All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham are the only Premier League side yet to make a signing in the transfer window.

David Moyes, fresh from a Conference League triumph and preparing for a third consecutive year of European football, needs to act swiftly and add some much-needed quality to the squad.

A phenomenal way to kickstart this would be the acquisition of Hakan Calhanoglu.

Is Hakan Calhanoglu signing for West Ham?

According to Spazio Inter, West Ham are seriously targeting the Inter Milan technician this summer.

The Nerazzurri have endured a damaging summer – the club has already lost Andre Onana, Samir Handanovic, and Marcelo Brozovic, while Romelu Lukaku could be on his way to Juventus.

Therefore, Calhanoglu is thought to be at the centre of Simone Inzaghi’s project, and it would take an outlandish offer for consideration of his sale.

Nevertheless, the Hammers are looking to strengthen their midfield options after the talismanic Declan Rice departed for Arsenal.

The report details that an offer of around €50 (£43m) would force Inter into a decision.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

Last season, the Turk, described as “exceptional” by Stefan Pioli, made 49 appearances across all competitions, including nine starts on Inter’s journey to the Champions League final.

During this period, he has been an integral cog within Inter’s efficient set up, averaging the second-highest rating (7.07) in Serie A.

The former AC Milan orchestrator is a player that excels in defensive and offensive areas. He averaged the third-most tackles last campaign (1.5) in the squad but was the midfielder with the best total.

Most impressively, the 78-cap international recorded the joint-most domestic assists (6) alongside Lautaro Martinez, Nicolo Barella, and Lukaku, but what separates him from the rest is his supreme creativity that wasn’t rewarded.

Calhanoglu registered 64 chance creations last year at a rate of 1.94 per 90, as Barella in second managed just 49, to emphasize how the 5 foot 10 sensation is the chief inventor within the side, whilst also protecting the backline.

Interestingly, as per OPTA’s player comparison tool, Calhanoglu’s style of play has been likened to Joshua Kimmich, with a similarity score of 76.5%.

This model reveals that these players rank within the highest 14% among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues who have played at least 1350 minutes for possession won, the best 18% for touches, and the top 4% for chances created.

The duality of both players to be able to operate in a deep-lying playmaker role, whilst also regularly retrieving possession has moulded them into formidable assets.

Throughout his career, Kimmich has always been known to be a defensive midfielder, renowned for his tough-tackling and technical ability. Meanwhile, Calhanoglu’s positional history has taken a far more unconventional pathway.

Between 2014-2017, the £183k-per-week man was at Bayer Leverkusen, playing 59 of his 115 games for the Germans as either an attacking midfielder or second striker. Since signing for Inter, he has appeared almost exclusively in the 'Kimmich role' as a central or defensive midfield, fielded in a more offensive role just twice.

But to his, and his manager’s credit, it has worked wonders. Calhanoglu’s seamless transition to a deeper role demonstrates his intelligence and adaptability. Moreover, his similar ranking to Kimmich indicates that he is one of Europe’s most accomplished within this framework.

Calhanoglu’s profile speaks for itself and a signing of this calibre would dramatically help arrest West Ham from their summer slumber.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, as the Villans join the queue of Premier League clubs eyeing the 26-year-old.

Unai Emery has enjoyed a successful summer so far, with a swoop for the Moroccan having the potential to be another marquee deal in addition to the arrivals of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby.

Could Aston Villa sign Sofyan Amrabat?

As reported by news in Italy, Villa have joined the race to sign the midfielder, who is wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham.

Speaking yesterday to the media, relayed by UtdPlug on Twitter, the player’s representative Mahmoud El Boustati confirmed the interest surrounding Amrabat:

“There are quite a few clubs interested in Sofyan. Now it’s a matter of making the right choice.”

Valued at €30m (£26m) by the Serie A side, the club that seals the deal for the Moroccan could complete a steal for a player that is highly rated in Europe.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Playing a pivotal part in Morocco’s World Cup heroics, the midfielder earned the praise of former Spanish national team manager Luis Enrique following his side’s defeat to the Moroccans.

The newly appointed Paris Saint-Germain coach labelled the 26-year-old as “extraordinary” for his performances on the big stage, making the surrounding noise this summer unsurprising.

For Villa, the interest in Amrabat comes at an interesting time, when speculation rises regarding the future of defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The Brazilian has been linked with a move to north London, with both Spurs and Arsenal said to be eyeing the Villa ace.

A swoop for Amrabat could be a strong move for Emery, particularly with the rumours surrounding his star man this summer.

In the Fiorentina gem, the Spaniard could obtain a player of a similar calibre to the 25-year-old, lauded for his defensive contributions and energy in the engine room.

Hailed as a “monster” and “the best central midfielder” at the World Cup by journalist Carlo Garganese, the 26-year-old could be the perfect successor to Luiz should he depart, or alternatively the ideal figure to challenge the Brazilian should he stay.

While Amrabat’s performances at the World Cup were emphatic, the midfielder displayed his levels of consistency in Serie A, averaging 1.76 tackles per 90 for Fiorentina, as per FBref.

Despite making a higher average of tackles with 2.24 per 90 in the Premier League last term, Luiz fell short of the other areas in the Moroccan's game that make him so highly regarded in Europe.

As per FBref, the dominating midfielder averaged a pass completion rate of 88.8%, as well as making a monstrous 7.93 progressive passes per 90, highlighting the danger he can cause in the middle of the park.

For context, Luiz averaged just 4.45 progressive passes per 90 for Villa last season, suggesting just how strong the attributes of Amrabat are, and the talent that Emery could integrate into his ambitious side at Villa Park.

Whether the Moroccan would be deployed alongside Luiz or in place of him, the Fiorentina gem could be a dazzling acquisition for the Spaniard to chase this summer.

Aston Villa are in the race to sign Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update regarding his future.

How old is Denis Zakaria?

The Switzerland international, who is currently 26 years of age, has been an impressive defensive midfielder for a number of years now, representing some of Europe's biggest clubs. He is currently at Juve, but he spent last season on loan at Chelsea, although he struggled to make an impact for a team experiencing a terrible campaign.

Zakaria still made seven Premier League appearances, though, completing 88.8% of his passes and averaging 1.3 tackles per game, so his numbers were still relatively impressive. He is now back at Juve after his temporary stint at Stamford Bridge came to an end, but it remains to be seen if his future belongs in Turin or not.

His current contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, so the Serie A giants are in no rush to sell him on the cheap, instead finding themselves in a relatively strong bargaining position, but they have endured financial difficulties in recent months.

It could be that a move to the Premier League is on the cards for Zakaria this summer then, this time permanently, with Villa seemingly one of the clubs battling to acquire his signature.

Are Aston Villa signing Denis Zakaria?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], the Villans have "taken information" regarding the Switzerland international, as they eye up a summer move for him. It is stated that multiple Bundesliga clubs in the same position, while West Ham are also pushing to get a deal over the line.

Talks between Juve and the Hammers have "been going on for weeks", so Villa certainly aren't going to have it all their own way if they want to sign Zakaria in the coming weeks.

It has already been such a productive summer transfer window at Villa Park, with the likes of Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres representing excellent signings, and Zakaria is another who could be a shrewd addition, albeit not quite as much of a marquee arrival.

He has some Premier League experience, which could stand him in good stead when it comes to adjusting to the pace of the division, and he is now a 49-time capped Switzerland international, having made two appearances for his country at the 2022 World Cup.

At 26, Zakaria is at a great age to come in and make an immediate impact, with his best years still possibly to come and lots of experience already picked up at big clubs. Former Chelsea and England man Joe Cole described him as "excellent' at one point last season during his spell with the Blues, and he could be a good squad option as Villa prepare battle across four different competitions in 2023/24, including the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Juve could well be happy to move him on and receive a decent fee for his services, considering they have already been willing to loan him out in the recent past, so it is a move that could ultimately suit all parties before the new campaign gets underway next month.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will look to add to his goalkeeping pool this summer as Illan Meslier's future becomes increasingly uncertain at Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Illan Meslier leaving Leeds United?

Last month, Football Insider reported that Leeds United would be open to listening to offers for Meslier this summer and the Whites are said to value the Frenchman at around £30 million.

The report states that Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all previously tracked the talented stopper; however, the latter, Spurs, have already brought in Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, making a pursuit of Meslier unlikely this off-season, as per Sky Sports.

As per The Daily Mail, they understand that £30k-a-week earner Meslier has a clause in his contract at the Yorkshire outlet that would allow him to leave on loan due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

Several Leeds United players have taken advantage of this unusual arrangement to secure loan moves, including Robin Koch, Rasmus Kristensen, Brendan Aaronsen and Marc Roca, as per Transfermarkt.

Joel Robles has also left Leeds United after his contract expired at the end of last season and has now joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah, who ply their trade in the division below the Saudi Pro League.

Kristoffer Klaesson and Meslier remain the only two senior options Leeds United now have as their last line of defence, indicating that they may need to enter the market to acquire some depth in the goalkeeping position.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has detailed that work has already taken place regarding a potential new addition to the goalkeeper ranks at Leeds United despite Meslier still being on the books of the club.

Jones stated: “They're all good goalkeepers to be targeting.

"It is a bit of an awkward one though, because Illan Meslier hasn’t actually got a buyer yet.”

Who have Leeds United targeted to strengthen the goalkeeper position?

According to The Northern Echo, Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow is on the radar as a target to strengthen the goalkeeping department at Leeds United; however, they will have to face competition from Middlesbrough, Bournemouth and Blackburn to land the 32-year-old.

Discussions have taken place regarding the prospect of Darlow heading to Yorkshire to join the Whites as Leedd United plan a major recruitment push now that 49ers Enterprises have officially completed their takeover of the club, as per iNews.

Leeds United are believed to be in the race to sign Bayern Munich goalkeeper Alex Nubel as a potential replacement for Meslier, who doesn't see himself having a long term future under Thomas Tuchel, as per BILD.

Stuttgart are also interested in the 26-year-old; nevertheless, Leeds United are thought to be favourites and are chasing a permanent agreement to secure his signature.

'Internal discussions' have taken place at Leeds United regarding Rotherham United stopper Viktor Johansson, signifying that boss Farke has all bases covered in his search for a new goalkeeper, as per Football League World.

All footballers have been left with no choice but to get in a running race with an opposition player who would likely lap you in a long-distance run. But that's just Sunday League football, where the players are usually fueled by a can of Red Bull prior to kick-off.

It's Champions League defenders that we feel sorry for, who have to come up against some of the quickest athletes in the world of sport. Made worse, too, by the fact that the humiliating race – if you can even call it that – is documented for all to see.

Poor Marc Bartra never stood a chance when Gareth Bale left him for dead to score what is now known as one of the greatest Copa del Rey and El Clasico goals.

Something tells us that the former Barcelona defender would want to avoid last season's fastest Champions League players last season, too, with a list now revealed by UEFA (via Reddit).

The order goes from Dominik Szoboszlai (10th), Moussa Diaby (ninth), Karim Adeyemi (eighth), Nuno Tavares (seventh), and Federico Valverde (sixth).

With that said, we've taken a closer look at the top five.

5 Gabriel Veron: 36.4 KM/H

Clocking an impressive speed of 36.3 kilometres per hour, Gabriel Veron makes the top five in the Champions League's fastest players last season.

Porto initially impressed on the European stage in the last campaign, topping Group B above Club Brugge, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atletico Madrid, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to eventual finalists Inter Milan in the Round of 16.

4 Rafael Leao: 36.5 KM/H

This one comes as little surprise, given the bundles of pace that Rafael Leao possesses. That, combined with his dribbling ability makes him one of the best wingers in the world.

Hitting a speed of 36.5 KM/H last season, the AC Milan man comes in as last season's fourth-fastest player in the Champions League, as his side suffered semi-final heartbreak against rivals Inter.

3 Ousmane Dembele: 36.6 KM/H

Even though he's had consistent injury issues throughout his career, Ousmane Dembele's speed has never left him, and it remains one of his greatest traits, as shown again last season.

As Barcelona were shockingly dumped out of the Champions League at the group stage, losing out to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, Dembele managed to clock a pace of 36.6 KM/H, making him last season's third-quickest player in the competition.

2 Mykhailo Mudryk: 36.6 KM/H

This one has surprised us, given what we've seen of Mykhailo Mudryk in the Premier League. But, as it turns out, when at his best, Chelsea can expect one of the fastest players among Europe's elite.

Playing in the group stages for Shahktar Donetsk, before joining Chelsea in January and featuring against Real Madrid in the last eight, it's unknown when Mudryk clocked his top speed.

Nonetheless, hitting 36.6 KM/H, the winger was the second-quickest player in the Champions League last season.

1 Alphonso Davies: 37.1 KM/H

If you were to ask us to blindly rank who we believe would top this list, then Alphonso Davies would be the name we'd guess. The Bayern Munich left-back's pace is no secret, with Barcelona experiencing it first-hand back in their humiliating 8-2 defeat against the Bavarians in 2020.

Last season, as the fastest player in the Champions League, Davies hit an incredible speed of 37.1 KM/H.

Everton are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of a potential target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Ashley Young?

According to Everton transfer insider Alan Myers, the Toffees are plotting a move for former Aston Villa and England ace Ashley Young who is currently a free agent.

Myers took to Twitter to reveal:

"Everton have held talks about the possibility of bringing former Aston Villa defender Ashley Young to the club, the 37-year-old is available on a free transfer, nothing decided yet, talks are continuing."

Would Ashley Young be a good signing for Everton?

It was reported last week by The Athletic's Patrick Boyland that Everton are sacrificing long-term prospects for short-term necessities after finding themselves battling against Premier League relegation over the last two seasons.

The Merseysiders escaped a drop down to the Championship with just two points to spare on the final day of last season and now Sean Dyche will be looking for ways to steady the ship at Goodison Park by any means necessary.

As a result, the signing of Young may not be an appealing prospect for supporters when envisioning the long-term future of the club due to the fact he turned 38 this weekend, however, he could provide an ample solution to one of Everton's biggest pain points.

Dyche struggled with the lack of depth in his full-back roles due to numerous injury issues plaguing the wide defensive flanks; Seamus Coleman, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Nathan Patterson and Ruben Vinagre all suffered setbacks over the 38-game campaign, often resulting in the need to deploy centre-backs Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey to cover the positions.

For that reason, Young could, in fact, be a highly valuable move for Everton if he could emulate his strong presence seen at Villa Park last season.

Over 29 Premier League appearances, the 5 foot 9 former England international scored one goal, won 62% of his aerial and ground duels combined and kept eight clean sheets for Aston Villa, as well as averaging 2.1 clearances, 50.5 touches and 1.7 tackles per game, as per SofaScore.

When comparing his output to that of the full-backs at Everton, only Nathan Patterson completed more tackles per 90 (2.6), whilst only Mykolenko completed more blocks per 90 (0.5) and more key passes (0.6) than Young, according to WhoScored.

Not only that, the 38-year-old is comfortable and experienced in playing both right-back and left-back meaning he could cover for both sides of the defensive set-up, having been lauded for that versatility by former Villa boss Steven Gerrard, who also dubbed him "outstanding".

Young's experience, leadership skills and strong presence in the back line could make the same much-needed impact that James Tarkowski had on the Everton squad upon his arrival on a free transfer last summer, with the ex-Burnley centre-back having enjoyed a solid debut campaign at Goodison.

Lauded as "the best English centre-half we have that's playing regularly" by BBC pundit Danny Murphy back in October, the 30-year-old started every single Premier League game last season, with his average match rating of 7.20, as per Sofascore, seeing him ranking joint-first in the Toffees squad (excluding Asmir Begovic who featured just once in the league).

With Tarkowski having evidently proven a bargain capture on a free, Dyche could now repeat the transfer masterclass by snapping up the services of the Stevenage-born veteran without paying a penny on transfer fees.

With that being said, the signing of Young could be a great piece of business for Everton this summer as he could add depth to the full-back roles and provide Dyche with a utility player who can provide quality in various roles next season.

The planned takeover of Leeds United this summer is being hampered by stalling from one party, according to finance expert Kieran Maguire.

Are 49ers Enterprises expected to buy Leeds?

The Whites suffered the disappointment of relegation from the Premier League back in May, with a return to the Championship not what the doctor ordered.

Amid the search for a new manager and top signings this summer, ongoing talk has surrounded the proposed takeover of Leeds, with 49ers Enterprises aiming to gain a majority share in the club – reaching an agreement last month.

The general feeling was that the agreement would be announced sooner rather than later, allowing the club to kick on, but things have gone quiet on the matter of late.

What's the issue regarding Leeds' takeover?

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that the current apathy surrounding the takeover could be being caused by one party being indecisive:

"The delays in terms of the Leeds United takeover are not being caused by the EFL. We’ve seen in other deals, such as in the sale of Wigan and Huddersfield Town, that if all parties are in alignment a deal can go through in a matter of days rather than weeks or months.

"Therefore, it would seem that the slow progress is caused by either the buying or selling party in the takeover.

"It has consequences on an operational level in terms of the club’s ability to recruit, both in the backroom staff and the players on the pitch. The quicker this deal is resolved, the better."

This is a frustrating update if true, with most people of a Leeds persuasion surely desperate for 49ers Enterprises to be the Whites' new owners, kickstarting a positive new era at Elland Road.

As Maguire alludes to, the longer this goes on, the more it potentially impacts the club's summer business in terms of the funds being available to bring in new faces and rebuild a squad that could in turn allow key players to depart.

The hope is that an agreement over the takeover coincides with the announcement of a new manager imminently – Daniel Farke looks highly likely to be named as the man in charge in the coming days – and that this current stalling ends quickly.

Once the takeover goes through, Leeds could be a completely different animal in a financial sense, allowing them to make a fast return to the Premier League, developing Elland Road and the training facilities at the same time.

Newcastle United are expected to officially complete the signing of Italy international Sandro Tonali this week as their second piece of incoming business this summer, following Yankuba Minteh through the door.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Magpies have delayed their announcement and that it will arrive in the coming days, with the central midfielder poised to join from Serie A giants AC Milan.

However, Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth still have around two months left of the summer transfer window to bolster the squad with further additions as they prepare for Champions League football next season.

One player who has been linked with a switch to St. James’ Park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign is Rennes attacking midfielder Lovro Majer, who is said to be available for a fee in the region of €40m (£34m).

What is Lovro Majer’s style of play?

The Croatian is a silky left-footed number ten who could become Howe’s own version of Manchester City magician David Silva if he arrives on Tyneside this summer.

Majer's performances for Rennes in France last season earned him a comparison to the Spaniard, who currently plays for Real Sociedad in LaLiga at the age of 37.

As you can see in the above graphic, as provided by Opta, both players excel at receiving touches in the opposition's box and are able to create chances at an impressive rate among their positional peers.

Silva was an outstanding creative threat for City during his time in England as he registered 106 assists in 309 Premier League matches, which is an average of an assist every 2.91 starts. This shows that the mercurial talent was capable of providing his teammates with goalscoring opportunities on a regular basis.

Majer is a player who has the potential to offer a similar level of quality in possession, based on his form for Rennes since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Over the last two seasons, the Croatian maestro has racked up 13 assists along with 12 'big chances' created in 39 Ligue 1 starts, which works out as an assist every three starts on average.

The 25-year-old, who was once lauded as "phenomenal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also managed nine assists in 31 league games for Dinamo Zagreb in the 2020/21 campaign before his move to France.

These figures show that the 21-cap international has been a consistent creative threat for his clubs over the last three years, which suggests that he has the potential to be an outstanding creator for Newcastle in the same way that Silva has been throughout his career.

No Magpies midfielder produced more than six Premier League assists last term and Majer, who has conjured eight or more assists in two of the last three league seasons, could come in to provide a boost in that department as a player with the ability to unlock a defence week-in-week-out.

Manchester United have reached an impasse in their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, according to a new update from Sky Sports.

Is Mason Mount joining Man United?

Man United have now made multiple offers for Mount, with their most recent bid being worth £55m, however, Chelsea are demanding £65m to part with the midfielder, despite the fact he has just one year left on his contract.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are unwilling to match the Blues' asking price, however, the "door remains open" to do a deal if the Englishman's current employers are willing to accept the £55m offer, which they believe is "fair".

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has now offered a fresh update on United's pursuit of the 24-year-old, saying:

"Interesting developments in Manchester United's pursuit of the Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. We understand that United are now refocusing on other targets as there is what's been described as an impasse in their pursuit of the Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

"It's not a case of Manchester United pulling out of a deal for Mason Mount, we are told that their latest offer, worth £55m, which was of course £50m guaranteed payment plus £5m in performance-related add-ons, that remains on the table, and that bid was rejected by Chelsea last night."

Sheth goes on to add that United retain an interest in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, among a number of other players.

Will Mount leave Chelsea?

Chelsea are certainly driving a hard bargain, given that the England international has just one year remaining on his contract, meaning they risk losing him for free next summer if they fail to offload him.

The Red Devils have agreed personal terms with the central midfielder, however, they should not be held to ransom by Chelsea, and it is a wise move to refocus on other targets if the Londoners are unwilling to accept a reasonable bid.

Caicedo could be a solid alternative option to the Chelsea star, but it must be noted they are two very different types of players, with the Brighton midfielder specialising defensively, ranking in the 89th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year.

Mount has most commonly played in a more advanced midfield role throughout his career, however, his 2022-23 campaign was very disappointing, scoring just three goals in all competitions, which is even more reason why United should not pay over the odds.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in adding Marc Guehi to their defensive line this summer as Ange Postecoglou readies himself for a spending spree.

Will Tottenham sign Marc Guehi?

News of Tottenham's interest in the centre-back has come from Charlie Eccleshare, a Spurs correspondent for The Athletic, who announced that the club have been looking into the Englishman's signature for a while.

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel, Eccleshare stated: "Marc Guehi is another one who I've heard mentioned. He is someone Spurs have been looking at for a while. Really good player. Really, really talented, I think he would fit the bill".

Tottenham have been strongly linked with a number of centre-backs during the transfer window already, with Fabrizio Romano recently reporting that Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba is also on the club's radar. Clement Lenglet, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, has also been touted with a permanent move.

Guehi would be a major coup for Postecoglou if a deal can be struck, especially considering the 22-year-old has already reportedly attracted interest from Champions League clubs Arsenal and Manchester United.

Signing Guehi would not be cheap, however, with Palace reportedly wanting £50m to part ways with the former Chelsea man. Considering Spurs need to strengthen heavily across their squad for next season, spending such a large sum on one player may not be wise with potentially cheaper alternatives out there.

The Lilywhites have already captured Dejan Kulusevski's signature on a permanent deal, spending £25m in the process, while they are closing in on a new goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario. Spurs are also heavily linked with Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.

Why do Spurs want Guehi?

Guehi enjoyed a fruitful season with Crystal Palace last season, playing 37 times in the Premier League. A modern defender, Guehi has a good range of accurate passing, with a 91% short pass and 93.2% medium pass completion percentage.

While his long range passing accuracy is significantly worse (just 56.3%), he ranked in the top 14% of Premier League centre-backs for attempted long passes, meaning he's willing to take risks to switch possession.

Guehi is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 12% of centre-backs for successful take-ons last term. Willing to play his way out of trouble, the defender could be exactly what Postecoglou is looking for in his new system at Tottenham.

The Eagles man is also comfortable playing on the left-hand side of a back two, despite being right-footed, and at 22 has plenty of time to improve his game. He also finished runner-up in Crystal Palace's Player of the Season vote last campaign, showing how well respected he is at Selhurst Park.