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Leeds United are a club that have a rich history of youth production, having pumped out a steady stream of stars across numerous years now, many of which are still in circulation at the top of the game even today.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips just won a treble last season with Manchester City alongside Scott Carson, with Aaron Lennon, Danny Rose, Fabian Delph and many more all enjoying fine careers too away from Elland Road.

However, perhaps most exciting is the crop of academy graduates currently residing in Yorkshire, with Daniel Farke having already proven his willingness to throw them into action regardless of their age.

As such, the spine of his squad boasts youth around every corner, with Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk, Ethan Ampadu and Georginio Rutter giving way to the likes of Archie Gray, Joe Gelhardt, Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville.

It is astounding just how reliant the Whites have become on their youth, with it marking an impressive fall-back option following their relegation from the Premier League last term. Given they sit fifth after 11 games too, there is every reason to believe that such a youth-focused outfit could mount a genuine push for promotion too.

Leeds' most famous academy graduates	PL appearances	PL goal contributions	Major Trophies Won
Alan Smith	284	64	2
Aaron Lennon	416	100	1
James Milner	624	144	12
Fabian Delph	204	17	7
Kalvin Phillips	64	4	4

However, whether they achieve that or not, there are some key positions that will need filling come the conclusion of this campaign.

Joe Rodon may be impressing for now, but he cannot fill Liam Cooper's boots forever, given he is set to return to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur. So, perhaps the former Norwich City boss could look to his academy once again, seeking to promote the next promising centre-back and mould him in his image.

How good was Liam Cooper?

Although injuries have riddled the Scotsman in recent years, few around Yorkshire have forgotten just how impressive the man mountain was in engineering their 2020 promotion, and the exceptional first year back in the top flight that followed.

However, in the same vein, they are also aware that things must move on, and a long-term replacement has become a matter of high priority given the lack of depth in those areas.

Whoever is drafted in must be powerful and domineering, boasting enough leadership qualities to at least offset what they would lose should their club captain move on. And yet, they also need to be able to actually play the game, feeding into their philosophy that allows them to maintain the bulk of possession without panicking on the ball.

This was no better exemplified than through Cooper's 2019/20 term, as he featured 38 times in the Championship, starring at the back. Whilst his 82% pass accuracy was hardly outstanding, it did mark a fine foundation for what was to come upon stepping up into the Premier League. Meanwhile, his 1.8 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and three clearances per game helped his side win 15 clean sheets when he featured, marking a phenomenal return for a side that would walk to the title, via Sofascore.

In fact, Marcelo Bielsa would even seek to laud the 17-cap colossus back in 2019 as he stepped up his return from injury: "He played an hour. He is in good conditions to come back to the team. He has a very good first pass, he is good in the aerial balls, he is our captain and he deserves to be our captain. When he’s inside the team he always makes the team stronger."

It was going to take something special to find someone to live up to these expectations, yet in Rodon they managed to secure the perfect heir, at least for the year.

How is Joe Rodon playing?

Having moved to Spurs from Swansea City, his knowledge of the Championship was already vast before he earned further experience in the Premier League and later Ligue 1.

It seems that this has culminated in producing one of the division's outstanding stoppers, shining as a true defensive warrior with plenty of class to remain a useful asset in the modern game.

As such, when compared to other centre-backs in the next 14 competitions most similar to the Championship, Rodon sits in the top 14% for pass accuracy, the top 10% for interceptions per 90, and the top 1% for aerials won per 90, via FBref.

His influence has been revolutionary, with Farke seeking to laud the impact of the Wales international: "We got the feeling he was prepared and we don’t have to speak about his quality, he knows this league inside out, he was rock solid when he played in this league and that was the reason Tottenham spent so much money on him.

"He has unbelievable pace and it is good when we have to defend that high in the field, it helps. He brings also aerial threat into our game, we have many smaller, not the tallest players, (it’s) also important for us in terms of set-pieces he is strong in duals and build up passes in his technique.

"Also, to find a pass, there is still a few things he can improve. I think in one or two scenes, he took a bit too much risk in terms of stepping in."

So, come May when Leeds will know their future more clearly, not only will they need a Cooper heir, but a Rodon one too. Fortunately, in Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, the Whites may already have one readymade in the academy.

Who is Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen?

Although the 19-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance, his performances for the U21s will have certainly caught the eye.

After all, the Scotsman was ever-present for the side that achieved promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1, having impressed throughout the campaign before missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season.

They were not to be denied, and Chilokoa-Mullen finished having made 15 appearances, scoring once and starring at the heart of a resolute defence.

Whilst their shared nationality helps to earn comparisons to Cooper, his own rendition of his play style offers further similarities, as he noted after penning his first professional contract: "I'm a player who reads the game quite well and I like to defend on the front foot, I want to keep learning under the coaching staff and become a better player in general.”

His ability to read the game and snuff out attacks is one that both the former Hull City stalwart and Rodon share, with his qualities sure to have only grown since that 2021 interview.

Having now earned vital experience in earning promotion too, he is surely ready for the step up into senior football, with the 6 foot 2 titan sure to be raring to go at the end of this campaign.

It has been reported that a "sensational" player could well leave Arsenal in January after being left "frustrated" by a Mikel Arteta call.

Arsenal form this season

The Gunners and north London rivals Tottenham remain the Premier League's only unbeaten sides following their excellent starts, with Arteta's side boating six wins from their opening nine top-flight encounters. That record was greatly threatened by Chelsea last Sunday, though, who took a 2-0 lead against them after Arsenal's arguable worst first half of the campaign so far. Arsenal did stick in long enough for two quick-fire goals to hand them a 2-2 draw, courtesy of late strikes from both summer signing Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.

"We changed the level after 20, 25 minutes, especially in the second half then it’s a different game," said Arteta after the game.

"We became a much better team even though we conceded the second goal and it’s a disappointment. The way the team reacted to the second goal is phenomenal from the players on the pitch and the players on the bench thinking how the hell am I going to change this game. I loved that. I really liked as well going into the dressing room and it’s really quiet, after drawing 2-2 with Chelsea and coming back from 2-0 down, because I know that they wanted more. That’s the positive."

Building upon that, the Gunners got their Champions League campaign back on track with a 2-1 win away to last season's Europa League winners Sevilla on Tuesday evening.

Who could leave Arsenal in January?

Star players like Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and others have proved pivotal for Arteta this season, but the same cannot be said for the likes of Thomas Partey, despite being very important for Arsenal last campaign. The Ghanaian, partly due to injury, has found consistent starting places difficult to come by and also missed last night's clash through unavailability.

However, despite this, a report from 90min this week has shared the latest update on Partey and his future; stating he has grown "frustrated" by a lack of consistent starting opportunities. As a result, if things don't improve in this regard, it is believed the former Atletico Madrid star could consider leaving in January. It's added that his camp have grown increasingly "agitated" at the lack of chances for Partey.

Partey actually started three matches as a makeshift right-back before being sidelined earlier in the season, and returned from injury in their 1-0 win over Man City prior to internationals. However, he was unused substitute against Chelsea, with Jorginho being preferred ahead of him.

Passing

Aerial duels

Long shots

Dribbling

Tackling

There is no doubting the 30-year-old's quality, though, with La Liga expert Gerry Armstrong calling him "sensational" and Ray Parlour once branding Partey a "very efficient" and "mobile" player.

"I think Partey has been so important," said Parlour last year.

"If Arsenal are going to go anywhere near trying to win a title, he’s got to stay fit because last season, he had so many injuries. But he’s been real instrumental in that midfield, just keeping it ticking over, very efficient player, can get around the pitch, very mobile."

Inter Miami's opening goal in their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie vs Nashville SC was crafted in Barcelona, with Lionel Messi finding Luis Suarez.

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Inter Miami defeats Nashville SC 3-1Suarez and Messi both get goal and assistAdvance to quarters of CONCACAF Champions CupWHAT HAPPENED?

Jordi Alba delivered the cheeky assist, finding Messi in a tight space, who then launched a stunning through ball to the Uruguayan striker. The 37-year-old did the rest, scoring what was his second goal of the CCC this year.

Just 15 minutes later and it was Messi who fired home this time to make it 2-0. And the cherry on top came midway through the match when Suarez again found himself involved, this time with an assist for Robert Taylor.

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The Herons are now through to the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they still have the chance to win one of five potential trophies available this year. They could also find themselves involved in the FIFA Club World Cup, which they'll qualify for if they manage to claim CCC glory.

Indeed, Miami will face the winner of FC Cincinnati vs CF Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the next round.

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The Herons are back in action on March 16 when they clash with Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United. Christian Benteke and co. will be looking to steal three points from Tata Martino's side when they arrive at the nation's capital.

Tottenham Hotspur once again boast a side that fans can be proud of, with Ange Postecoglou's impact on the squad rapid and revolutionary.

Few could possibly have expected the Australian to enjoy such instant success, but with each passing gameweek the Lilywhites continue to outdo themselves with battling displays wrapped in gorgeous free-flowing football, and the confidence and swagger to keep remaining unbeaten.

They are now one of just two Premier League sides to have avoided defeat in the league after seven games, alongside rivals Arsenal, and with their most recent results against Liverpool and the Gunners, they are overcoming obstacles that few gave them any chance of conquering.

A large boost received that has aided in the integration was the transfers, as the north London outfit would act incisively to tie up deals for James Maddison and Micky van de Ven. Both have taken little time to adapt, with the bulk of their creativity surging through the former Leicester City man, and a rock-solid backline built from the foundations of the Dutchman and Cristian Romero.

Unsurprisingly, fans cannot wait for the next window, should they keep improving with such accuracy to solidify their good form.

However, perhaps instead of rushing to blow their precious transfer funds, instead the former Celtic boss could seek to properly investigate his blooming academy, picking out the talents ready to step up when the opportunity beckons.

Although he shows no sign of slowing down with age, eventually a successor to Heung-min Son must be found. Fortunately, in Oliver Irow, they may already have the perfect heir set to cost them nothing.

Who is Oliver Irow?

Having moved to Spurs at the under-8s level, it has been a lengthy journey for the teenage attacker to grow into one of their brightest young stars pushing for a first-team birth.

However, his short career has been littered with goals and assists, wrapped in a dynamic little package capable of hurting any defences.

A tricky winger with an eye for goal, his versatility lends to the comparisons with the South Korean, who has enjoyed such early-season form whilst deputising as a central striker. Meanwhile, whilst the 17-year-old in question may have only featured three times in the U18s Premier League this term, he too has featured both up front and off the right wing.

Last campaign marked a standout for the trickster, who began to establish himself as a mainstay for the U18s despite being just 16 years old. His fine tally of nine goals in 17 appearances emphasises his importance, whilst further drawing comparisons to the former Bayer Leverkusen whiz, as a couple of goalscoring wingers.

Having already opened his account for the new term too, it promises to be yet another fine year for Irow, who will have aspirations of breaking into the U21 setup next.

1

Harry Kane

278

2

Jimmy Greaves

194

3

Heung-min Son

151

4

Jermaine Defoe

140

5

Robbie Keane

122

Stats via Transfermarkt

Such consistently threatening form was always bound to draw interest, with Spurs expert John Wenham keen to praise the teenager whilst speaking to Football Insider back in 2021. He would note: "Irow is an Essex-born forward who has been doing very well for the Under 16s. He should be one of the main forwards in that group along with a guy I have spoken about before, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw.

“It seems like we have another very good crop of players coming through at that age level.

“Irow seems a very bright talent and he’s one I think fans should keep a close eye on."

Should he grow to enjoy half as successful a career as Son, he would certainly be worth having around Hotspur Way.

However, the 31-year-old certainly is set to live a huge legacy in N17, which few will likely live up to.

How good is Heung-min Son?

Seemingly a rather unassuming 2015 acquisition, as Mauricio Pochettino began slowly crafting a squad worthy of pushing for elite honours, bringing a relatively unknown wide man from Germany left fans with little expectations for his future.

However, in a similar vein as Postecoglou, few could have expected him to perform as admirably as he has done.

Enduring a quiet first season, that would mark the last before exploding, having hit double figures in the Premier League every term since that debut one.

Featuring predominantly on the wing, Son has scored an astronomical 151 times whilst assisting a further 80, made even more special given those figures come across 380 appearances for Spurs.

However, as is the case with any player to have joined post-2008, he is without any silverware to show for his heroic efforts.

This is made even more ludicrous given the claims of pundit Gabby Agbonlahor from 2022, who suggested the wide man should have won the division's Player of the Season over Kevin De Bruyne: "He’s playing in a team that’s not as good as Manchester City and Liverpool, so it’s harder for him to get chances. So, I just think what Son has done this season, the goals he’s scored – left-foot screamers, right-foot screamers, he can score any sort of goal.

“I would’ve given it to Son myself, but Kevin De Bruyne has been outstanding as well."

The former Aston Villa striker continued: "I think Son maybe would have been on 25 or 30 goals this season because his finishing is one of the best in the Premier League. He walks into any Premier League team and any team in the world. Son he’s outstanding and Spurs are lucky to have him."

Having since been made captain by Postecoglou, and with a fine tally of six goals from just seven league matches, it is poised to be one of Son's best yet, made even more impressive given the summer exit of his partner in crime Harry Kane.

The 111-cap superstar has stepped up to the challenge and assumed the role of their leader both in terms of mentality and goalscoring. Again, few will ever live up to the legacy he is set to leave.

However, with that same versatility and an ever-growing skillset that already boasts plenty of goals, Irow has the foundation to one day emulate Son within Spurs' first team, thus easing the blow of his potential exit.

As summer loomed at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, Liverpool were forlorn after failing to qualify for the Champions League despite constructing a nine-match unbeaten run to close the Premier League season.

Jurgen Klopp's side has endured a miserable year that was a consequence of ineptitude on the transfer market, which might sound harsh, but until the £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister in June, Thiago Alcantara (in 2020, for £20m) had been the sole midfield acquisition since the arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita in the summer of 2018.

Of course, that's barring the loan signing of Arthur Melo on deadline day last year – who played just 13 minutes for the Reds – very much a panic-filled attempt to fortify the centre after failing to sign the desired target of Aurelien Tchouameni, instead deciding to wait until the following year.

Liverpool Summer Signings	Transfer Fee
Alexis Mac Allister	£35m
Dominik Szoboszlai	£60m
Wataru Endo	£16m
Ryan Gravenberch	£34m

All fees sourced via Sky Sports

This time around, it looks like Klopp and co have got it (largely) right, with the midfield now comprehensively transformed and last season's malaise already a fleeting memory after a promising start to the season, ten points from the opening four matches – including victories over Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Aston Villa and an inexorable draw to Chelsea.

Why did Jordan Henderson leave Liverpool?

As the revamped midfield roars into life, it does so at the expense of a wealth of aces integral to the construction of Klopp's dynasty, with James Milner, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departing in June as their contracts expired, Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson being sold to Saudi Arabian sides and Fabio Carvalho joining RB Leipzig on loan.

The process was undoubtedly accelerated beyond the club's anticipation, however, with Fabinho and Henderson's heads turned by the lucrative and tantalising proposition of joining the Saudi revolution.

With so much leadership filtering out over the past several months, Klopp would have preferred to retain the services of long-time club servant Henderson, but by the player's own admission in a recent interview with The Athletic, 'a few things got the alarm bells ringing', with the England international saying "at no point did I feel wanted by the club or anyone to stay."

Sold to Al-Ettifaq for £13m in July, so ended an illustrious and industrious career on Merseyside, with the 33-year-old closing the door on a 492-appearance stay at Liverpool, with the one-time Sunderland youngster donning the armband for the whole gamut of trophy-winning success under Klopp's wing.

Liverpool's leader had gone, an emblematic figurehead of a prosperous period in the Premier League outfit's history, but given his aging legs and performances at the epicentre of the strife last term, married with the exciting start to the campaign as the new-look centre clicks into gear, his departure perhaps came at a fitting time.

It could have been so much worse, with one irreplaceable phenom also attracting attention from the Saudi Pro League wave…

Is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool?

Mohamed Salah. Heralded as "lightning" by Reds historian Carl Clemente and believed to be "one of the greatest of all time" by former Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen – unequivocally one of Liverpool's finest stars in their distinguished history.

Signed from Italian side Roma in a £34m deal in 2017, the Egyptian forward, aged 31, has posted 188 goals and 81 assists from just 309 displays in Red, with his ferocious finishing and creative ingenuity paramount to the rise over the past years.

Still contracted until 2025, the £350k-per-week gem has been fervently pursued by Saudi side Al-Ittihad this summer, with the outfit tabling a staggering £150m bid on deadline day last week, though Liverpool's unwavering stance rebuffed the advances.

Despite this, the suitors are expected to return for Salah, likely in winter and – if their next advances are also rejected – next summer.

As per FBref, Salah ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past years and the top 9% for assists per 90, underscoring a value and threat as the attacking spearhead that will make for a stressful task in identifying a successor.

However, the Merseyside team might already boast some precocious talents on the books to grow into starring roles in Salah and Henderson's positions under the Anfield lights.

Who are Liverpool's most promising youngsters?

Liverpool do not have the most productive of youth academies in English football, but when an aspiring talent does break into first-team reckoning, they cement starring positions.

Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the notable names of past decades, but now Klopp could be on the cusp of welcoming two talented gems to the starting line-up with regularity.

First, Stefan Bajcetic has made his return to action of late after spending many months out injured, with the 18-year-old earning a spot on the bench for the last three outings in the Premier League.

The Spaniard rose to prominence last term as he earned minutes to combat the woes of the midfield, sapped of vitality and requiring a spark – earning praise for his "brilliant" start to life on the major stage and his "tenacious" displays by pundit Jamie Carragher.

Making 19 appearances and scoring a goal against Aston Villa after a box-crashing surge, Bajcetic took to life in the central midfield without seam, elegant on the ball and composed and brave in his presence, impressing with his range of passing, with Statman Dave claiming he “looked right at home”.

The youngster could well be the perfect heir to Henderson's position in the squad, and as he grows into his skin over the coming years he could match the intensity and intelligence of the former skipper at his best.

Replacing Salah is indeed a quandary of a whole new level, but with prodigious 17-year-old Ben Doak on the fast rise, such a burden could be alleviated.

Signed from Celtic last year, with Liverpool paying a compensation fee of about £600k, the Scottish teenager has already made six senior appearances and has been prolific at youth level, scoring 11 goals and supplying eight assists from just 22 games for the U18s and U21s.

An electric-paced, fleet-footed and buccaneering talent, Doak is already displaying some promising signs and there is every possibility that he will forge a career at the very top of the game, having been praised as a "special" prospect by Klopp.

Change is afoot at Anfield, but football endures. Henderson's leadership and staunch loyalty to Liverpool over the past decade or so has been crucial to the resurgence, and Salah has etched his name into the club's history as one of the most devastating forwards of the modern game.

It feels like Liverpool is approaching a new chapter, but with first-class talents such as Doak and Bajcetic rising to the fore, the silver-laden success could yet continue.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن موعد المباراة الأولى التي سيخوضها النجم كيليان مبابي بقميص ريال مدريد، بعد انتقاله إلى النادي الإسباني اليوم.

وانضم كيليان مبابي إلى ريال مدريد، في صفقة مجانية، بعد رحيله عن باريس سان جيرمان.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ماركا توضح موعد تقديم كيليان مبابي في سانتياجو برنابيو

وسيلعب النجم الفرنسي لمدة خمس مواسم رفقة ريال مدريد، حسبما أعلن بطل أوروبا في بيان رسمي اليوم.

ووفقًا لما ذكرته شبكة “espn” العالمية، فإن أول مباراة رسمية لـ كيليان مبابي مع ريال مدريد ستكون في كأس السوبر الأوروبي.

ويلتقي ريال مدريد مع أتالانتا الإيطالي في كأس السوبر الأوروبي 2024، يوم الأربعاء 14 أغسطس المقبل.

ويخوض ريال مدريد تلك المباراة بصفته بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا، في حين أن أتالانتا هو بطل الدوري الأوروبي.

 

Bangladesh have lost three finals at the venue. The captain wants his team focused on the many positives to come out of the league phase of this series though, to get past those painful memories

Mohammad Isam26-Jan-2018″I hadn’t thought about it. You shouldn’t have reminded me.”Mashrafe Mortaza had a wry smile on his face when he was asked about Bangladesh’s three previous finals at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. They famously went very close twice, but the home side has never won any tri-nation series or a tournament that involves more than two teams.In the 2009 tri-nation series final, Sri Lanka lost five wickets for just six runs, till today the lowest score at the fall of the fifth wicket in an ODI, as Mashrafe Mortaza and Nazmul Hossain blasted out most of the top order. Kumar Sangakkara got them out of the mess before Muttiah Muralitharan’s unbeaten 33 helped them over the line by two wickets.Three years later, Bangladesh went as close as two runs of Pakistan’s total in the Asia Cup final but was closed out by Aizaz Cheema’s fine last over. The crying faces of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim became the poignant image of the final. Mashrafe, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah were also around when India beat them in the rain-interrupted final of the 2016 Asia Cup T20s.In the current tri-nation series, Bangladesh crushed Sri Lanka by 163 runs, their biggest win in an ODI, while also trouncing Zimbabwe twice, before the implosion in the final round-robin game. So whether in jest or not, Mashrafe doesn’t want to be reminded of those painful memories of old. Instead, he said, it is better if his team stressed on keeping the mindset that has got them three big wins in this series already.”This is a new opportunity for all our players,” Mashrafe continued. “I think myself, Mushfiqur, Shakib and Tamim played all three finals. So this is another opportunity for us.”Tomorrow is a completely new game, so we don’t need to think about what happened previously,” he said. “We should play the way we did in the first three matches of this tournament. Maybe we didn’t deliver yesterday, so we should not be thinking about it anymore.”Mashrafe said that, in a way, their crushing loss in the last league game would put less pressure on their side going into the final. “We really want to win the final, since it will be a first for us at this level. It is better if we think less about all these things. There’s always pressure in a final.”In fact I think the pressure would have become less after that defeat. It will depend on how we start the game; we should use better judgement. The team that will handle the tough situations better, will obviously be ahead.”

The Bengal seamers did most of the damage before Abhimanyu Easwaran piled on Gujarat’s troubles, nearing his second century of the match by stumps on day three

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2017
ScorecardBengal’s seamers – Ashok Dinda, Ishan Porel and B Amit – kept defending champions Gujarat to 224 in their first innings, helping their team secure a handsome lead of 130 runs in Jaipur. Then, with Abhimanyu Easwaran nearing his second century of the match, Bengal’s overall lead went beyond 300 by stumps – they finished the day sitting pretty on 175 for 1. Easwaran and Writtick Chatterjee (40*) put on 78 runs for an unbroken second-wicket stand after a 99-run opening partnership between Easwaran and Abhishek Raman.In the morning, resuming on 180 for 6, Gujarat only added 44 runs before folding. In fact, they scored 39 runs without the loss of a wicket before the floodgates were open when left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik bowled overnight batsman Rujul Bhatt (32) – that was the only wicket in the innings to fall to the slower bowlers. Thereon, Gujarat lost their last three wickets inside four overs with Dinda accounting for two of those, including the wicket of Piyush Chawla, who resisted with 75-ball 43. Dinda, Porel and Amit finished with three wickets each.

Manchester United built their Premier League success under Sir Alex Ferguson by counting on the use of solid, dependable English centre-backs.

Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister formed the cornerstone of a team who claimed United’s first league title since 1967 during the 1992/93 season and as time went on, Ferguson turned to the transfer market to source local talent.

Rio Ferdinand made the move from Leeds United to Old Trafford in 2002 for a then British record transfer fee of £30m.

The move was a stroke of genius by the wily Scot as the defender won six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown under the tutelage of Ferguson, racking up 455 appearances in the process.

With the need for a dominant centre-back at United, could Erik ten Hag repeat United’s Ferdinand masterclass by making a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi?

Are Man United interested in Marc Guehi?

Ten Hag has already signed the club's new number seven, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund this summer, yet it is clear he is after another defender or two.

Harry Maguire is edging closer to a move away from the Red Devils and this heightens the Dutchman’s need for some reinforcements.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

According to the Chris Wheeler of The Daily Mail, Guehi has emerged as a possible target for United, and he could cost Ten Hag a fee in the region of £60m.

How did Marc Guehi perform last season?

The Ivorian-born starlet enjoyed a solid campaign for Palace in 2022/23, exuding a positive influence across the squad for his performances, despite his tender years.

He ranked seventh among his teammates for tackles (1.4) per game while ranking second for interceptions (1.2) and for clearances (3.6) per game during the league campaign, demonstrating his defensive ability.

According to WhoScored, Guehi’s key strength is concentration, and he is able to maintain excellent standards during the whole course of a match, similar to Ferdinand, who never let standards slip.

The England international was previously lauded as an “absolute tank” by Josef Bursik, a former teammate during his time playing for the Three Lions' U21 side, while Statman Dave hailed the youngster as a “brilliant talent” in December 2021.

It’s evident that he has progressed since then, going on to win four caps for England at senior level, and he could be a key figure heading into the 2024 European Championship.

The £50k-per-week gem has served his apprenticeship at Palace and now seems destined for a move to the upper echelons of the Premier League.

He should take solace from the trajectory of Ferdinand. Although slightly more experienced at the time, a move from another top-flight side into an environment containing elite players arguably made him reach a much higher level – having blossomed into becoming arguably 'one of the greatest ball-playing central defenders of his era', according to the Premier League's official website.

Guehi may have a fight on his hands to go straight into the starting XI should Ten Hag secure his signature – amid the presence of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane – and he could become their modern-day version of the 81-cap former United defender in the process.

Whatever happens, the Dutchman will need to act fast as the transfer window is due to shut in just under three weeks and time is slowly running out for the former Ajax manager.

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.