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When Chelsea appointed Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, Todd Boehly would not have envisaged the club sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table just two weeks before Christmas.

The Blues have recorded just five league wins across their 16 matches thus far, losing seven and the Argentinian will certainly be feeling the pressure following their recent 2-0 defeat to Everton.

It remains to be seen whether Boehly will give him time, but another loss to Sheffield United this weekend could see the club drop even further down the league table.

Pochettino must bench 6/10 Chelsea star after Everton loss

Chelsea suffered yet another Premier League defeat on the weekend

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 11, 2023

The American has spent over £1b since taking over the club, a grotesque amount, and with nothing to show for it, the tensions are starting to boil.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Pochettino will no doubt have more funds to spend if he is still in charge by that point.

The club have conceded 26 goals in their 16 matches in the league thus far and, while they have the seventh-best attacking record in the table, their defence is proving to be a major weak point.

With this in mind, it looks as though the former Paris Saint-Germain coach is targeting a swoop for a defender shining in the Bundesliga…

Chelsea transfer news – Jonathan Tah

According to German outfit Kicker (via the Sun), the Blues are reportedly leading the chase for Tah, but they will face some tough competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in order to secure his signature.

The move will not cost Boehly as much as some others, with Tah having a release clause of just £15.5m inserted into his current contract, and it certainly makes him a viable asset for the club.

There is a catch, however, as that fee will become active next summer, meaning a move next month may be slightly more difficult to make, especially if the club don’t want to shell out a fortune.

Bayer Leverkusen also may not be keen on selling next month either, regardless of any potential offers arriving, as they will be without two of their centre-backs due to the African Cup of Nations.

The Stamford Bridge side could do with a reliable defender and Tah would be an ideal signing with the club potentially set to repeat their Kai Havertz masterclass in the process.

Kai Havertz’s time at Chelsea in numbers

The German joined the Premier League club in the summer of 2020 following an impressive spell at Leverkusen where he scored 46 goals and grabbed 31 assists in 150 matches. This sort of form attracted interest from afar, but it was Chelsea who secured his signature.

The then 21-year-old didn’t come cheap, however, with Leverkusen holding out for a transfer fee of £75.8m, but it wouldn’t be long before he started to repay this amount.

Across 45 matches in all competitions, Havertz netted nine times along with registering eight assists, and while it was a far cry from the numbers posted during his final season in Germany (18 goals and nine assists), it was an indication that he had settled into English football rather well.

His most important contribution came at the Estadio do Dragao in May 2021 as he collected a pass from Mason Mount before rounding Ederson and slotting the ball home just minutes before half-time with the goal sealing the Champions League title for the Blues.

It was arguably the crowning moment of his career to date and during the next two seasons he netted 14 and nine goals respectively, yet he only added the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup to his trophy collection.

The German was sold to Arsenal in the summer for a fee of £65m, meaning they recouped a large amount of the initial transfer fee they signed him for.

His final season in London may not have been the best, but Chelsea may not have won the Champions League with the forward and signing Tah from Leverkusen could allow Pochettino to repeat that previous transfer success.

Jonathan Tah’s season in numbers

Leverkusen are currently running Bayern Munich close for the Bundesliga title following an imperious start to the 2023/24 campaign under the leadership of Xabi Alonso.

The club have yet to lose in the league, and they have only conceded 12 goals in 14 matches, the best record in the top flight, with Tah playing an integral role.

The defender currently ranks fourth among the squad for accurate passes per game (62.7) while ranking first for clearances per game and the 27-year-old has won a staggering 75% of his aerial duels throughout the campaign – 1.6 per game – demonstrating how effective he has been at the heart of their defence.

The German was hailed as a defensive “battleship” by his former teammate Christoph Kramer, and he has certainly exuded those qualities over the previous 12 months, as he has emerged as one of the finest defenders in the German top flight.

The Leverkusen gem hasn’t just impressed with his presence in the heart of the defence either, as his passing skills have allowed him to give Alonso an option who can start regular attacks from his own half.

Indeed according to FBref, Tah currently ranks in the top 3% for pass completion percentage (92.7%) when compared to his positional peers over the previous 12 months, and it proves he has a variety of skills which could certainly see him shine at Chelsea.

A move might be tough to pull off in the January transfer window, but it might not stop Pochettino from trying, especially with how poor his back four have been on occasions this season.

Tah has significantly impressed in the Bundesliga since the start of the season and this could perhaps be his last chance to secure a move to the Premier League, especially as he will turn 28 in February, indicating that he could be approaching his peak years.

January will be here sooner rather than later and the Argentinian has plenty on his mind to ponder, that’s for sure.

Leeds United are currently competing to secure an instant return to the Premier League after they were relegated at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Whites spent three years at the top table of English football after former head coach Marcelo Bielsa won promotion from the Championship in 2020, in his second year at the club.

German tactician Daniel Farke is now looking to follow in the Argentine chief's footsteps by getting out of the second division this season with the Yorkshire-based side.

The 47-year-old boss won two Championship titles during his time with Norwich City and his side are currently third and eight points off top spot with 30 matches left to play.

He could look to the upcoming January transfer window to bolster his squad in order to improve their chances of winning promotion in the second half of the campaign.

With this in mind, one way in which the Whites could upgrade their roster could be to cash in on Wilfried Gnonto in order to free up the funds to sign Ilias Chair.

Leeds transfers news – Wilfried Gnonto & Ilias Chair

Firstly, the current Leeds forward has been touted with a move away from Elland Road at the start of 2024 after he failed to secure an exit over the summer.

Gnonto reportedly agreed a deal with Premier League side Everton ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, only for his club to pull the plug on any potential move.

TEAMtalk reported, last month, that the Toffees remain interested in a swoop for the Italy international, whilst Roma and Lazio – from his home country – are also in the running to land his signature.

Leeds are said to be looking for a fee within the region of £25m for the former Inter prospect. Although, it remains to be seen whether or not any of those three sides are willing to pay that.

Chair, meanwhile, was linked with a move to Yorkshire during the summer transfer window. Journalist Darren Witcoop claimed that the club emerged as a late contender to sign the Queens Park Rangers star.

They were prepared to pay the £6m fee that QPR wanted for their talented magician but the approach came too late in the window and did not afford the London-based side enough time to find a replacement, which put any possible move to bed.

Leicester City were also said to be keen on the Morocco international and Leeds could snap him up in January as a dream replacement for Gnonto if they decide to cash in on the Italian youngster.

Farke could make an early swoop for Chair, who could arrive as an upgrade on Gnonto, in order to provide QPR with plenty of time to spend the £6m to bolster their own squad.

Gnonto's season in numbers

The 20-year-old dynamo has endured a difficult start to the 2023/24 campaign as he has been unable to provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch.

Gnonto handed in a transfer request and missed three competitive matches for the Whites near the start of the season, which was not the ideal preparation for a successful year on the pitch for the forward.

He has, subsequently, not been able to hit his stride in the Championship and his current form does not suggest that it would be a huge blow for Farke if Everton, Lazio, or Roma swoop in to sign him for £25m.

The right-footed whiz, who can play out wide or through the middle, has registered one goal and one assist in ten league games for the Whites this term.

Gnonto has not been a regular source of goals or assists in the final third for Leeds and his lack of creativity has been apparent with 0.5 key passes per match and zero 'big chances' created in six starts.

This shows that the young talent has not been a difference-maker on the pitch for Farke as he has not influenced matches with a tangible impact regularly enough to be a key player.

As you can see in the table above, the current international break has produced a confidence-boosting performance from Gnonto, who excelled in a 7-0 win for Italy U21s against San Marino.

Hopefully, this will help him to push on and hit his stride in a Leeds shirt between now and the January transfer window. If not, then bringing in Chair as a replacement for the Italian winger could be a shrewd piece of business.

The statistics that show why Chair could replace Gnonto

The 26-year-old maestro has not been able to showcase the best of his abilities in a struggling QPR side so far this season as the gem has managed one goal, two assists, and 1.5 key passes per game across 15 outings.

However, his performances for his club throughout the 2022/23 campaign suggest that Chair has the quality to be a terrific option for Farke at the top end of the pitch.

He racked up five goals and nine assists in 40 Championship appearances as the young whiz displayed his ability to make an impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a wide position.

The 5 foot 7 ace, who was once hailed as "the real deal" by pundit Glenn Murray, was unfortunate to not hit double figures for assists as the QPR star created an eye-catching 12 'big chances' for his teammates and made 2.4 key passes per match in 38 league starts.

Crysencio Summerville (2.6) and Georginio Rutter (2.5) are the only Leeds players with more than 2.4 key passes per game for the club this term, which illustrates how impressive his creativity was last season.

Therefore, Chair could be one of Farke's outstanding creators and help to provide the likes of Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford, and Rutter with plenty of opportunities in front of goal, which Gnonto has not been able to do this campaign.

His aforementioned statistics also show that the 26-year-old maestro can carry a goal threat and chip in with strikes of his own, to go along with his superb chance creation.

da bet vitoria： Chelsea have not always had the best success in the transfer window, as demonstrated by their tendency to acquire big-money flops as opposed to players who have gone on to achieve greatness in their careers.

da luck： The Blues have been busy hoovering up talent in the market since Todd Boehly acquired the club in May 2022, shelling out over £1bn on new players without having the success to show for it.

His transfer dealings and multiple managerial appointments have not achieved the goals he’s set out so far with Chelsea vastly underperforming expectations considering the ludicrous amount of money spent.

Despite hiring a world-class manager in Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine has been unable to turn the tide and while he’s led the club to a Carabao Cup quarter-final, his side is currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Pochettino’s case hasn’t been helped by the poor hand he’s been dealt, suffering serious injuries to several star players, including big-money summer signings Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku.

Aside from having an over-flowing injury table, the Blues can be disappointed with how the majority of their summer acquisitions have performed.

For instance, striker Nicolas Jackson has only scored twice in the league for the club since making a £31.8m move from Villarreal.

To make matters worse, Chelsea were looking at potentially capturing Julian Alvarez from Manchester City just a few months prior, and the Argentine would have been a huge upgrade on the 22-year-old.

How close Chelsea came to signing Julian Alvarez

Reports from Spain claimed in April that Chelsea and Real Madrid were interested in battling it out for the signature of Alvarez in the summer.

The 23-year-old, who played understudy to the irrepressible Erling Haaland for the majority of last season, was concerned about his limited game time, which opened up the possibility of him departing Manchester.

The report claimed that several top clubs across Europe were alerted about his situation, but it was the Blues who were the most keen on prising him to Stamford Bridge, as they felt the Argentine would have helped revive their fortunes in front of goal.

According to Transfermarkt, Alvarez had a value of £50m at the time and after Chelsea chose not to take their interest any further – and instead signed Jackson in the summer – the former River Plate hitman has seen his value skyrocket to a whopping £130m (€150m), as per Football Transfers, following his exceptional start to the season.

Julian Alvarez's Manchester City statistics

Manchester City acquired Alvarez from Argentinian outfit River Plate for around £14m in January 2022, with the player remaining in his homeland on loan until the summer.

While his arrival was somewhat overshadowed by the phenomenal acquisition of Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, the forward still enjoyed an impressive maiden campaign, scoring 17 goals and supplying five assists from 49 matches across all competitions, starting only 23 of those.

The 23-year-old has since made some huge strides in this campaign that warrant the staggering £130m price tag attached to his head, posting an exceptional seven goals and five assists in 16 appearances.

Where last season City’s Norwegian machine stole the plaudits for his jaw-dropping goal-scoring exploits, this time around, Alvarez is no longer playing understudy and has forged his own identity in Pep Guardiola’s system, with commentator Ally McCoist labelling him as “superb”.

Through his explosive pressing, clever movement into space and ability to craft his own opportunities, the 5 foot 7 metronome has become one of the most dangerous forwards on the planet and those waxing lyrical about his talents have been proven correct.

Man City are a chance-creating machine, possessing a world-class supply line to feed the Argentine, with Alvarez feasting on that quality, ranking in the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for non-penalty goals, top 6% for shots and top 16% for touches in the attacking penalty box, as per FBref.

On the back of his performances this term, Guardiola has labelled him as “almost undroppable” – and that is high praise from someone known for tinkering with his team.

Julian Alvarez's Ballon d'Or ranking

The most prestigious individual accolade anyone can win in world football is the Ballon d’Or as whoever claims this trophy is crowned the best footballer of the past year.

On Monday, the latest ceremony took place, and it was no surprise to see Lionel Messi crowned with his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy following his World Cup heroics with Argentina.

Whilst he didn’t win it, his fellow World Cup-winning compatriot, Alvarez, was recognised for his outstanding performances by placing in seventh position out of the 30 shortlisted candidates for the trophy.

He beat the likes of Harry Kane (19th), Mohamed Salah (11th) as well as City teammates, Ruben Dias (30th), Josko Gvardiol (25th) and Bernardo Silva (9th), while Rodri (5th), Kevin De Bruyne (4th) and Erling Haaland (2nd) finished ahead of him.

Ballon d’Or 2023 Rankings

#10 Luka Modric

Real Madrid

#9 Bernardo Silva

Manchester City

#8 Victor Osimhen

Napoli

#7 Julian Alvarez

Manchester City

#6 Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid

#5 Rodri

Manchester City

#4 Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

#3 Kylian Mbappe

PSG

#2 Erling Haaland

Manchester City

#1 Lionel Messi

Inter Miami

Alvarez can be content with finishing as the most-decorated footballer on the planet for the 2022/23 campaign, having claimed the biggest prize international football has to offer and scooped the treble with Man City.

By contrast, the striker that the Blues ended up with, Jackson, has struggled since making the switch from Spain this summer.

Nicolas Jackson Chelsea statistics

Jackson arrived as a highly-rated striker from Villarreal and was expected to inject the art of goalscoring back to Stamford Bridge, having seen their fortunes dry up in front of goal.

For instance, Kai Havertz finished as the club’s top scorer with seven in the Premier League last term as the Blues slipped to a disappointing 12th-place finish, and the German was sold to Arsenal this summer.

The 22-year-old didn’t have big shoes to fill in that regard but he has flattered to deceive when put through on goal, failing to eject the confidence that an Alvarez would, and has instead been incredibly wasteful.

While he’s still acclimatising to life on English shores, his numbers so far this season make for very grim reading.

With only three goals scored in all competitions, the Senegal international has demonstrated that wastefulness by missing seven big chances in the top flight, recording an xG of 2.23 and a measly goal conversion of 8%, as per Sofascore.

It is normal for any foreign player to need a season to acclimatise and Chelsea will hope that is the case with Jackson before he eventually starts firing them in.

However, on the evidence of Alvarez’s rapid rise to stardom, they should have done everything in their power to prise him to Stamford Bridge this summer.

da dobrowin： Leeds United put in a stellar display against Watford on Saturday, as Phil Hay relayed the thoughts of Daniel Farke following the emphatic 3-0 drubbing of Watford: "Farke thinks this was Leeds' most complete performance so far. 'To dominate such a good side totally is pretty pleasing.'"

da cassino： He has good reason to walk away delighted with such a performance, as despite failing to find the net with numerous first-half chances, his side exploded into life in the final 45 minutes, blowing away the visitors.

Elland Road played host to yet another impressive victory, with their Championship season now well and truly underway. Under the leadership of this affable German, who continues to slowly endear himself to his new fanbase, they are certainly on the right path towards promotion success.

However, one of the interesting stories to emerge pre-match was the absence of Luke Ayling from the starting lineup, despite the full-back having started all of their previous seven league matches this term.

The 32-year-old has, for better or worse, been a mainstay for years now in Yorkshire, so to see Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton preferred to him must have taken many by surprise; even if it is clear that his powers have clearly begun to wane in recent seasons.

Despite that, it is still expected that the experienced star will have a huge say in their hopeful push for the title, as someone seemingly always fit, and always ready to give his all even if a lack of quality sometimes lets him down.

How has Luke Ayling played this season?

After the year he and his side endured last campaign, it came as a huge surprise that Farke neglected to overhaul the full-back positions over the summer despite them being a key problem area for Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch on occasion.

It seems like no matter who is signed for these positions, whether it be former Barcelona man Junior Firpo or Denmark international Rasmus Kristensen, Ayling refuses to be displaced from the team.

Fortunately, a fine start to the new season has eased fears over this transfer inactivity, with the ex-Yeovil Town ace boasting a 7.23 average rating after just eight games. It seems the defender is poised to roll back the years to their 2020 promotion campaign, having added one goal, one assist, 1.5 key passes and 2.9 tackles per game to uphold the aforementioned figure, via Sofascore.

To compare this with that 2019/20 term, and his eight goal contributions helped uphold a 7.26 average rating, despite his key passes dropping to 0.8 per game, and his tackles down to 1.8 per game. History could be set to repeat itself.

That's not to suggest that Ayling has been completely free of criticism in recent times though, having arguably been the victim of consistent recruitment errors that have forced the ageing star to continue as a starter.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher branded him an "idiot" back in 2022 after a reckless red card challenge against Arsenal had seemingly doomed them to the drop, whilst a few months later Leeds pundit Conor McGilligan had even harsher words on his quality levels: "I think he’d [Ayling] be struggling to get in a lot of Championship starting XIs right now. Maybe bottom-half Championship, but absolutely no chance, top 12.

“But yet, he’s coming on for Leeds United to try and secure the game, as we saw at the weekend. Now, this is no disparaging comment on Luke Ayling. It’s just got to a point now where he’s not good enough. There are several Leeds players who, for me, are not good enough. Luke Ayling is not fit for Premier League football, for me.”

Although he seeks to dispel this notion by, ironically, impressing in the Championship, it is fair to say that Ayling's contribution across the 260 games played for the Yorkshire outfit makes him a cult hero regardless, sure to be lauded when he departs.

How much did Leeds United sign Luke Ayling for?

Given how important the defender has grown to be, having been plucked from the lower leagues as they themselves strived for a top-flight return, it is amazing to think back on the frugality of the deal.

After all, to pluck the former Arsenal academy ace for just £200k marked phenomenal business, as Gary Monk saw attacking potential in the full-back which was later realised.

Bristol City were the side who lost his services, and then had to watch him grow into a mainstay under Bielsa, and an important cog in that enthralling system. Journalist Hay would even write in 2020: "The more you look at him and analyse him, the more you realise he's integral to everything Leeds do."

How much was Luke Ayling worth when he first signed?

To emphasise just how much of a coup that deal was, Transfermarkt actually valued the defender at €500k (£435k) even before he had even moved to Elland Road.

Unsurprisingly, a switch to such a historic institution drew more eyes onto his game, and he would soon crack a €1m (£871k) valuation within just one year of being in Yorkshire.

Such steady growth marked a hallmark of the 6-foot rock's career, which remains at an admirable level even today.

What is Luke Ayling's market value now?

When viewing the current-day value of Ayling, CIES Football Observatory offers the most flattering figure to emphasise the importance still boasted even with their relegation.

After all, for someone at 32 years old to still be starring at such a high level deserves praise, with his €5m (£4.3m) valuation being more than fair.

To compare the growth enjoyed throughout a career forged on hard work, from that £200k move back in 2016, Ayling has seen his value grow by 2,050% across a seven-year period.

How much does Luke Ayling earn?

What further makes the defender a fine asset to Leeds is the fact that he is never one to kick up a fuss regarding play time, recent form or financial incentives.

As such, despite being one of the squad's longest-serving members, his £25k-per-week salary sees him earn less than Illan Meslier, Helder Costa, Daniel James and Firpo, via Capology.

#

Leeds United's Top Earners

Wage via Capology

1

Georginio Rutter

£70k-per-week

2

Patrick Bamford

£70k-per-week

3

Junior Firpo

£60k-per-week

4

Daniel James

£50k-per-week

5

Pascal Struijk

£50k-per-week

Admittedly a tiny wage for someone who has proven so important, perhaps this campaign could mark his last final push before accepting his exit in order to usher in a new age at right-back. Ayling has been a true hero at the club, even if he has come under fire at times, and should he steer them towards promotion, he could depart a content man.

Tottenham Hotspur changed the strategy in the summer after several years of struggles, with Antonio Conte's dismissal in March proving to be the fourth time in as many years that chairman Daniel Levy had spun the wheel.

Shifting away from the approach that welcomed the likes of Conte and Jose Mourinho to mixed success, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was targetted after the 58-year-old's impressive endeavours in Scotland, with Spurs lifting off to enormous success in the early phase of the campaign.

Indeed, after just ten matches, the London side – who finished eighth-placed last year – were top of the Premier League and flying. Still, recent losses against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers have highlighted the importance of bolstering.

As such, Postecoglou has no doubt fixed one eye on the upcoming winter transfer window, with Tottenham reportedly interested in digging into Juventus' pool of talent once again.

Tottenham transfer news – Samuel Iling-Junior

According to Football Insider, the Serie A side are interested in discussing terms with Spurs for the transfer of Samuel Iling-Junior given their precarious financial situation.

Juventus are holding out for an 'attractive' bid but with Postecoglou believed to have earmarked Iling-Junior as a top target, this could be the perfect move to make this January.

The 20-year-old is only contracted in Turin until 2025 and was touted at €25m (£21m) in the summer – when Aston Villa and Everton were lurking – and given Tottenham's need for depth, this could be the perfect move.

Samuel Iling-Junior's statistics since 22/23

Described as a "flamboyant winger" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Iling-Junior has been honing his craft with the Old Lady after being released from Chelsea's academy in 2020.

Having only made 22 senior appearances so far, Iling-Junior has posted a goal and three assists and has now established a base from which to improve his abilities.

Despite his desire to play in a forward role – the Englishman has likened his game to that of Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane – he has often been utilised as a wing-back by Massimiliano Allegri.

Dynamic and daring, he ranks among the top 5% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics emphasise the winger's natural attacking instinct and ease with the ball at his feet, and such skills would be the perfect addition to Tottenham's burgeoning outfit.

Dubbed a "menace" with "high energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills" by journalist Antonio Mango, Iling-Junior would be a worthy addition to the Spurs squad, and given the club's recent success in securing exciting talent from Juventus, it's well worth the venture.

Dejan Kulusevski's Spurs career so far

Almost two years ago, Dejan Kulusevski joined Spurs on an 18-month loan deal from Juventus before finally completing a permanent £25m transfer this summer.

Hailed for his "explosive" skills by compatriot Marcus Allback before his loan move to the Premier League, the Swede had looked a promising talent in Italy but was shipped off to Spurs and started with aplomb, scoring five goals and supplying eight assists from only 18 matches in the English top-flight.

This season, Postecoglou has provided the 23-year-old with a starting role across all 12 of the club's Premier League outings – with Kulusevski boasting a three-goal return so far – and he is comfortably one of the most important players in the Lilywhites team – energetic, robust and progressive.

Clinching Iling-Junior's signature, Tottenham could repeat the feat, nurturing and moulding a new sensation from Juventus, and it simply has to be realised in January to provide the squad with greater options and maintain the resurgence.

Aston Villa are now believed to be keeping close tabs on a player after it emerged that he is likely to leave his current employers in January, according to reports.

Aston Villa's impressive season so far…

Following a meteoric rise from relegation contention to securing Europa Conference League football last term, many wondered how Unai Emery would go about improving on an exceptional debut campaign in charge at Villa Park. Youri Tielemans, Nicolo Zaniolo, Pau Torres, Clement Lenglet and Moussa Diaby were brought in with the help of NSWE and their ambition in the market looks to have paid off on the field, as Aston Villa sit fifth in the Premier League table with 25 points from their opening 12 matches.

Depending on certain factors, the English top flight could be awarded an extra Champions League place this term as the competition transitions towards an expanded "Swiss league" format, which will allocate an additional position to two nations who collectively performed the best in comparison to other countries in the season previous, which is a carrot Emery and company will have an eye on at Villa Park.

Nevertheless, consistent performances will be needed on a weekly basis to achieve this dream, which may be complicated further if Aston Villa embark on an extended run in the Europa Conference League, which they are one of the favourites to win.

Despite fanfare and excitement surrounding Aston Villa's potential league finish in 2023/24, former Villans midfielder Lee Hendrie isn't getting carried away when forecasting where his old side may end up, as he stated via BBC Sport when asked about their hopes of finishing in the top six: "I'd take a top-half finish. I don't think we'll finish in the top six. I really think that's a big ask. Again, if they finished seventh, eighth, I think it'd be a really good season."

With the January window fast approaching, it looks as if NSWE and Emery have set their sights on another highly-rated player that could help Aston Villa's push for continental qualification.

Aston Villa plotting Samuel Iling-Junior bid

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are "primed" to make an approach for Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior in the January window as Emery looks to add some variety in the final third, with the Turin outfit open to selling.

Samuel Iling-Junior at Juventus – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

22

Goals

1

Assists

3

Nevertheless, they will have to fend off competition from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Fulham to sign the England Under-21 international, who is under contract at Serie A giants Juventus until the summer of 2025. His interested suitors will send scouts to watch Iling-Junior in action for the young Three Lions in their upcoming double-header against Serbia and Northern Ireland.

Labelled "superb" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old winger has excellent positional awareness and ranks favourably in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the art of progressive passes received in the opposition's penalty area, taking in around 8.38 per 90 minutes, putting him in the 97th percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Showing an impressive ability to pop up in dangerous attacking areas and just needing to sharpen up his end product, he is seemingly primed for a move, and Villa Park could be an ideal environment for Iling-Junior to continue his development as his stock continues to rise.

India have rested several first-choice players, including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, while Sri Lanka will miss Angelo Mathews and Asela Gunaratne, who are unavailable through injury

The Preview by Mohammad Isam05-Mar-20184:10

Pant has improved a lot behind the stumps – Dasgupta

Big Picture

India going into the Nidahas T20I tri-series without many of their first-choice players has somewhat levelled the playing field. Captain Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav have all been rested.Sri Lanka will also miss some of their key players: Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne and fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who bagged a hat-trick on ODI debut in Bangladesh, are unavailable through injury.Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep return to bolster the pace attack, but Sri Lanka will have to be wary of India’s strong bench strength. Allrounders Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant have only played five T20Is among them, but are used to playing under pressure in the IPL. Rohit Sharma, the stand-in captain, meanwhile will look to hit form after an underwhelming tour of South Africa. The return of Suresh Raina adds meat to the middle order, which also includes Manish Pandey.Sri Lanka will aim to build on the gains made in the limited-overs series in Bangladesh. Kusal Mendis has bedded in at the top while Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka have boosted the middle order. Akila Dananjaya, who can bowl offbreaks as well as legbreaks, and Isuru Udana are capable of supporting Lakmal and Thisara with the ball.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: WWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: WLWWW

In the spotlight

After making back-to-back fifties in Bangladesh, Kusal Mendis repeated the feat at home in the domestic T20 tournament for Colombo Cricket Club. Can he continue his excellent form in the Nidahas Trophy?Sri Lanka might have nightmares of Rohit Sharma, who slammed 118 off 43 balls in the last bilateral T20 series between the two sides in December. In all, Rohit has hit 278 runs in 11 innings against Sri Lanka at a strike-rate of 146.31.

Team news

Kusal Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera might return to the XI. Having secured a thumping series win in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka might not tinker too much with their team.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Dasun Shanaka, 6 Thisara Perera, 7 Dinesh Chandimal (capt & wk), 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Amila Aponso, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Dushmantha ChameeraDinesh Karthik will tussle with Pant for the wicketkeeper’s spot. Yuzvendra Chahal and Jaydev Unadkat are likely to return to the XI despite being left out for the third T20I in Cape Town. Sundar will compete with Hooda for the allrounder’s spot, while KL Rahul, who hasn’t played a T20I since December 2017, might get a game in the absence of key players.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 KL Rahul, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Washington Sundar/Deepak Hooda, 8 Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Axar Patel, 11 Jaydev Unadkat

Pitch and conditions

The Premadasa pitches are known to be low and slow, but they are likely to help the fast bowlers at the start of the T20I tri-series. There is a slim chance of a thunderstorm in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• Two of the top-ten scorers in T20 cricket feature in this tournament – Suresh Raina (7275) and Rohit Sharma (6587)
• India newbie Vijay Shankar bowled offspin until he was 20 but switched to medium-pace in a bid to break into his spin-heavy state side, Tamil Nadu
• Deepak Hooda, the other India rookie, has a strike-rate of 143.48 in 79 T20 matches

Quotes

“We will open with whoever we feel will play the best. We’ll look at the other teams’ strengths and limitations before coming to that decision also.”

Cricinfo staff20-Oct-2008
The Australians were unable to curb the Indian batsmen’s aggressive approach © AFP
It was intimidating to watch. First the openers came out to bat and the heady rhythm of strokes belted out was reminiscent of a manic Keith Moon behind his drum kit. There were 130 runs at five an over in the first session and the rate was maintained later, with 214 runs eventually plundered from 42 overs. It made no difference if it was pace or spin. The leading fast bowler was taken for 72 from his 14 overs, and the spinners were carted for 54 from nine. It would have been exhilarating to watch in a one-day game. As part of a five-day spectacle, it was almost unprecedented.Who else could we talking about but Australia? For more than a decade, while other sides talked of “brave cricket” and then lost their nerve, Australia flattened opponents home and away as a matter of routine. Batsmen came out and walloped 18 runs in the opening over of a series, bowlers thudded deliveries into stumps, helmets and knuckles, and even geriatric stalwarts with avian nicknames threw themselves full-length in the Adelaide outfield to take catches that beggared belief.On Monday morning though, the other side came out swinging and Australia were left bereft of answers. Back in 2001, the juggernaut that had crushed everything in its path for 16 games came to a shuddering halt when India refused to be cowed at Eden Gardens despite the hopeless situation that they found themselves in at the end of day three. By the time the teams reached Chennai for the deciding Test, the aura had gone, and India calmly picked off 510 in response to Australia’s 391 to set up a series win.Since the Ashes were surrendered to an English side that dared to set the tone on an astonishing opening day at Edgbaston, Australia have seldom been challenged. The one time they looked most ill at ease was in Perth last January, when an Indian team seething after the perceived injustices of Sydney pulled off a stunning win at the WACA. Again, someone had wrenched the conducting baton out of Australian hands, and the big boys couldn’t play.His critics can say all that they want to about Mahendra Singh Dhoni being a lucky captain. The toss certainly played a part here, but as his powerful batting displays – such a contrast from the imposter who scratched around at the Chinnaswamy Stadium – have shown, he seems to thrive on the added responsibility. In the first innings, his 92 was the difference between a modest total and an imposing one, and on the fourth morning he decided to trust his shot-making ability after Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir hadpillaged 182.
Ricky Ponting got the kind of ball from Ishant Sharma that makes batsmen wake up in a cold sweat © Getty Images
With the famed middle order looking on, it was a move that would have attracted considerable ridicule if it backfired. Instead, Dhoni thumped 68 from 84 balls, including a six off Cameron White that came to a rest 25 yards inside the field after cannoning into the sightscreen. He made sure India didn’t overdo it either. With runs coming so easily, the batsmen must have been queuing up, but the declaration came well before tea, leaving India with 136 overs to ensure that their dominance of the game was translated into the right result.Australia’s chase was in ruins within 10.2 overs. There had been signs in the morning that they were losing the plot. There was an animated argument between Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee before lunch, presumably something to do with the fact that the leader of the pace pack wasn’t required to bowl until after everyone has finished their and butter chicken. And that simmering rage seemed to afflict the batting as well.Matthew Hayden has never been known for the backward step, but even by his standards, the belligerence shown during a 20-ball 29 was extraordinary. It was as if he wanted to hit every delivery into the cement moat that rings the venue. And it was a reflection of the kind of series that he’s having that he fell to the sweep, the stroke that fetched him hundreds of runs back in 2001.Simon Katich fell to a frankly appalling stroke, while Ricky Ponting got the kind of ball that makes batsmen wake up in a cold sweat. That, and the delivery which darted back to trap Shane Watson in front, crowned a magnificent spell from Ishant Sharma, who must surely now be considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world. India’s pace bowlers now have 18 wickets in the series, while it needed a miscue from Sourav Ganguly to gift Lee his fourth of the series. The times, they certainly are a changin’.

Chelsea have become a prime destination for young players to choose to continue their development, and Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly eyeing another exciting gem at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's youth recruitment strategy

Undoubtedly, Chelsea have taken a major heel-turn in their approach to the market over the last couple of years and are now a club synonymous with acquiring young talent and developing players in the hope that the Blues will have a side capable of competing at the top end of English football for the long term.

In the summer, the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Oguchukwu, Deivid Washington, Angelo and Diego Moreira were all brought to Stamford Bridge, with all players mentioned being of the age of 22 or under; however, the Blues' recruitment strategy has yielded mixed results on the pitch.

Sitting 11th in the Premier League table, Chelsea have taken 12 points from their opening ten fixtures and still look to be a way off competing for continental qualification despite some encouraging signs from their young squad, which retains an average age of just 23.8 years old, according to Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the Blues booked their place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday by sweeping aside Blackburn Rovers on home soil courtesy of goals from Benoit Badiashile and Raheem Sterling.

Cited by BBC Sport, Chelsea boss Pochettino has emphasised his belief that his side can win the competition, stating in his post-match press conference: "We need to think that it is an important competition for us. We are not in Europe. That should be an opportunity for us like the Premier League and in January we will start the FA Cup. Of course, we need to think that we can win this competition."

Young players have become a crucial part of Pochettino's philosophy in SW6 and it now appears that the Argentinian coach has another prodigious talent in his sights following latest reports.

Chelsea's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Premier League

Manchester City (H)

Stamford Bridge

Premier League

Newcastle United (A)

St James' Park

Premier League

Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Stamford Bridge

Premier League

Manchester United (A)

Old Trafford

Chelsea eyeing Shamrock Rovers midfielder Naj Razi

According to a transfer update from TEAMtalk, Chelsea are interested in Shamrock Rovers midfielder Naj Razi and have watched his progress over the last few months. Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are also courting the starlet in light of his emergence in the Irish top flight. La Liga giants Real Madrid are also keen on the 17-year-old, who could be available for as little as £250,000.

Despite Razi being believed to desire a move to England over Spain, any side from the United Kingdom willing to swoop for the youngster would need to wait until his 18th birthday to sanction a deal, in light of new rules involving Irish players moving across the water that have surfaced since Brexit.

Razi, who has been labelled as an "exciting prospect" by former St Johnstone defender Graham Gartland, has made six senior appearances for Shamrock Rovers since making his breakthrough at first-team level. However, he has yet to get himself on the scoresheet or register an assist (Razi statistics – Transfermarkt).

Nevertheless, the Republic of Ireland Under-17 international is now a hot topic among some of Europe's heavyweight clubs and Chelsea and clearly has a high ceiling to be drawing such intense interest.

Chelsea hadn't messed around this summer. With the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, a world-class manager, and a whole host of talent acquired to their squad, it felt like the Blues were heading back to their former best.

Yet, after breaking the bank on the likes of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, to name a few, they currently find themselves in an unsatisfactory mid-table position with three defeats from their opening eight matches.

While Pochettino will be given time to mould the squad how he wants it, patience on their current stars could wear thin if significant ground hasn't been made on the Champions League places come January, which could lead to more mass spending.

Unsurprisingly, a whole host of stars have already been touted with a winter move to Stamford Bridge, and one of Europe's brightest young talents, Jamal Musiala, is the latest name to be linked.

Are Chelsea interested in Jamal Musiala?

A graduate of Chelsea's youth academy, who departed the club for Bayern Munich aged 16, would make a huge U-turn on his career if he was to return to Stamford Bridge.

According to 90min, Premier League clubs are showing an interest in Musiala, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.

The report details that Bayern remain confident of tying the 20-year-old down to a long-term contract, however, with several clubs enquiring about his availability, a potential bidding war could ensue.

Currently valued at €92.3m (£80m) according to Football Transfers and with another three years left on his contract, the Blues will need to splash the cash in order to lure him to west London, either in January or next summer.

What would Jamal Musiala bring to Chelsea?

One of Chelsea's most fateful mistakes was allowing Musiala to depart for Bayern in 2019 after failing to convince the youngster to commit his future to the London club.

All will be forgiven, however, if the Blues manage to pull off a sensational move to prise the youngster away from Germany and back to England.

The attacking midfield sensation, who has been nominated for the prestigious Golden Boy Award, is the shining light of a German side crying out for a rebuild and an unwavering cog of Bayern's merciless winning machine.

Combining his electric pace and remarkable dribbling to a devastating effect, the youngster has been compared to the great Lionel Messi for how he carries the ball in perpetual motion, breezing past defenders like the ball is stuck to his feet and supplying a relentless end product to match.

With an astonishing 12 goals and 13 assists in 33 Bundesliga matches last term, Musiala showcased why the footballing world is salivating over his talents, seamlessly slotting into pockets of space and appearing to be the perfect heir to Muller's throne.

Lauded as a "future Ballon d'Or" winner by teammate Alphonso Davies for how he's dominated on the world stage at just 20-years-old, Musiala has shown that his potential is limitless.

The youngster's former coach, Andre Martin, reinforced the above back in 2021, saying: "Technically outstanding, very skillful, and a player who can score all types of goals, inside and outside the box. And he's a great dribbler and likes to take players on, as he did against Schalke. He later became a No.10 and has become as much of a creator as a goalscorer."

The description of his qualities suggests that Chelsea must reverse the mistake they made four years ago and go all out to sign one of the best young talents on the planet.