Celtic are in the race to sign an "incredible" attacker this summer, according to a new report.
Celtic transfer rumours
The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers are currently involved in an extremely tight Scottish Premiership title race with rivals Rangers, while they also find themselves in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
There is still plenty to play for on the pitch, but away from the field, those at Parkhead appear to be making preparations ahead of the transfer window.
Mark Guidi shares exciting Celtic transfer update he's been "told"
The Hoops are “back in the market”.
ByCharlie Smith Mar 27, 2024
Recent reports have suggested that Celtic are looking to sign at least three players ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, with a new goalkeeper, winger and striker being prioritised.
A few specific targets have been mentioned, such as Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and loanee Adam Idah making his move permanent. A new target has now emerged, though, one who has enjoyed a remarkable season in front of goal.
Celtic in Sammie Szmodics transfer race
According to Football Insider, Celtic are now in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szmodics.
The Hoops are thought to be battling Premier League outfit Brentford and a number of other unnamed top-flight clubs in England for the attacking midfielder, who recently made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland.
Sammie Szmodics
The 28-year-old has scored a whopping 27 goals in all competitions in 2023/24 and is the top scorer in the Championship. It is added that ‘Szmodics has been fielded as an attacking midfielder and a centre-forward this season and could provide great versatility if he moves to the Glasgow giants’.
Szmodics appears to be at the peak of his powers at Ewood Park, so a move to Parkhead could be a shrewd one by Hoops officials, especially if current attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley departs, as has been speculated.
Norwich City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
9.17/10
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Middlesbrough
9.05/10
Blackburn Rovers 4-2 Birmingham City
8.94/10
Queens Park Rangers 0-4 Blackburn Rovers
8.09/10
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
7.96/10
He could therefore slot straight into the Celtic setup, with Szmodics a player who has been called “incredible” by former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.
"The development of Sammie is great to see. He's a team player, he's a goalscorer. He's very good in doing all the things we want, then of course scoring that amount of goals and also even getting assists.
"And still the good thing is, he can miss a chance and it doesn't matter, he can go on. Great character and great to see him getting the ball with him at home.
"After Christmas last season, I think he's been really good for Rovers and after the summer holiday, he's been extremely good. He's also added those goals.
"We always know he can score goals but he's not used to playing a lot of games at this level first of all, he played with Peterborough but not a lot. The way he's scoring goals, the confidence he's playing with and the role he takes as one of the senior players is quite incredible."
During the 2024 Olympics, which began this weekend, Japan's Yuji Nishida paid tribute to Al-Nassr and Portugal star Ronaldo with a 'Suiii' celebration after scoring a point in volleyball. Of course, the celebration has been seen in multiple sports but it is always traced back to the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United legend.
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Ronaldo's influence is undoubtedly astonishing but he has somewhat struggled to live up to his own standards in recent months. At the European Championship, he was twice reduced to tears, first after missing a penalty, and then following Portugal's exit at the hands of France.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Ronaldo is preparing for the new season. He has yet to win a trophy for Al-Nassr but will hope to change that this season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers play their first Premier League this evening since March 9 as they face Aston Villa.
The Old Gold are flying high in the top flight this term, yet they slipped to a stunning defeat to Coventry City in the FA Cup quarter-final just two weeks ago.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil before a Premier League game.
They led 2-1 with just injury time to go, but the Sky Blues scored twice – including the winner with just seconds to go – to claim a semi-final spot.
Gary O’Neil will no doubt have been devastated at such a collapse, yet it will allow him to focus on securing a top-half finish in the Premier League this season.
Wolves team news vs Aston Villa
The previous few weeks have seen several first-team stars suffer various injury issues. First, it was Matheus Cunha, before the likes of Hwang Hee-Chan, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Craig Dawson and Pedro Neto were all ruled out.
The latter four will be unavailable for the clash against Villa this evening, as O’Neil will have to rejig his starting XI.
Matheus Cunha
Cunha may be in line for a first appearance since the 2-0 loss to Brentford at the beginning of February.
Despite the Brazilian pushing for an opportunity, the manager may prefer to play it safe and continue to utilise a striker who has deputised for him and Hwang recently – Nathan Fraser.
Nathan Fraser can replace Hwang and Cunha
Between them during the 2023/24 campaign, Hwang and Cunha have scored 22 goals along with registering a further ten assists between them, emerging as O’Neil’s main attacking partnership when both are fit.
Since the pair have been out injured, he has had to change things slightly, with Fraser coming into the first team setup on a more regular basis.
Metric
Matheus Cunha
Hwang Hee-Chan
Goals
9
10
Assists
6
3
Key passes per game
1
0.7
Big chances created
7
4
Successful dribbles per game
2.2
1.4
During an EFL Cup tie against Blackpool earlier this season, the youngster scored and grabbed an assist, adding another goal to his collection against Brentford in the FA Cup back in January.
The teen has been described as “inquisitive” by the U21 head coach, James Collins, following his excellent showings for the youth team.
His maturity at such a young age has given O’Neil a licence to unleash the player against clubs such as Newcastle United and Manchester United recently.
Nathan-fraser-wolves
The teenager has shown plenty of promise across his four league appearances this season as he has averaged 0.5 key passes per game, won two total duels per game and lost possession on just three occasions per match, showing he has the ability to have an excellent future at the club.
If he can score his first top flight goal against Villa this evening, it could give O’Neil a major selection headache, especially with Cunha and Hwang returning to the fold sooner rather than later.
Being thrown in the deep end appears to have worked wonders for Fraser and his confidence levels, showing that he can adapt to senior football, especially in the Premier League.
Wolves in danger of losing a "top talent" who could replace Semedo
The loanee has not played a single minute for Wolves since joining in 2021.
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A victory over the Villa Park side will bolster their chances of finishing in the top half of the table. There is no doubt about that.
CSA to look at status of international travel and sponsor interest and broadcast deal before deciding
Firdose Moonda05-Aug-2020CSA will decide by mid-August whether the third edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL) is played in the usual November-December window, or later in the southern hemisphere summer, or pushing it to 2021 to accommodate some international cricket at home in the upcoming season. There are three main factors being looked at: whether international travel will be permitted, if there is sufficient time and appetite to secure a sponsor and broadcast deal, and if spectators will be allowed into stadiums.”There is still a lot of uncertainty with the coronavirus pandemic and we need to be careful before we announce that something will happen and then we may have to postpone it,” CSA’s acting chief executive Dr Jacques Faul told ESPNcricinfo. “To host the MSL, we probably need international travel to be permitted. And we can’t start looking for a sponsor or trying to secure a broadcaster until we know when we will be hosting it.”Although MSL does not attract the same profile of players as the IPL, there is still a significant overseas contingent. In previous years, that has included the likes of Chris Gayle, Alex Hales and Wahab Riaz, who may not be able to return unless borders open. Currently, South Africa’s borders remain closed across both international and provincial lines – as the country heads towards its Covid-19 infection peak. While case numbers are expected to start dropping by October-November, borders may only open for travel early next year, according to information provided last month by the deputy minister of tourism Fish Mahlalela.Playing the MSL without overseas players could significantly reduce its value as a product, which would doubtless affect any potential corporate partners CSA may hope to attract. The MSL does not have a title sponsor and has been broadcast on the public broadcaster, SABC, without charge in its first season and for a nominal fee in its second, ending up costing CSA millions of rands.
“To play international cricket that way [behind closed doors] is okay because there is a broadcast deal in place but for the MSL we would also rely on gate takings.”Jacques Faul
The board had hoped to sell the MSL rights to the pay-television broadcaster SuperSport, which holds the rights for all other cricket, but terms haven’t been agreed yet. SuperSport was initially due to be equity partners in the tournament but opted out of that deal. The amount SuperSport then offered CSA to broadcast the tournament was rejected and CSA opted to air the competition on SABC instead, despite financial losses. What CSA gained, though, was a wider reach, as the SABC is accessed by millions more viewers.Although the MSL lost money and was poorly attended in several venues, the carnival-like atmosphere at Boland Park in Paarl, the home of defending champions Paarl Rocks, was hailed as a success. Spectator numbers also picked up in Port Elizabeth and Centurion as the tournament went on. “It’s a big consideration for us whether we would have to play the MSL behind closed doors,” Faul said. “To play international cricket that way is okay because there is a broadcast deal in place but for the MSL we would also rely on gate takings.”That means CSA may prefer to use the November-December period for hosting international cricket if it is able to, with the guarantee of revenue through television rights. “We are in talks with several other member boards but until international travel is allowed, we can’t announce anything,” Faul said.The third edition is set to feature eight teams, marking a significant shift from the first two seasons, with the two new franchises based in Bloemfontein and East London.South Africa were due to host India for three T20Is in August, and Sri Lanka and Australia over the summer. The India matches are definitely postponed, with players from both countries involved in the IPL, while discussions on the other series are ongoing. Similarly, South Africa are not in position to announce their domestic schedule yet but are hoping to begin franchise cricket before the end of the year.
Rohit Sharma leads from the front and respects the dressing-room atmosphere, Raina points out
ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2020Suresh Raina has called Rohit Sharma “the next MS Dhoni” of the Indian team, highlighting the former’s credentials as captain as well as his leadership qualities on and off the field.”I would say he is the next MS Dhoni for the Indian cricket team,” Raina said on . “I have seen him, he is calm, he likes to listen. He likes to give confidence to the players and on top of that, he likes to lead from the front. When a captain leads from the front and, at the same time, he gives respect to the dressing-room atmosphere, you know you have it all.”He thinks everyone is a captain. I have seen him, I have played under him when we won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. I have seen how he gives confidence to young players like Shardul [Thakur], Washington Sundar and [Yuzvendra] Chahal.”Sharma is the most successful captain in the history of IPL, having led Mumbai Indians to a record four titles in eight years. He is only behind Dhoni in terms of win percentage among captains who have lead in more than 100 games, with 60 wins in 104 matches at 58.65. Sharma has also captained India in Virat Kohli’s absence and has led India to title wins at the Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2018. Overall, he has captained in ten ODIs and 19 T20Is, winning eight and 15 of those respectively.
Somehow I feel I can still play but at the same time I want to enjoy my cricket. I haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of yearsSuresh Raina
“Around him, players enjoy the intensity, they enjoy his aura. When you enjoy the aura of a player, you like to be positive and I think that is what he is good at,” Raina said. “MS Dhoni was brilliant. He [Rohit] has won more [IPL] trophies than MS, but they both are very similar. Both of them, as captains, like to listen. When your captain is listening, you can solve a lot of problems, you can solve the mental aspects of the players. So in my book, they both are wonderful.”‘Haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of years’On being asked about his ambitions of playing for India again, Raina said that he would like another chance as long as he’s enjoying his game.”Definitely, I feel I still have it,” he said. “After every operation [injury-related] I feel I’m a different person. You know how it is after a rehab – after every rehab I felt I became tougher, after every rehab I thought I’ll play again. But I don’t want to be so pushy. Somehow I feel I can still play but at the same time I want to enjoy my cricket. I haven’t enjoyed my cricket in the last couple of years.”So the next three-four years me playing or not is destiny but I just want to go out there and smile on the field and enjoy my batting and fielding. Cricket has become very commercial but at the end of the day, you need to go out there and come back as a happy soul. That’s what I’m searching for in my mind, when I go the ground and come back, I want to be happy. I just want to try one more time and see how it goes.”
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has reportedly signed a lucrative deal with BBC's reality dance show, Strictly Come Dancing.
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Merson set to join BBC's Strictly Come DancingReality show reportedly offer six-figure dealBBC looking to move on from recent controversiesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Controversy has hung over the popular program Strictly Come Dancing ever since Giovanni Pernice was suspended following accusations of violent behaviour by his partner Amanda Abbington. In addition to that, Graziano Di Prima was fired last month due to allegations that he mistreated Zara McDermott both physically and verbally during rehearsals.
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As per The Sun, BBC are now looking to enact damage control and have offered Merson a six-figure deal to join the show as they believe the 56-year-old "will be a popular addition as footballers always do well with fans."
THE GOSSIP
Merson comes with his own flaws as he has previously opened up about his issues with alcohol, gambling and drugs on an ITV show with Harry Redknapp. The showrunners believe that Merson's history of issues and his overcoming of them could move 'Strictly Come Dancing' target audiences and help the show overcome recent controversies.
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WHAT NEXT FOR MERSON?
The 21st series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' is expected to begin shooting in September. If Merson does sign on with the reality television show, he will likely be unavailable for his punditry duties till the end of the year.
Tottenham Hotspur supporters will generally be satisfied with their team's progress this season, fifth-placed in the Premier League with ten matches left to play.
The ongoing international break allows clubs to pause and recalibrate, and this will likely have been welcomed by Ange Postecoglou given the chastening 3-0 defeat away to Fulham last time out.
Postecoglou said that qualifying for next season's Champions League group phase is not the be-all and end-all for his squad, instead prioritising growth and collective development.
This is an admirable and prudent approach, but a spot in Europe's elite club competition would certainly be a lift and a mark of progress for supporters and players, also improving the chances of landing the best talent in the summer transfer window.
Spurs' summer transfer targets
According to prominent German outlet BILD – via Sport Witness – Tottenham are set to wage transfer battle with London rivals Chelsea for the transfer of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, having already made an approach prior to the winter window.
Both Premier League clubs 'knocked' for the 28-year-old back in December but there was nothing doing, however, Tah is understood to be intrigued by the possibility of a move to England, should a suitor offer Champions League football.
German centre-back Jonathan Tah.
Spurs are well in contention to achieve just that, and given that Chelsea are currently 11th in the league table heading into the business end, 14 points behind Tottenham, Daniel Levy will be confident of winning any race for Tah's signature.
Tah is out of contract in 2025 and, as such, Leverkusen will welcome cheap bids for the player's signature, with Kicker revealing earlier in the campaign that a bid approaching €18m (£15m) might do the trick.
Jonathan Tah's season in numbers
Tah has been an integral member of a Bayer Leverkusen side working absolute wonders under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso this season, undefeated in all competitions, top of the German Bundesliga, into the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal and awaiting West Ham United in the Europa League last-eight.
As per Sofascore, the £46k-per-week titan has started 23 Bundesliga matches this season, keeping nine clean sheets, scoring four goals, completing 97% of his passes, averaging 5.5 ball recoveries and 3.3 clearances per game and succeeding with 70% of his aerial battles.
Jonathan Tah in action for Bayer LeverkusenJonathan Tah in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Considered to be a monstrous physical presence and a confident player with the ball at his feet, the 6 foot 4 star has been described as a "physically strong and very quick" centre-half by former Germany Men's manager Joachim Löw, with this supreme athleticism speaking of shades of Micky van de Ven, who also made the move from Germany to the Premier League last season.
Tah typically plays in a back-three for Die Werkself but is a proven player in a more traditional defence, highlighting the versatility that could be tailor-made for a place in Postecoglou's interchangeable, multi-functioning Lilywhites system.
He'd be perfect for Tottenham, augmenting a defensive group consisting of star defensive axis Van de Ven and Cristian Romero but also nurturing £27m January acquisition Radu Dragusin, aged 21.
With a return to continental competition on the cards next term and a desire to wade deep into the domestic cup competitions, depth is paramount and Tah would be the perfect fit.
Why Jonathan Tah would be perfect for Spurs
Tah has the highest passing accuracy from open play of any athlete in the German top-flight this term at 97%, placing him above even Van de Ven in the Premier League, with the Dutchman completing 95% of his balls for Postecoglou's side.
As per FBref, Tah ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 13% for passes attempted per 90 and the top 1% for pass completion, with his elite technical control and natural knack for goalscoring tools that would be well-wielded within Postecoglou's tactical set-up.
1.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool
2.
Pau Torres
Aston Villa
3.
Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool
4.
Nathan Ake
Manchester City
5.
Levi Colwill
Chelsea
Moreover, Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is considered Tah's most comparable Premier League player, as per Football Transfers, with such a skill set hardly unlikely to succeed down the N17.
Van Dijk has been near indomitable at times this season for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, thriving at the heart of a resurgent, title-chasing side and restoring a backline that welcomed no transfer additions last summer despite a dismal 2022/23 campaign, also contending with injuries to Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and shot-stopper Alisson Becker this season.
As per Sofascore, the 32-year-old colossus has been breathtaking in the league, completing 91% of his passes, scoring two goals and supplying two assists, averaging 5.1 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per game and coming out on top in a staggering 84% of his aerial battles.
Carabao Cup winner Virgil van Dijk.
He also ranks among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 10% for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 2% for aerial wins per 90.
Quite simply, Van Dijk is one of the best in the business, and while Klopp and Postecoglou implement different styles of play, both are reliant on innate understanding, progression and fluency.
This is evidenced by the turnaround in fortunes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season since Van de Ven arrived and settled the equilibrium next to Romero.
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However, both stars have been sidelined at different intervals this term and this has laid the Lilywhites' fragility bare. This cannot be allowed to resurface and pull the squad back in regression after such promise throughout Postecoglou's maiden campaign.
Once described as a "defensive battleship" by former teammate Christoph Kramer, Tah must be signed, joining the fold and offering his skill set in what would add another layer to the building Spurs machine.
Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly emerged as the latest contender to take charge of the USMNT after Gregg Berhalter's exit.
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Berhalter was fired after Copa America failurePochettino is currently a free agentCould potentially take up the US jobGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Berhalter left his post after a disappointing showing by the American squad at the 2024 Copa America where they got knocked out from the group stages. In search of a new manager, it was reported that the USA FA had reached out to former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to fill the vacant position. However, after Klopp declined the offer, their attention swiftly turned to Pochettino, according to
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Pochettino's availability stems from his recent exit from Chelsea in May after guiding the London club to a sixth-place Premier League finish. His profile aligns well with what the United States seeks: a youthful coach with a prestigious pedigree, fluent in English, and seasoned in top-tier football.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pochettino, aged 52, boasts an impressive coaching career that includes stints with Tottenham Hotspur, where he led the team to a Champions League final, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The USMNT job could be a tempting offer as he would have the opportunity to mould a talented crop of young American players like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and others to his preferred style and philosophy.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
If Pochettino indeed takes up the offer from the US FA, he will get the opportunity to lead the side in the 2026 World Cup in front of home fans. This could be a compelling factor for the Argentine to take up the reins to coach Christian Pulisic and Co.
Malik was allegedly seen agreeing to potentially carry out corrupt acts on the field
Umar Farooq08-Jun-2020Saleem Malik has formally responded to a pending inquiry stemming from a newspaper sting operation carried out 20 years ago. The responses, filed to the PCB, ESPNcricinfo understands, are to questions surrounding an investigation by the now-defunct – the same newspaper and reporter that carried out the Lord’s 2010 sting – in which Malik was allegedly caught on video offering to potentially corrupt players and games.The revelations and allegations from the sting were not part of the Justice Qayyum inquiry which banned Malik for life in 2000 – that inquiry and sentencing had taken place just before the tabloid sting.The board has confirmed the receipt of Malik’s response and says it is under review. Although Malik had volunteered to clear his name when the PCB set up an integrity commission in the wake of the 2010 spot-fixing saga, he hadn’t, before Monday, responded to the PCB summons relating to the sting operation.Last month, Malik re-emerged after a movement appeared to have begun urging the PCB to reintegrate him. The Qayyum report found him guilty of attempting to fix a Test match, before a Lahore sessions court lifted the ban in 2008. Shortly after that verdict, the PCB denied that it had offered him the post of head coach at the National Cricket Academy, a day after he said he had accepted an offer for the same. Since then, he had been largely off the grid.”I have never been quiet, I wasn’t given ample coverage,” Malik said outside the Gaddafi Stadium after submitting his response to the PCB’s Security and Anti-corruption head. “I have been disheartened when my previous press conferences were under-reported, but now we have social media [which is] a good medium to be heard. Even if you guys [the media] are not coming to cover me, I can still record and make it viral on social media. I have become a grandfather now and I don’t like to be maligned every now and then on TV.”I have submitted a detailed reply and the transcript they gave me was totally [in bad faith]. I’ve been fighting my case in courts for eight years and they [the PCB] never offered any such transcript [against him in court] ever. The Justice Qayyum report doesn’t carry any value and it was biased. So this is all lies against me and I have been suffering with injustice for long. I never criticise anyone in my statements […] they’re all great players who served the country with distinction. But at the same time, I also served Pakistan and won a lot games for the country and I deserve to be treated equally. I know there have been a lot changes at the helm in the last ten years but for now I hope for the best.”Malik is one of only five Pakistan players to play over 100 Tests. He played 103 Tests and 263 ODIs for Pakistan from 1981 to 1999, but his career was ultimately overshadowed by the match-fixing scandal. In a judicial inquiry that began in 1998 and continued for 13 months, he was found guilty of attempting to bribe the Australia cricketer Mark Waugh to fix the 1994-95 Karachi Test.
Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Ajax in midweek gives them a great chance to secure progression to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals with a win at Villa Park next Thursday.
All thoughts will turn towards the clash against Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, however, especially with the importance of the tie.
Villa are currently five points clear of the north Londoners in the Premier League table and could extend this lead to eight points with a win.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
Unai Emery could well make a few changes to his starting XI ahead of the blockbuster clash against Ange Postecoglou’s men, however, as they strive to achieve qualification for the Champions League next season.
Several players dropped to the bench in midweek, with captain John McGinn one who did not start the match.
John McGinn came off the bench against Ajax
Prior to the match, McGinn had failed to start only one game throughout the whole season and that was way back in August against his old club Hibs in the Conference League qualifiers.
With the huge clash against Spurs on the horizon, it appeared as though Emery had one eye on this weekend, hence the decision to drop the Scot.
He did make a cameo appearance in midweek, but failed to get into the game, completing just two passes and taking eight touches in 27 minutes, yet the Midlands side secured a draw.
John McGinn
His statistics across the season have been impressive, though, and he will almost certainly return to the starting XI ahead of the Spurs tie this afternoon.
John McGinn’s season in numbers
Either deployed in the heart of the midfield or out wide on the left, McGinn has contributed with eight goals and five assists this season, a solid return for the midfielder.
Across the squad in the Premier League, the former Hibs starlet currently ranks fourth for goals and assists (nine), along with ranking third for big chances created (nine), fourth for key passes per game (1.4) and second for successful dribbles per game (1.6), showcasing his excellent attacking talents and giving Emery another reliable option for goals in his midfield.
Metric
Europa Conference League
Premier League
Goals
2
6
Assists
2
3
Key passes per game
0.6
1.4
Big chances created
2
9
Successful dribbles per game
0.4
1.6
Via Sofascore
The £120k-per-week maestro was dubbed a “relentless creature” by journalist Mat Kendrick back in 2019 during his first season at Villa Park, and his enthusiasm and determined approach have made him a crowd favourite at the club.
When compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues, McGinn ranks in the top 11% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.18) and in the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.84) over the previous 365 days, which is further evidence of his attacking abilities.
The tie against Spurs could perhaps be their most important of the season so far, especially as they have the chance to cement their place in the top four with a victory.
John McGinn
In November, Villa secured a 2-1 win against the north London outfit, and Emery will be desperate for another result along those lines.
McGinn could start alongside Douglas Luiz in the heart of the midfield and between them, the duo can terrorise the Spurs backline throughout the game.