charge at Arsenal – willing to cough up that figure to get a deal done.
Matteo Guendouzi at Lazio
The piece outlines that it is the Villa boss who is pushing to seal a reunion with his former Gunners asset, with Guendouzi having played 66 times under the four-time Europa League winner – more than he has under any other manager.
This news comes amid claims that the Midlands highfliers are also interested in plumping for Chelsea skipper, Conor Gallagher, with the Blues believed to be 'open to doing business' amid their own PSR concerns – as per the Independent.
With prior reports indicating that the Englishman would cost closer to £50m, despite having just a year left on his contract, perhaps Emery and Monchi would be wise to press on with their apparent interest in Guendouzi instead.
How Guendouzi compares to Conor Gallagher
Having been a mere teenager when arriving in north London from Lorient almost six years ago, it's fair to say that the best of Guendouzi – who scored just once and provided only four assists in 81 games for the Gunners – has been seen since departing English football.
An initial loan move to Marseille in 2021/22 – following a year at Hertha Berlin – proved particularly fruitful, with the instantly recognisable menace scoring ten goals and registering 19 assists in 103 games for the Ligue 1 side in total.
That included a return of five goals and 14 assists during his debut campaign at the Stade Velodrome, with the versatile asset – who even featured on the flanks that season – appearing to thrive in a more advanced attacking role.
As such, that serves as evidence as to why the eight-cap France international could be a dream alternative to Gallagher this summer, as he seemingly shares that knack for impacting proceedings in the final third.
In the case of the latter man, the former Crystal Palace loanee boasts a return of ten goals and ten assists in 95 first-team games at Stamford Bridge, including a haul of 16 goal contributions in all competitions in 2023/24.
Guendouzi vs Gallagher stats – last 365 days
Stat (per 90)
Guendouzi
Gallagher
Non-penalty goals
0.06
0.14
Assists
0.12
0.20
Pass completion
83.1%
89.2%
Progressive passes
5.09
4.95
Progressive carries
1.97
1.78
Touches (attacking penalty area)
1.88
2.27
Progressive passes received
3.30
3.51
Tackles
1.27
2.45
Interceptions
0.79
1.24
Stats via FBref
Guendouzi, by contrast, registered only three goals and four assists of his own this season, although unlike Gallagher – who typically operated as a number ten – the 6 foot 1 ace was deployed in a more orthodox midfield berth.
As his prior time in France showcased, Guendouzi can be a real threat in a more attack-minded role if given the licence to get forward, with a reunion with Emery potentially set to allow the Spaniard to get the best out of him.
Guendouzi's record under Emery
As previously stated, the Villa target was just 19 when he arrived at Arsenal in 2018, although he certainly made a strong impression on Emery, making 48 appearances across all fronts during his debut season.
Guendouzi's 2018/19 season under Emery – Premier League
33 games (25 starts)
0 goals and assists
3 'big chances' created
0.5 key passes per game
2.2 tackles & interceptions per game
0.7 successful dribbles per game
56% total duels won
1.9 fouls won per game
88% pass accuracy rate
Stats via Sofascore
That early impact appeared to suggest a bright future lay ahead for Guendouzi, with the former Villarreal boss stating at the time: "Matteo is very young but he has talent and his talent is also to adapt to what we need or what is needed in the Premier League.
FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"It's also to be physically strong. We are working tactically and individually to improve, we are working with him on the videos and on the pitch and we are speaking to him because it's a big challenge for me, for our coaches and for him to achieve a big level here."
Lauded as a "warrior" by pundit Alan Shearer following a game against Villa, ironically, Guendouzi was certainly raw during his time in the Premier League, remarkably racking up 18 yellow cards in just 66 games under Emery's watch – including being sent off against Blackpool in 2018.
The suggestion was that the Poissy-born maverick had been a signing of the club rather than of Emery's own choosing, yet the experienced coach remarked that the teen's form had been a "very big, positive surprise", lauding the "hungry" youngster for his "character and quality".
That exuberance seemingly spilt over falling Emery's departure, as Guendouzi was exiled by Mikel Arteta following a falling out, yet the one-time Paris Saint-Germain youth asset has, to his credit, rebuilt a career for himself away from English shores.
Former Arsenal player Matteo Guendouzi
Of course, Gallagher may represent the more Premier League-proven option, yet with his prior connection to Emery – and with a far cheaper £26m price tag – it would certainly make sense for Villa to add to their Barkley deal by snapping up another figure with a potential point to prove.
Aston Villa line up £52m "magician" who'd be perfect for Barkley
Emery’s side would revel in signing this Champions League star.