An update has emerged on Burnley and their plans to add to their options at the top end of the pitch following their promotion to the Premier League…
What's the latest on Habib Diallo to Burnley?
According to journalist Alan Nixon, reporting on his Patreon, Clarets boss Vincent Kompany recently went to watch Strasbourg centre-forward Habib Diallo in action and is now weighing up a swoop for the 27-year-old.
The Sun reporter claims that fellow Premier League side West Ham United are also showing an interest in the Senegal international and could provide competition for his signature.
It is stated that the Ligue 1 side could demand a fee in the region of £20m for the marksman and that Burnley are eyeing him as an alternative target to Coventry City frontman Viktor Gyokeres.
How did Habib Diallo perform this season?
The 27-year-old dynamo enjoyed a prolific season with Strasbourg in the French top-flight and his performances suggest that the ace would come in as a big upgrade on the departing Ashley Barnes.
It has been confirmed that Norwich City will be signing the veteran centre-forward on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at Burnley and Diallo could come through the door to replace him and offer more in the final third.
Burnley striker Ashley Barnes.
During the 2022/23 campaign, the Senegal international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 37 appearances in Ligue 1 and contributed with an eye-catching 20 goals. This came after the striker plundered 11 goals in 16 starts in the league in the 2021/22 campaign.
The 6 foot 1 attacker, who former Strasbourg defender Kader Mangane once hailed as "complete" and "very special", has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer in a major European league over the last two seasons, whereas Burnley's centre-forward struggled for goals in the Championship.
Barnes found the back of the net seven times in 39 matches in the second tier of English football and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.84, which indicates that Diallo – who has averaged 0.53 non-penalty goals per 90 over the last 365 days – would be a major upgrade on the 33-year-old in front of goal.
The Senegalese marksman also created two more 'big chances (five) than the Clarets gem (three) provided in 2022/23 and could offer more creativity on the ball to present his teammates with opportunities to score.
Therefore, Kompany could land a dream replacement for Barnes by sealing a deal for the Ligue 1 star this summer as he would improve the team, assuming the ace is able to adapt to English football, ahead of their Premier League campaign.
The English Premier League (EPL), or the English Football League as it is commonly known, has been the top division of English football since it was founded back in 1992. It was formed by a breakaway of the 22 clubs from the Football League First Division and replaced the old First Division and Second Division system. Since then, this impressive competition has become one of the best leagues in Europe and has seen some of the biggest names in world football grace its fields.
This article will illustrate why watching the Premier League is definitely worth your time.
Unrivaled excitement
Watching the Premier League is a thrilling experience for viewers, as players take part in a fierce competition to prove themselves and look to win games. Some people seek thrills by betting on these football matches or playing online casino games, for example. If you want to feel the thrills by watching sports, then you should watch the Premier League. This is one of the most exciting football leagues in the world.
What makes it exciting? For starters, even the smaller clubs, like Blackburn or West Bromwich, to name a couple, have the opportunity to win the league title or even qualify for the European competitions. The best example of this is when Leicester City clinched the Barclays Premier League championship in 2016. It is regarded as the greatest underdog season in sports history.
In addition to the unpredictability of every match, another great reason to watch the Premier League is the bitter rivalries between opposing teams, some even from the same cities.
The best managers
Some of the best managers in the world coach in the Premier League, showcasing their coaching prowess against other top-tier managers.Among the best managers in the EPL is former Spanish professional coach and player "Pep" Guardiola who currently coaches at Manchester City. One of his rivals, Jürgen Klopp presently holds the title of Premier League Manager of the Season after leading Liverpool FC to a second-place finish last season. Guardiola and former EPL coach José Mourinho are the only managers other than Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd) to win the Manager of the Season award in consecutive seasons.
The best rivalries
One thing that makes football amazing is the passion people have for it. Such passion is heightened during derby matches. Among the most legendary rivalries in world football is on display in the derby match between Manchester United and Manchester City.
From world-class players and top-tier coaches to intense competition and unparalleled rivalries, it's easy to see why the Premier League is one of the most-watched and exciting leagues in sports today.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale is making moves in the summer transfer window to alter his playing squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland have all been confirmed to be joining the Gers next month and with new signings could come more departures.
One player who could be on his way out of Glasgow is winger Scott Wright, who is reportedly free to leave if an acceptable offer comes the club's way in the next few months.
Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?
Beale could ruthlessly ditch the forward by securing a deal to snap up Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose arrival would open up the space for the Scottish giants to sanction a transfer for the ex-Aberdeen man.
Turkish outlet Sporx recently claimed that the Light Blues have submitted an offer to sign the Fenerbahce gem, who is said to be keen on a move away from his current club.
The ace is reportedly available for a fee in the region of €10m (£8.5m) but it remains unclear as to how much Rangers have offered or how much they are willing to go to.
Osayi-Samuel has mainly played as a right-back this season for the Turkish side but his natural position is on the wing, like Wright, and his form as an attacker in England with Queens Park Rangers indicates that he has the potential to be a big upgrade.
Glasgow Rangers winger Scott Wright.
He is an exciting player who could get supporters off their feet with his former boss, Mark Warburton, describing him as a winger who "terrifies defenders" with his "sheer pace" and is a "handful" to deal with.
The 25-year-old Nigerian caught the eye with his performances in the Championship in 19/20 and 20/21 with QPR. He racked up eight goals and ten assists and created 13 'big chances' for his teammates in 58 outings during that period, showcasing his creativity with five 'big chances' provided in the Super Lig from right-back in 21/22.
Wright, however, has struggled badly in the Scottish Premiership over the last two seasons. The attacker has scored four goals and assisted two from six 'big chances' created in 42 appearances in the division in that time.
As a result, Beale must ruthlessly jettison the dud as his lack of production in the top flight suggests that he does not have what it takes to have a big role in the squad next term.
He doesn't offer much in the way of goals or chance creation and Osayi-Samuel could come in and offer more on both fronts, whilst also having the versatility to be able to play at right-back if needed.
Chelsea are holding “contact and talks” regarding a deal to bring Gabri Veiga to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.
How good is Gabri Veiga?
Veiga is a central midfielder who currently plays his football for Celta Vigo in La Liga, having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to graduate from their academy. He’s now become a regular feature of the first-team, clocking up 55 senior appearances to date.
The Spaniard still has another three years to run on his contract at the Balaidos Stadium, but after establishing himself as his homeland outfit’s second top-performing offensive player last season, has been highlighted as an ideal transfer target by Mauricio Pochettino.
Reliable reporter Rudy Galetti revealed earlier this month that the Blues are one of several clubs to have “shown interest” in the 21-year-old, whilst Jacob Steinberg later claimed that a bid "could arrive soon”, and if the following update is to be believed, the two parties may already be discussing a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Are Chelsea signing Veiga?
Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Chelsea are currently in negotiations with Celta Vigo and Veiga regarding a move ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. He wrote:
“Gabri Veiga is ready for the next step now. He will leave Celta Vigo. His management is considering many options as he could become a future top player in central midfield. Contact and talks with CFC and others. Release clause of around €40m [£34m] – confirmed. Bayern is not involved.”
Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga.
Should Boehly make a bid for Veiga?
Chelsea will know that Veiga only being 21 means he would be more of an investment for the long-term future of the club, but having already started to show what he’s capable of on the main stage, Todd Boehly should certainly consider tabling an offer to secure his services.
The Gol International client – the same agency used by Christopher Nkunku – posted 15 goal contributions (11 goals and four assists) in 36 La Liga appearances last season, form which saw him collect three man-of-the-match awards, but the central midfielder was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net.
The Spain U21s starlet was averaging 3.14 shot-creating actions per league game which was the second-highest number in his squad, via FBRef, so he’s always looking to produce moments of quality for his fellow teammates.
Veiga has been lauded an “electric” player by journalist Fabrizio Romano for his youthful pace and energetic nature, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Pochettino.
Sunderland kick off their 2023/24 Championship season in a week's time as they host Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light next Sunday.
Who have Sunderland signed this summer?
The Black Cats faithful could see a host of fresh faces on the pitch for their side during the game as Tony Mowbray and Kristjaan Speakman have worked together to bring in six new signings so far.
Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham, Bradley Dack, Luis Hemir Semedo, Eliezer Mayenda, and Jenson Seelt have all arrived on permanent deals.
That does not appear to be the end of their business for the summer transfer window, though, as it was recently reported by the Daily Mail that the Black Cats are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Southampton central midfielder Will Smallbone.
The outlet named Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Blackburn Rovers as some of the other teams eyeing up the Irish maestro, who has one year left to run on his current contract at St. Mary's.
How good is Will Smallbone?
A loan spell with Stoke City during the 2022/23 campaign proved that the 23-year-old technician is an excellent Championship performer who could be a fantastic addition to Sunderland's squad if they are able to snap him up.
Mowbray can land the dream replacement for Edouard Michut, who returned to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his time with the Black Cats last season, by winning the race to secure Smallbone's signature this summer ahead of top-flight competition.
Michut made 24 league appearances for the club last term and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.64, which placed him 20th within the squad. This shows that the French midfielder struggled to deliver consistently impressive displays as he was not one of the team's top performers.
Former Sunderland loanee Edouard Michut.
The 20-year-old gem did make 1.6 tackles per game, which only four of his teammates eclipsed, but he offered very little going forward with 0.2 key passes per game – less than 16 other players on the roster.
On the other hand, Smallbone showcased himself to be a tough-tackling creator who can be relied on to produce excellent performances on a consistent basis at this level.
He averaged a Sofacore rating of 7.00, which would have placed him joint-third with winger Jack Clarke in the Sunderland squad, and caught the eye in the defensive third with 1.7 tackles per match for the Potters.
The £6k-per-week magician also made a significant impact in possession as he created 1.6 chances per clash and racked up five assists for Alex Neil's team. Meanwhile, only Clarke (1.5) produced more key passes per game for Sunderland and only three players managed more than five assists.
These statistics suggest that Smallbone, who was once dubbed a "special" talent by journalist Josh Bunting, has the ability to be one of Mowbray's best players next season, if he can replicate his Stoke form or even improve on it.
The Saints wizard could be an outstanding creative threat from the middle of the park in a way that Michut was unable to be, whilst still being able to offer a defensive presence as a tough-tackling number eight who can win possession back for his side.
Everton have found themselves yet again struggling to retain their Premier League status this season and Sean Dyche will not only be working hard to secure survival over the remainder of the campaign but also looking at the ways he can improve the squad this summer.
The Toffees are currently 15th in the league table, two points clear of the bottom three, with just 11 games remaining to turn things around and there will surely be a huge focus on strengthening the attacking threat this summer considering the side have the second-fewest amount of goals scored (20) so far.
It is no secret that Everton have struggled over the last 18 months in front of goal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ongoing injury issues, Richarlison’s move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and more recently, Anthony Gordon’s shock exit during the January transfer window, all of which have contributed to the troubles the side have faced.
Indeed, the powerbrokers at Goodison Park did acquire the services of Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil in the summer, however, the attacking duo have failed to make the powerful impact needed to avoid another brush with potential relegation again this season – scoring a combined four goals so far.
As a result, the signing of a clinical and experienced goal-scorer is desperately needed whether the Toffees remain in the top flight or drop into the Championship for the first time ever during the Premier League era and continue to be linked with numerous forwards despite their fate uncertain.
One player who has been touted with a move to the blue side of Merseyside this week is Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom with talkSPORT transfer expert Alex Crook naming Everton as one of the potential suitors.
Who could replace Neal Maupay at Everton?
The 27-year-old could replace Maupay at Goodison Park as the gem has been a sensation in the Championship over the campaign so far and is not only the highest-scoring player in the league (21) this season but also broken club records – becoming the first player to score more than 20 goals for Middlesbrough in 33 years.
Over 29 appearances so far, Akpom – who the Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson claimed “can’t stop scoring” – has scored 22 goals, registered one assist and created one big chance, as well as averaging 2.6 shots on goal, 1.4 shots on target and 5.2 duels won per game, proving that he is in incredible form in front of goal.
The striker has earned consistent huge praise from his current manager over the season so far with Michael Carrick revealing what he believes is the key to the remarkable form that Akpom has found himself in:
“He seems to be bigger, quicker, playing free, you can’t underestimate the power of the mind. It can go the other way when you’re not playing so well, when players seem almost slower and lethargic because the mental state is different. Chuba is in a terrific place at the minute, backed by the whole group.”
If Everton could secure the signing of Akpom this summer and he can continue his outstanding goalscoring next season, there is no doubt that he would be a massively valuable asset to Dyche in his pursuit to improve the attacking threat at Goodison and would be a huge upgrade on current striker Maupay.
Over 20 Premier League performances, the Frenchman has only found the back of the net once, registering no assists and creating zero big chances, as well as only averaging 0.7 shots on target per game, along with five ‘big chances’ missed.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for the Everton hierarchy to snap up the services of Akpom ahead of next season as they could finally find the key to consistency in front of goal.
Maupay has not been able to provide enough quality in front of goal throughout the seasons so far and the Boro marksman’s form in the Championship indicates that he has the potential to make the step up and offer more at the top end of the pitch.
During his time at West Ham United, Felipe Anderson could polarise opinion. However, now that the 29-year-old is arguably outperforming his former team-mate Jarrod Bowen, David Moyes may well be regretting the Brazilian’s departure.
Should West Ham have sold Felipe Anderson?
The Hammers signed the tricky winger from Lazio in 2018 in a then club-record deal worth £36m but like many other attacking additions at the London Stadium, he perhaps failed to live up to expectations in the English capital.
In total, the former Brazil international made 73 appearances in West Ham colours, in which he contributed just 12 goals and 13 assists, the vast majority of which came in his debut Premier League campaign.
He struggled to replicate those numbers in his second season with the club, managing just one goal and four assists in 25 Premier League appearances before a loan move to Porto during the 2020/21 campaign.
Moyes felt that it was necessary to cash in on the winger as he targeted new signings in 2021 and Anderson was sold back to Lazio for just £4m, who were probably laughing all the way to the bank after making a £32m profit in what essentially constituted a three-year loan spell away from Italy.
Is Anderson better than Bowen?
Anderson has quickly rediscovered his goalscoring form with Maurizio Sarri’s side, notching 15 goals and 14 assists across the last two seasons, including six goals and three assists in Serie A so far this term.
This has helped him to earn a strong 7.05 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Italy’s top flight and ranks him a long way ahead of Bowen, who has struggled for form this season after a superb 2021/22 campaign.
The former Hull City man has just four goals and one assist in 23 Premier League appearances this season, with WhoScored awarding him a disappointing 6.70 rating for his performances in the top flight.
He has also averaged far fewer dribbles (0.7 vs 1.2), passes (20.2 vs 33.5) and tackles (1.3 vs two) per game than Anderson, which suggests that the Brazilian could still have offered plenty in Moyes’ side.
While the 29-year-old could have been criticised as being a flair player who didn’t work hard enough, the praise that he received from former Barcelona winger and Lazio team-mate Pedro in 2021 suggests that he was perhaps harshly judged and actually works just as hard off the ball as he does when in possession
Pedro said of the former Irons ace: “It is not easy today to interpret that role. Felipe Anderson played a perfect game, fighting, running, recovering balls, and doing all that had to be done.”
His goal return in his debut season in the Premier League suggests that Anderson was unfairly treated by Moyes; and considering his form compared with that of West Ham’s attackers this season, which sees the Hammers ranked as one of the lowest-scoring teams in the English top flight, perhaps the Irons manager is regretting his decision to sell the Brazilian so cheaply in 2021.
Celtic are set for a 'crucial' period of the transfer window as Brendan Rodgers looks to acquire new talent and retain key assets at Parkhead, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
What's the latest news involving Celtic?
The Hoops have been active in the market as Rodgers looks to maintain dominance in Scotland alongside making strides in the Champions League and have brought in six arrivals in the form of Gustaf Lagerbielke, Odin Thiago Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Yang Hyun-jun, as per Transfermarkt.
Celtic have started the Scottish Premiership campaign in dominant fashion following their domestic clean sweep last term, defeating Ross County 4-2 and claiming a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their opening two league matches, as per Sky Sports.
Retaining key assets will be an important part of Celtic's summer transfer business and the club have moved to open talks with Reo Hatate and Liel Abada over extending their deals at Parkhead, as per The Daily Record.
Club captain Callum McGregor, star striker Kyogo Furuhashi and Japan international Daizen Maeda have all penned extensions at the Celtic that will tie them to the club for the long-term future.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano has stated that Celtic will place importance on keeping their best players at Parkhead alongside making further inroads to secure arrivals in the latter stages of the window.
Romano stated: “The next few days and weeks are going to be important for Celtic to keep their players at the club. This is crucial, and they know that after the Starfelt deal with Celta Vigo, it’s important for them to keep the players at the club, and then we will see the next moves at the end of the window.”
Who could Celtic sign and who could leave the club this summer?
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has taken to Twitter X to detail that Celtic are keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence, stating the following: "Celtic are keen on Wolves winger Daniel Podence. He has one year left on his contract & wasn’t included in the squad last night. Wolves want around £12m, but it’s understood Celtic see room for negotiation, if they make an approach."
According to The Northern Echo, the Hoops are believed to be readying a 'formal approach' for Newcastle United outcast Ryan Fraser, who is out of the picture at St James' Park alongside Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick and Isaac Hayden.
Newcastle United forward Ryan Fraser.
Fraser has been training with Newcastle United's second string and Celtic boss Rodgers has identified him as a 'viable target' to strengthen the wide areas.
Nantes full-back Quentin Merlin is also on the radar at Parkhead and has been scouted by Celtic on several occasions; however, it is said that the French youth international will cost in the region of £7 million, according to Mailplus.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is reportedly a target for Celtic, though they will have to fend off competition from the likes of Crystal Palace, AS Monaco, Sporting Clube de Portugal and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr, as per 90min.
Chelsea's most successful manager in recent times has been Thomas Tuchel.
The German tactician, who led the Blues to Champions League glory over Manchester City in 2021, was the last manager to deliver any sort of silverware to Stamford Bridge.
He recorded 63 wins in 100 matches and only tasted defeat 18 times in 20 months while reaching both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals in the 2021/22 season.
Despite this success, Todd Boehly and co ultimately decided that Tuchel wasn't the right man to take the club forward and according to his ex-wife, he was dismissed in September 2022 due to "off-field reasons and because the players lost respect for him".
Thomas Tuchel
While Tuchel's spell in charge ended on a sour note, so too did Chelsea's business during his time at the club, with the 50-year-old misfiring across all fronts in the transfer window.
He brought in the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Saul Niguez and Marcus Bettinelli – who all failed in the blue shirt – and also sold a whole host of talented stars, including Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi and Olivier Giroud, the latter of which has gone on to make the Blues regret selling him in 2021.
How did Olivier Giroud perform for Chelsea?
Throughout his career, Giroud has become such a likeable figure everywhere's been. During his six-year stint at Arsenal, the Frenchman earned plaudits for his consistent goal-scoring and his ability to produce the spectacular, scoring 105 times and assisting a further 41 in 253 appearances for the Gunners.
So it came as no surprise to see many Arsenal fans frustrated at the club's decision to sell him to their rivals for £18m in 2018, with Arsene Wenger claiming a year earlier that the striker was performing at the pinnacle of his powers.
He said: "I know how important he is not only as a player – he’s a fantastic player – but also in the group he has a big weight. It was a relief for me he decided to stay. Giroud in his prime is at the top of his game."
After moving to west London, Giroud would become a pivotal figure in the club's quest for European dominance and the "top level" forward – as formerly claimed by Wenger – would perform exceptionally in Europe's top two competitions.
In 2018/19, his eye-watering 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances helped the Blues win the Europa League, ironically scoring the winner against his former club in the final.
Then in the 2020/21 campaign, the 6 foot 4 phenom would play an integral role in the Blues' run to the Champions League final, having scored a sensational six times in eight appearances, including all four goals in their 4-0 victory over Sevilla.
Given those standout performances on the big stage, it begs the question as to why Tuchel sold him to AC Milan for a measly £1m in the summer of 2021.
How many goals has Giroud scored since leaving Chelsea?
While supporters have been made to sit through the transfer saga involving Romelu Lukaku, the toothless Kai Havertz and the struggling displays of Nicolas Jackson since Giroud's departure, the Frenchman has been a revelation for AC Milan.
At the remarkable age of 37, the sublime finisher has showcased his final-third expertise at the Rossoneri and left Chelsea fans frustrated with the form he's producing.
In 95 appearances for Milan, he's scored 36 goals and supplied 14 assists, a total that has seen him outscore every Chelsea player since his departure.
The 126-cap international also outperformed the majority of his positional peers in the Serie A last season, ranking in the top 16% for non-penalty goals, top 4% for aerials won, top 18% for assists and top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty box, as per FBref.
Giroud's powers in front of goal have also shown no signs of slowing down in this campaign either with four goals and three assists in eight appearances in the Serie A.
The talented Frenchman may be approaching the twilight years of his career, but if anything, he's aged like a fine wine and he continues to make Chelsea regret selling him for such a nominal fee.
Manchester United’s recent 2-1 victory over Brentford was reminiscent of the comeback wins and late, late goals scored when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of the club.
Indeed, ‘Fergie time’ was often the moniker used when the Red Devils were deep into the game and required a goal to secure a positive result and nothing is more famous than the two dramatic goals in the final moments of the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
This never-say-die attitude has been missed at Old Trafford over the previous decade with a succession of managers failing to carry on the legacy of the great man and the club are a shadow of what they were.
His longevity will likely never be surpassed, and the Scot continued to build great teams across all four decades he was in charge of the Red Devils, yet might he have won more had he signed everyone that he wanted?
Who did Man United miss out on under Alex Ferguson?
The legendary gaffer managed to lure some incredible names to Old Trafford during his reign, including the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie among others.
They all played a significant part in their success, yet there may have been another couple of Premier League crowns or European titles added to the collection had Fergie managed to sign some of the names United were linked with throughout the years.
DUTCH STRIKER RUUD VAN NISTELROOY POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS HOLDING A MANCHESTER UNITED SHIRT WITH COACH SIR ALEX FERGUSON AT OLD TRAFFORD.Manchester United’s new signing, Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy (L), poses for photographers holding a Manchester United shirt with coach Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford April 27, 2001. Van Nistelrooy will join Manchester United from the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven from July 1st, 2001 for a #19 million transfer fee. NO ONLINE/INTERNET USAGE WITHOUT FAPL
Icons such as Alan Shearer, Gabriel Batistuta, Gareth Bale and even Spaniard Raul were once linked with a move to Manchester as Fergie sought to bolster his starting XI and these are just a few of the many glamorous figures that were touted for big money moves to Old Trafford.
They all forged legacies at other clubs but one name that the club were linked with went on to become a legend at a club very close to home – Manchester City.
Remarkably, Ferguson tried to lure David Silva to the red half of the city before he eventually joined Man City, and it might well be one of his few regrets in the transfer window given Silva’s impact in the Premier League.
Did Man United come close to signing David Silva?
It appeared that United were keen on the attacking midfielder, yet Fergie wasn’t convinced by his defensive skills which scuppered a move.
“We watched Silva a lot when he was at Valencia,” said the wily Scot. “And the other player they had, the same type, years before it, played in that No.10 role.
“My problem with that was you have to be very, very good to play in that position, because there's no defensive duties for them.
“So if you're wanting to be really successful, everyone has to do their turn, has to work, you know?
“So I had a difficulty with that. But, in the end, of course, there's the greats. You could say Lionel Messi was a No.10 type, Maradona, some fantastic players, and I don't dispute that.”
His attacking prowess surely would’ve made up for his lack of defensive contributions had United signed him, and it proved to be a massive mistake, as he eventually joined City from the Spanish side for a fee of £24m in 2010 and gave Fergie a first-hand account of exactly what he missed out on.
What did David Silva achieve in his career?
Following 168 appearances for Valencia – scoring 32 goals and grabbing 36 assists – the time for Silva to test himself in the Premier League had come, and he joined the City revolution two years after their takeover.
The signing proved to be one of the greatest value-for-money buys in their history as he flaunted his creative talents in England.
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Silva played a prominent role in City’s first league title since 1968 during the 2011/12 season, registering a staggering 23 goal contributions from an attacking midfield role, and he was also a factor for their second Premier League crown in 2014, managing 18 contributions from just 27 games.
He flourished under Pep Guardiola, becoming the main link between midfield and attack and during the title-winning season of 2017/18, Silva averaged a mammoth 97.7 touches per game while holding an 89% pass success rate as he controlled games on a regular basis.
His talents in the final third were still outstanding under his enigmatic compatriot, however. He created 16 big chances and averaged 2.3 key passes during the 2018/19 season and these statistics ranked him fourth and fifth across the whole league, indicating that he was still one of the better performers in the top-flight despite his advancing years.
He enjoyed one more season at City before bowing out having won four league titles among a handful of other honours and his creative talents have certainly been missed, despite the club securing a wonderful treble last season.
Jonathan Liew heaped praise on him following his departure from City back in 2020, saying: “Genius. Magician. Best City player ever. One of the greatest-ever Premier League imports. After 10 years, David Silva finally has his due. Maybe in time, Yaya Toure will get his too. This week’s column.”
There is no disputing any of those when describing the Spaniard and might United’s recent history been radically altered had Ferguson looked over his supposed defensive fragilities?
The former Valencia starlet emerged as one of the finest ever Premier League imports during his decade in Manchester, but there is no doubt the recent history of the competition would’ve changed had United lured him to Old Trafford.
£24m may have seemed a lot in 2010 for a player who hadn’t played in England, yet it turned into a wonderful bargain for City and he only got better.
Ferguson didn’t have that many transfer mishaps over the course of his 27 years at the Red Devils, but missing out on Silva might be one which stung rather hard, especially as he got to see his talents up close during his final three seasons in charge of United.
Would the Old Trafford side be in their current predicament had Silva joined them instead of City? Who knows, but they may have been a far better team to watch during their first few years after Fergie’s retirement, that’s for sure.