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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Jose Mourinho spoke about Christian Eriksen during his pre-match press conference ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Olympiacos.

The Special One seems to think the great Dane is staying put in London, and that’s actually good news for Real Madrid.

What did he say?

Christian Eriksen has had some better days at Tottenham Hotspur.

So far, he has tallied only 872 minutes in a total of 15 games played across all competitions and has managed to bag two goals and one assist in the process.

Since we are talking about a player who used to be at the very centre of everything at Spurs, netting ten goals and providing 17 assists in 2018/19 as a whole, this has been a huge fall from grace of late.

But if Mourinho’s latest verdict is anything to go by, the Danish playmaker is committed to his club, which could be a sign that he’s staying put.

Here’s what the Portuguese coach had to say during his press conference:

“Yeah, I’ve spoken with him. Obviously I’m not going to tell you our conversation, only me and him we know what we spoke about and Amazon because I’m always connected with the cables. They listen to everything I say and do. The important thing is that he’s committed with us so let’s not talk about his future, let’s not talk about what is going to happen.”

A blessing in disguise

Real Madrid’s interest in Eriksen is a well-known thing.

Los Blancos reportedly had everything set for his arrival to the Spanish capital during the summer already but they opted to chase Manchester United’s Paul Pogba instead.

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In the end, neither moved to the La Liga giants but, with the Red Devils slapping a huge price tag on their midfielder back in the summer, everything pointed towards Zinedine Zidane’s men coming back for Eriksen in January.

But now, with Mourinho seemingly successfully turning the player’s head, Real Madrid could lose out on yet another star, but this time it could work in their favour.

Simply put, they don’t need Eriksen or rather, they don’t need a playmaker of his profile.

The emergence of Federico Valverde has given them a huge boost and Toni Kroos is playing some unbelievable football this season. With the likes of James Rodriguez, Marco Asensio and even Isco still in the squad, adding another attacking midfielder to the pile would simply do them no good.

For that reason, Mourinho’s verdict should be taken as good news for Los Blancos as they can now focus on more pressing targets instead.

Meanwhile, many Spurs fans were really impressed by Kane’s big gesture towards Mauricio Pochettino after his sacking.

Under Arsène Wenger, Arsenal were a team renowned for their dedication to playing football the ‘right way’, come rain or shine.

While this approach gave fans some incredible teams over the years, it also led to a lot of frustration and the more than the occasional demolition at the hands of other more physical and defensively astute sides in the latter years.

However, while the club’s DNA of wanting to play attractive attacking football is still present today, Mikel Arteta has worked tirelessly on making his team significantly harder to break down, more physically dominant, and maybe just that bit more fluent in the so-called ‘dark arts.’

The Spaniard’s team is full of solid stars who have helped make the North Londoners perhaps the most defensively impressive team in Europe, such as Jurrien Timber and Ben White. While those two could remain at the club for years to come, the academy might have already produced their long-term heir.

White and Timber's evolution at Arsenal

Arsenal’s £50m signing of White in the summer of 2021 was not a move met with universal praise at the time, as just a few months later a poll of football agents named it the worst signing of the window, as insane as that sounds today.

That first year in North London saw the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace primarily play as a centre-back, but the introduction of William Saliba for the following campaign saw him shift out to right-back, where he has been incredible ever since.

In all, the Poole-born star has now made 95 appearances for the Gunners on the right of the back four, where he has scored five goals and provided ten assists, and 39 appearances in his original position, where he unsurprisingly has not produced a goal or assist.

He might not have been seen as a smart transfer by some at the time, but in the three years since, he has more than proven his worth to the club and now has another teammate who shares his positional versatility in Timber.

The Dutch international moved to N5 last summer for around £38m, but an ACL injury kept him sidelined for practically the entire campaign. However, given the way he has started this year, you’d never have guessed he’d suffered such a severe injury.

So far this season, the former Ajax star has made six appearances, in which he has played at left-back, right-back and even defensive midfield, making it practically impossible to predict exactly where Arteta will start him in games.

Overall, both White and Timber have proven themselves to be exceptional players, and so long as they stay fit, they could help shore up Arsenal’s defence for years to come, although they could have some extra competition on their hands in a few years from an up-and-coming academy gem.

Why fans should be excited about Michal Rosiak

So, the Hale End gem in question is Poland U19 international Michal Rosiak.

The 18-year-old has been a star in the club’s academy for some time now and has shown signs that he could be a potential long-term heir to White or even Timber, but how?

Well, one of the main reasons is his versatility. For example, he is accomplished as both a defensive midfielder, where he has started 34 games in his junior career, and a right-back, where he has made 17 starts thus far.

Appearances

34

17

3

1

Goals

11

6

0

0

Assists

8

5

0

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

0.64

0.00

1

That said, while he can already play both to an impressive level, those in the know expect his best route into the first team to be as an inverted full-back, with Hale End expert and podcaster Will Balsam describing him as “the future of that position for the club” thanks to his “innovative passing range.”

The second reason is related to the first.

Thanks in part to his experience playing in the middle of the park, the gifted youngster is incredibly comfortable on the ball and can influence proceedings at both ends of the pitch. In those 34 starts as a defensive midfielder, he’s racked up a seriously impressive haul of 11 goals and eight assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 1.78 games.

Ultimately, while it will still be a good few years before we see Rosiak making regular first-team appearances, the signs are overwhelmingly positive.

Left for £0, now worth £84m: Arsenal must regret losing world-class star

The sensational international has haunted the Gunners for the best part of a decade.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 27, 2024

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has demonstrated his desire to promote and develop academy prospects during his time at Elland Road so far.

The Whites boss made Archie Gray a first-team regular during the 2023/24 campaign and helped the England U21 international earn a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

This season, the German tactician has started 20-year-old academy graduate Mateo Joseph in all five of the club’s Championship matches, which further proves that he wants to champion young talent.

There is another Leeds academy starlet who could emerge as the next star to come through the set-up under Farke, and he could be the next version of Ethan Ampadu.

Ethan Ampadu's Championship brilliance

The Wales international was signed on a permanent deal from Premier League side Chelsea in the summer of 2023, as one of the manager’s first signings.

Ampadu has started all 51 of the club’s regular season matches in the Championship since his arrival, which shows how much trust Farke has in him.

The defensive midfielder has started all five of the team’s games in the second tier so far this season, and has showcased his quality out of possession.

Appearances

5

Sofascore rating

7.24

Tackles + interceptions per game

4.0

Ground duel success rate

68%

Aerial duel success rate

78%

As you can see in the table above, Ampadu has dominated opposition attackers in physical duels, winning the majority of his battles on the floor and in the air.

He has been a strong and reliable operator in the middle of the park for the Whites and U21 starlet Charlie Crew could eventually emerge as Farke’s next version of the ex-Chelsea man.

Charlie Crew's Leeds potential

Like Ampadu, the 18-year-old is a Wales international, having made his debut against Gibraltar in June, who predominantly operates as a defensive midfielder.

The exciting teenage gem has been on the bench for four first-team games already this season but is yet to make his senior debut for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Earlier this summer, former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville was asked to name a young player to look out for and picked out Crew. He described the academy ace as a “really good” midfielder and told fans to watch out for him, which is an exciting comment.

This shows that he caught the eye of a first-team player in training last season, before the Dutchman’s move to West Ham United, and that speaks to the quality of his performances in training.

He has made 24 appearances for the U21s to date, having scored two goals in 20 games for the U18s, but has not played for the academy this season, due to his involvement with the senior squad.

Crew’s consistent presence on the bench in the Championship this term suggests that a first-team debut may not be far away for the 18-year-old battler, as Farke has already deemed him to be worthy of a place as a substitute.

More assists than Rutter in 23/24: Leeds must regret selling £1m "animal"

The Whites had a shocker when they allowed the full-back to move on from Elland Road.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024

Therefore, the potential is there for the teenage gem to emerge as Ampadu 2.0 for Leeds, as another impressive, Welsh, defensive midfield option for the German boss.

Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner have started poorly in the Premier League this season, losing twice and drawing once in their opening three fixtures of the campaign.

The Eagles are definitely feeling the consequences of losing one of their jewels in the crown this summer, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich for around £50m.

Olise made 19 appearances for Palace last season, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in his 1,278 minutes played.

Such an output is hard to replace but they will look to Eberechi Eze to try and do so…

How much Crystal Palace spent on Eze

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish recently described Eze as "outstanding" as both a person and a footballer, labelling the player "a gift" to any football club.

Since joining from QPR in 2020 for a fee of around £16m plus £4m add-ons, the attacking midfielder has made 128 appearances in his time at Selhurst Park, scoring 28 goals and providing 17 assists in those games.

Last term, the 26-year-old made 31 appearances in all competitions in which he scored 11 times and provided six assists. His impressive season earned him an England call-up for Euro 2024, where he actually made three substitute appearances for the Three Lions.

It was perhaps a surprise, therefore, not to see him attract much interest in the summer with his £68m release clause expiring.

That said, it will be on the table again next summer. Perhaps Parish and Co will have to fend off more interested parties next year as they aim to receive a bigger fee than Olise's.

Eze vs Olise comparison

Both players were seen as Palace's star men last season, with plenty predicting the duo would leave this summer. However, only Olise has left, and Eze, despite rumours of interest, has remained at Palace for the time being.

Forget Sarr: Crystal Palace already have a 'remarkable' Olise replacement

Palace could already have Olise replacement right under their noses

ByConnor Holden Aug 11, 2024

Parish even stated his disbelief in the lack of interest, or at least the lack of action on interest in the former Rs star, saying it left him "astounded".

When you look at his numbers, it's easy to see why he held that point of view.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Eze

Olise

Goals

0.48

0.70

Assists

0.18

0.42

xG

0.40

0.39

Progressive Carries

2.98

4.79

Progressive Passes

4.08

5.49

Shots Total

3.60

3.94

Key Passes

2.37

2.54

Shot-Creating Actions

4.82

5.77

Successful Take-Ons

3.03

2.82

Carries into Pen Area

1.89

1.90

Stats taken from FBref

If you compare the metrics between the two players, Olise does come out stronger in most per 90 statistics. This is considering he played nearly half the number of minutes.

Eze only ranked higher than Olise for xG (by 0.01 per 90), and successful take-ons per 90, averaging 3.03 compared to Olise's 2.82. Both players have a similar play style, in the sense that they like to beat their man 1v1, carry the ball and make things happen in the final third.

But with the French winger being younger, and ranking higher in most of these metrics, it isn't a surprise to see him gain such a big move this summer, whilst interest in Eze was rumoured but not acted upon.

That said, it would not be a surprise to see him improve even further this summer, with the aforementioned exit clause in his contract likely to be activated in 12 months time.

Eze is on course for another excellent Premier League campaign, and it would be hard for many teams to ignore, especially as he helps towards the homegrown quota, which many clubs have to think about when building their squads.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Tottenham Hotspur have once again been named in the race for defensive reinforcements…

What's the latest on Micky Van de Ven to Tottenham Hotspur?

This latest reference comes from Fabrizio Romano, who actually sought to update fans on the transfer progress of their rivals Arsenal.

Despite the bulk of his tweet applying to the Gunners' pursuit of Jurrien Timber, the Italian journalist's final line actually discounts them from the race for Micky van de Ven and instead credits the Lilywhites as an interested party. He wrote: "No confirmation on Micky van de Ven; he's not in Arsenal list, he's on Tottenham list."

It is expected that Wolfsburg will command a fee of around €30m (£26m) to sanction the exit of their top Dutch defender.

How good is Micky Van de Ven?

For a couple of years now Spurs have been blessed with the defensive excellence of Cristian Romero, but no partner to equal his levels.

The Argentina international has been the club's highest-performing defender ever since he joined in 2021, yet has retained a reckless nature that let his side down on occasion. His foolish red card in their Champions League exit to AC Milan acts as a microcosm for the man who has accumulated 17 yellow cards and one dismissal across just two Premier League seasons.

Despite this, his first year in north London saw him truly shine. Maintaining a 7.15 average rating, this figure was bolstered massively by his 87% pass accuracy, 1.5 interceptions, 2.8 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore. It was no surprise that this was the campaign he was joined by Davinson Sanchez, who posted an impressive 7.08 average rating of his own.

When he wants to be, the 25-year-old is arguably one of the league's most dominant centre-backs.

To now pair him with a dependable asset such as Van de Ven could help elevate him to new levels, calming him down and perhaps allowing him to explore his creative side too.

After all, the 22-year-old has proven himself a dependable asset in the German top flight and only has managed five yellow cards during his time in that division. This reliability is aided by the 1.4 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game he recorded last year in the league, as part of a defence that kept 11 clean sheets, via Sofascore.

Such imperious form even led journalist Ronan Murphy to write: "Van de Ven’s performances for Wolfsburg this season have him knocking on the door of the Netherlands international team. A giant on the pitch, he’s flourishing under head coach Niko Kovac."

Perhaps a switch to England could give Ange Postecoglou the dream backline he likely desires, and help skyrocket his top defender to new heights.

Everton are interested in the services of Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai, as per reports.

Everton transfer news – What’s the latest on Attila Szalai?

According to the Turkish publication Star, the Toffees are among several ‘European giants’ that have taken notice of the Hungarian defender for his performances with the Istanbul club, as well as his national side this term.

The other teams reportedly circling the player include Anderlecht, Wolfsburg, Valencia, and Zenit St Petersburg.

The Yellow Canaries have set an asking price of €20m (£17m) for the 25-year-old colossus, which could represent something of a bargain in today’s transfer market.

With the decision not to keep Conor Coady at the club for another season and the departure of Yerry Mina, Sean Dyche could certainly use some defensive reinforcements.

Could Attila Szalai be Everton’s own Virgil Van Dijk?

Could Everton replicate their neighbours across Stanley Park with the signing of Szalai and get their own talismanic centre-half to build a winning team around?

Well, Hungarian journalist Bence Bocsak certainly seems to think so, having dubbed him the “Hungarian Van Dijk” after a masterful international performance against England last summer.

The first thing instantly recognisable between the two players is their height – the Budapest-born titan is 6 foot 4, and Virgil Van Dijk is only just slightly taller at 6 foot 5.

However, the major difference in their physical attributes is their weight, as Liverpool’s Dutch destroyer comes in at a heavy 92kg, whereas Everton’s potential signing is just 82kg, as per Eurosport.

That’s not to say the difference couldn’t be cut down with the proper training and dietary programme, but it does mean that at this moment in time, the Dutchman is a more imposing figure for attackers to deal with, but that is also expected in the English top-flight.

One of his strengths, akin to the superstar he is compared to, is his work rate.

Petros Konnafis, the sporting director of his old side Apollon Limassol heaped praise on the player for his work ethic, saying:

“He’s a 100% professional. He is one of the most intensive and focused football players I have ever met in my life.

“Attila was always doing extra training, he was always trying to learn and trying to work on his body. He worked a lot, and he worked very hard, he’s not just a football player, he’s the full package.”

It was another good season for the Hungarian last year, as he was heavily involved yet again, playing for his club side 52 times, scoring three goals and creating three assists along the way.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a respectable rating of 6.75 across his 32 league games, whereas the Breda-born colossus just edged him out on 6.97.

Interestingly he averaged 1.1 tackles per game to the Dutchman’s 0.8 and 1.1 interceptions to one, per WhoScored, granted in an easier league, but that suggests he has a strong foundation to build upon.

Whether he can quite be the next Van Dijk for Dyche or not, he would certainly be a great addition to the Toffees’ back line next season, given the evidence and clamour above, and for £17m, it’s undoubtedly worth the risk.

Leeds United want to sign West Brom midfielder Jayson Molumby, according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news?

The Whites, and by extension new owners the 49ers Enterprises, are currently busy looking for a new manager, while also attempting to move some players on.

Out-of-favour forward Tyler Roberts and defender Diego Llorente could soon be joining Birmingham City and AS Roma respectively, whereas Robin Koch could be on course to leave Elland Road for free.

When it comes to midfielders, Adam Forshaw is set to be released this summer but has been invited back for pre-season training, whereas star man Tyler Adams is being linked with a number of clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Therefore, new midfielders look set to be high on the transfer wishlist for Leeds and the 49ers, and by the looks of it, they want to go after proven Championship talent, with Molumby a target.

According to Nixon, via MOT Leeds News, those at Elland Road are keen on signing the West Brom man, who is available to leave The Hawthorns at the right price.

“Leeds United are keen on West Brom’s Republic of Ireland midfield enforcer Jayson Molumby.

“The Elland Road club are looking to recruit proven players to toughen up their team and Molumby is available at the right price.”

Who is Jayson Molumby?

Molumby is 23 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in defensive and attacking roles if needed.

The Republic of Ireland international made a permanent move to the Midlands last summer from Brighton & Hove Albion and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €3.2m Transfermarkt valuation.

He has made 125 appearances in the Championship and has an admirer in West Brom boss and Leeds target Carlos Corberan, who called Molumby an “animal” back in January after his display against Reading.

“It’s important for every player to go on to the pitch when they’re in the first XI with the mentality to compete, this is what Molumby is doing.

“He is working as an animal and that’s what football demands of you.”

It looks as if a transfer will be one to keep an eye on, especially if Corberan gets the job in Yorkshire, and who knows, Molumby may not be the only central midfielder to arrive at Leeds over the coming months.

Nottingham Forest could look to the summer transfer window to add depth to their squad ahead of next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Forest's interest in Romain Saiss?

According to Foot Mercato, Nottingham Forest are one of the clubs interested in signing Besiktas defender Romain Saiss.

As per the report, the Garibaldi Reds are keen to take advantage of Saiss' Premier League experience by bringing him back to the Premier League this summer, but will face strong competition from fellow relegation battlers Everton.

Would Romain Saiss be a good fit for Forest?

Steve Cooper will be thrilled with the way his squad performed at the business end of the Premier League season to secure survival, but will be looking for solutions to improve the consistency in the team across the next campaign to ensure they don't fall into trouble again.

Indeed, at 33 years old, Saiss would not be a long-term prospect for the Tricky Trees but would provide a wealth of Premier League experience and add depth to the centre-back roles, making him an ideal addition for next season at the very least.

The 6 foot 3 Moroccan titan is best known for his six-year stint with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but has continued to shine in the Turkish top-flight and on the international stage at the 2022 World Cup for his national team; part of a record-breaking tournament for Morocco.

Over six appearances in Qatar, Saiss – hailed "impeccable" by Medhi Benatia – scored one goal, kept three clean sheets and won 100% of his aerial duels, as well as averaging 41.7 touches, five clearances and 26.5 accurate passes per game, captaining his side to become the first African team to ever get to the semi-final of the prestigious international tournament.

The £48k-per-week Besiktas ace has demonstrated excellent leadership skills over his career and from his centre-back role has never struggled to display his huge presence on the pitch with not only his defensive consistency but his eye for attacking opportunities, making him the perfect player to work alongside Serge Aurier at the City Ground.

The Forest full-back has been a consistent and reliable performer since joining the club with both defensive and attacking attributes on the right flank – averaging 1.2 interceptions, 2.7 tackles, 2.7 clearances and six duels won per game over his 24 Premier League appearances.

Combine that aggressive and combative nature with the titanic approach of Saiss and you'd have a fine defensive pairing, one certainly capable of helping improve Forest's record at the back next term.

Indeed, Saiss could be the perfect player to bolster Forest's defensive presence. He could form a particularly solid partnership with Aurier next season and help the club retain their top-flight status more comfortably than they did this time out.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in sealing a move for Manchester City star, Aymeric Laporte, with the Lilywhites keen to bolster their centre-back ranks this summer.

What's the latest on Laporte to Tottenham?

That's according to journalist Sean Walsh, with the transfer insider revealing on Twitter that the Spain international – as well as Manchester United captain Harry Maguire – are among the targets being considered by the north London outfit:

"In regards to a new defender, Harry Maguire is a target, while Aymeric Laporte is also someone that Tottenham greatly admire."

In his attached piece for 90min – alongside colleague Graeme Bailey – Walsh goes on to add that Laporte, in particular, is 'high on Spurs' shortlist' ahead of next season, with the same publication previously stating that Daniel Levy and co have been offered the chance to sign the 29-year-old.

Should Tottenham sign Laporte?

If new boss Ange Postecoglou is looking to find a centre-back solution over the coming weeks and months, the 57-year-old would seemingly be wise to push to sign Laporte, rather than opting to prise the struggling Maguire from Old Trafford.

While the latter man has only recently been described as a "walking disaster" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst after falling down the pecking order at United, the City ace, by contrast was at one stage hailed as the "best left central defender in the world" by manager, Pep Guardiola.

Although the former Athletic Bilbao man has not been a regular fixture for the treble-chasing outfit this season – having notably started just 11 Premier League games – the France-born titan does still compare favourably to his position in Europe's top five leagues.

A talent who is both "fast" and "strong in the air" – according to Guardiola – Laporte has particularly impressed in recent times due to his quality in possession, as he notably ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for both progressive passes and progressive carries.

Evidently a master at playing out from the back, the 6 foot 2 warrior – who has been valued at around £43m by CIES Football Observatory – also ranks in the top 1% for attempted passes and the top 3% for pass completion, highlighting his innate composure on the ball.

That quality is in stark contrast, for instance, to that of Maguire, with the 30-year-old – who also typically operates in a left-sided centre-back role – ranking in just the top 48% for progressive passes and the top 19% for progressive carries, as well as in just the top 48% for pass completion and the top 17% for attempted passes.

With Spurs needing to "upgrade" their centre-back options, it would thus be a real "no-brainer" to bring Laporte into the fold – according to pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – with more solidity needed to bolster a backline that shipped the sixth-most goals in the division in 2022/23.

Manchester City are considering signing Nicolò Barella to replace Ilkay Gundogan this summer.

The German is out of contract at the end of the month yet is contributing as much value to Pep Guardiola's side as he did throughout his time at the Etihad.

The midfielder has 11 goals and seven assists this season, bagging three doubles in his last six games. Gundogan put Manchester United to the sword in the FA Cup final, scoring from outside the 18-yard box twice.

So, how can Manchester City replace such a clutch player?

Is Nicolo Barella joining Manchester City?

According to reports in Italy (via Sport Witness), Pep Guardiola wants Barella at Man City to replace the Barcelona-bound Gundogan and could have a very opportune chance to speak to him this weekend.

Inter and City lock horns in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday (8PM BST) but following the match, there could be the chance to discuss Man City signing Barella this summer.

Guardiola "dotes" on the Italian maestro and could present a "mind-boggling offer to snatch him from Inzaghi". While the report doesn't mention how much it would cost, Inter Live reported in February that Inter want €90-100m (£80-88.5m) to part ways with Barella.

It's noted by Sportmediaset, as per FC Inter News, that Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United are also following Barella "closely".

How good is Nicolo Barella?

While speaking on commentary for Channel 4 ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy in March, Steven Gerrard waxed lyrical about Barella.

He said: “They [Italy] have potential world class players emerging now. Now you have the likes of Barella, Raspadori. These are players who could become world class over the course of their careers.”

Barella, specifically, has continued to demonstrate his class and it's no fluke that he and his Inter teammates have reached the final of the Champions League.

Like Gundogan, Barella is an extremely dangerous midfielder to play against. Not only is he capable of dictating games, playing more passes into the box than 90% of Europe's midfielders, but he is also a threat himself in the 18-yard area. This season, he has nine goals and ten assists, surpassing projections for expected goals and assists.

Replacing Gundogan with Barella would once again highlight Man City's relentless approach in the transfer market. Rarely has there been a club so consistent when replacing key players – Sergio Aguero left and he was soon replaced by Erling Haaland.

Barella could be next for the Premier League champions.