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Aston Villa have seen a turnaround in form since the arrival of Unai Emery, who took the reins from Steven Gerrard in October 2022.

The Spaniard fired the Villans from 16th in the Premier League table to 7th in the 2022/23 season, earning the club a spot in the Europa Conference League and a clear vision of the heights that hard work can take the squad.

While the former Arsenal boss deserves a lot of credit for the progression of the club, none of Villa’s growth today would be possible without the work of those before him who restored the Midlands side back to the top flight in the first place.

From Steve Bruce to Dean Smith, Villa spent three years in the Championship before being promoted in 2019, with a host of stars of those squads paving the way for further glory.

Smith’s promotion heroes are remembered fondly at Villa Park, as well as those before them under Bruce, with one name standing out as a previous talisman in the Midlands – Albert Adomah.

How long was Albert Adomah at Aston Villa?

While Tammy Abraham, Jack Grealish and most recently Ollie Watkins topped the scoring charts for Villa on the way to, and during, their Premier League return, a different player claimed the club’s golden boot prior to the big names.

Rewind to the 2017/18 campaign and winger Albert Adomah’s 14 Championship goals saw him end the season as the top scorer for Villa, during a term that ended in a bittersweet fashion as the Villans lost the play-off final to Fulham in May.

Adomah arrived at Villa Park from Middlesbrough the summer prior to his top goalscoring feat, and made his presence on the flank known from the off as he secured 11 assists and three goals in his debut Championship campaign.

It was then that the winger took it in his stride to be the main source of goals for Bruce’s squad, making a total of 22 goal contributions in 44 appearances in all competitions of the 2017/18 season, scoring 15 and assisting seven.

Once lauded as “superb” by journalist Lee Clarke, Adomah was a player that many were fond of at Villa for his hard work and ability to take control of games from the wide channels, however he hit his ceiling after ending the 2017/18 campaign as top scorer.

What happened to Albert Adomah?

The season after, the Ghanaian only managed to score four goals in the Championship, and was sold to Nottingham Forest as part of a free transfer in the summer of 2019.

At the City Ground, the wideman was unable to get close to replicating his heroics at Villa Park, netting just two goals in the Championship in his single season at Forest before he was sent on loan in January 2020 to Cardiff City.

After failing to score in South Wales, Adomah returned to his parent club to be sold to Queen's Park Rangers, where he continues to play today in the second tier.

Villa were the lucky ones with reference to Adomah’s rich scoring streak, as he has since failed to score anywhere near the 14 league goals he did that season, with him only getting on the scoresheet on six occasions since the 2020/21 campaign for QPR.

The 35-year-old certainly hit his prime in the Midlands, with Villa undoubtedly getting the best out of the forward who now has a market value of just £300k, as per Football Transfers.

From top scorer to a player unlikely to score, Adomah will look back fondly on his influential time at Villa Park as he continues to play out his career at Loftus Road.

Mason Greenwood’s team-mates at Manchester United are reportedly prepared to welcome him back to Old Trafford following a productive loan in Spain.

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Last played for Red Devils in January 2022Currently spending time in SpainPermanent transfer has been speculated onWHAT HAPPENED?

The 22-year-old forward has not played for the Red Devils since January 2022, following his arrest on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour. Those charges were dropped in February 2023.

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Greenwood was loaned out to Getafe a few months later, and the one-cap England international has impressed in La Liga. He is said to have attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, with a big-money transfer in the summer of 2024 being touted.

DID YOU KNOW?

United, though, have Greenwood tied to a contract through to 2025 and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, following his acquisition of a 25 per cent stake at Old Trafford, has not ruled out a return to Manchester. It is now being suggested that first-team players would be willing to work with Greenwood again.

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GettyWHAT THE SUN SAID ABOUT GREENWOOD

claims to have been told by a source that: “His team-mates would not be against him returning to Old Trafford. They know all about the background and understand how controversial it would be to have him back. Their decision is a footballing one, pure and simple. United have struggled to score goals this season and they need a player like Mason. They’re watching him score and create goals for Getafe every week.”

Paul Mullin has been told he does not need to leave Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s project at Wrexham in order to play international football.

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• Wales have looked at prolific striker
• Still waiting on a first cap
• Looking to climb divisions with Red Dragons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The clock is ticking for the prolific frontman and his efforts to break into the senior Wales squad, with his 30th birthday set to be celebrated in November. Rob Page has admitted to monitoring Mullin’s progress, as he sits on 95 goals for Wrexham, but he has been playing in the National League and League Two.

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  WHAT TRUNDLE SAID ABOUT MULLIN

  Quizzed on whether Mullin will get a chance with Wales while at SToK Racecourse, former Red Dragons striker Lee Trundle has told the podcast: “I love Mulls and I think he's a great player. What gets me a little bit is people try and question your ability by saying ‘Oh, well you're only playing at that level’. If Mulls went up and played in the Championship in the right team, I think he would still score goals. The thing now is about this Wales call up and people are saying there’s people ahead of him. Even if you go into the National League, he’s scored that many goals, and he’s scored them consistently. If I was the manager of Wales, I would definitely have him in the squad, 100 per cent.”

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  Pressed further on whether Mullin may require a transfer to a club in the Championship in order to hit his ultimate targets, Trundle added: “I think that he can go and play at that level, and I'm hoping that will be with Wrexham. He's found himself in a situation the same as I did at Swansea, where you go to a club that just fits you and everything works around you. If Mulls went up the leagues with Wrexham, he'd do exactly the same and score exactly the same goals.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MULLIN & WREXHAM?

  Mullin netted a hat-trick in his last appearance, against Accrington Stanley, and is up to 16 goals for the season after recently spending time on the bench. He has another promotion party in his sights, with Wrexham currently sat third in League Two with 11 games left to take in.

Not since the days of Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini had Arsenal defeated Manchester City in the league.

The year was 2015, goals from Theo Walcott, a TV pundit for Sky during the game and Olivier Giroud, a man who strangely played in goal for Milan on Saturday, were the scorers that day.

It has been a long eight years back to glory for the Gunners since, but at long, long last, they are victors over Man City again.

Mikel Arteta had beaten every Premier League side but his former employers since taking on the job at the Emirates Stadium, so this was a true statement win.

Truth be told, most Arsenal supporters would have been content with a point as the game reached its conclusion. Gabriel Martinelli was not, however, as he came off the bench at half-time to devasting effect. It was his rasping finish, deflected in off Nathan Ake, that ensured the north London side won 1-0.

It was a poor game of football, one summarised by the fact that City only managed four shots during the game.

That happened to be the lowest tally that a Pep Guardiola side has achieved in a Premier League game since he arrived in English football.

How did Arsenal beat Man City?

A number of players stood out in red and white during the contest, namely that man Martinelli,

The Brazilian has been missing since the win over Everton in mid-September, an injury that was seen as a crushing blow. That said, he returned ahead of schedule and how that was needed in a game when Bukayo Saka was absent.

Martinelli replaced Leandro Trossard at the interval and made a huge impact. Within minutes he was causing problems for Kyle Walker, fizzing in a cross towards the back post that just evaded the head of Gabriel Jesus.

However, with four minutes left came his biggest moment yet in an Arsenal shirt. It was three substitutes who combined. Takehiro Tomiyasu found himself inside the area before knocking the ball down to Kai Havertz. The German cushioned the ball to Martinelli on the edge of the area and their number 11 did the rest, causing bedlam inside the Emirates.

Who was Arsenal's best player against Man City?

To keep Erling Haaland quiet is a hell of a job. The Norwegian scored a remarkable 52 goals last season on his way to winning the treble and the PFA Player of the Year award.

Yet, against Arsenal on Sunday, he was so quiet that he registered an xG (expected goals) tally of 0.00. That was a product of Arteta's side's resolute defensive performance with Gabriel and William Saliba shining above all else in the capital this weekend.

Saliba, in particular, deserves the plaudits. It was his injury last term that proved to be a turning point in the title race and today the Frenchman showed just how crucial he is to the club's cause.

Haaland left the pitch after the game was done having had just 23 touches of the ball and zero shots. So far this campaign, the Norwegian powerhouse has managed four shots per game, a stat that sums up the lack of impact he had up against Saliba.

The France international, by comparison, won 100% of his defensive battles, prevailing against the City superstar on more than one occasion.

Described as "immense" by Arseblog, Arsenal's defensive pairing were also noted as the "best players on the pitch" by one writer.

Not just a complete rock at the back, Saliba was the epitome of calmness, completing a whopping 97% of his passes and losing possession just twice from his 76 touches. To put that into context, no player in red or white managed more.

Often described as a "Rolls-Royce" of a defender, the 22-year-old showed that and more on Sunday in a display that proved Arsenal could well have what it takes to become champions.

This was a landmark result and one they could look back on in May as key to how their season panned out.

Holders Manchester United will be bidding to make a strong start to the defence of their Carabao Cup crown with victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford this evening, with the Red Devils heading into this midweek encounter having got back to winning ways away to Burnley at the weekend.

With Palace also set to return to the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday, United can build up some strong momentum on home soil following what has been an undoubtedly shaky start to the campaign, having already slipped nine points behind rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.

Those woes have come amid something of an injury crisis for Erik ten Hag, although the Dutchman may be boosted by the return of a handful prior absentees tonight, including summer signing, Mason Mount.

Will Mason Mount play against Palace?

It looks as if the former Chelsea man – who arrived on a £55m deal back in July – could be in line to make his first appearance since the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last month, with the England international having posted on his Instagram account stating that he is 'ready' for this upcoming contest.

Whether the 24-year-old comes straight back into the side is another matter, however, with Ten Hag likely to want to keep faith with Hannibal Mejbri in the number ten berth, after the Tunisian international was "perfect" at Turf Moor – as per his manager.

With Sofyan Amrabat also now fit and available to line up in the centre of midfield – and with weekend hero Bruno Fernandes capable of featuring on the right flank – it remains to be seen just where Mount would slot in, while there may also be concern at rushing him back too quickly following his recent absence.

There will also likely be a desire to avoid too many alterations in the hope of building on the narrow win over the Clarets, with Ten Hag having typically denied the temptation to rotate during his United tenure thus far.

That being said, while Mount may find himself watching on the bench – for the meantime at least – one tactical tweak that could be made is the introduction of teenage sensation, Alejandro Garnacho.

Will Garnacho start against Palace?

Previously described as a "game-changer" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the 19-year-old has routinely done much of his best work as a substitute during his time in the first-team to date, be it netting late on at Elland Road, or scoring at the death at Craven Cottage.

Hailed as "unstoppable" by pundit Darren Bent following that latter effort, Garnacho is clearly a talent who can impact games from the bench, having also come close to scoring the winner against Arsenal earlier this month.

There will come a time, however, when the Argentine international will have to prove himself ready to be a regular starter in the side, albeit with the major issue having been the fact that he is vying to feature in a left-wing berth – a role currently occupied by last season's 30-goal hero, Marcus Rashford.

Rashford has been a mainstay under Ten Hag over the past year or so, although it has been a mixed start to the campaign for the 25-year-old despite his fine effort away to the Gunners, having been described as 'erratic' by Luckhurst against Vincent Kompany's men.

Things seemingly don't appear to be clicking into gear for the Englishman at present, hence why shaking things up with the introduction of Garnacho could be a wise move, particularly amid this hectic fixture schedule.

Debut seasons at Manchester United (Stats via Transfermarkt)

Stats

Rashford (2015/16)

Garnacho (2022/23)*

Games (all comps)

18

34

Goals

8

5

League goals

5

3

Assists

2

5

(*Did feature briefly at end of 2021/22)

In a perfect world, supporters would likely love to see the £50k-per-week speedster on one flank and Rashford on the other, yet with both looking suited to the left, it could prove an intriguing battle over the weeks, months and years to come.

Cameroon, or the Indomitable Lions, are one of Africa's most successful national sides and have always brought a brilliant entertainment factor to the World Cup over the years.

Whether it's their five African Cup of Nations titles or that brilliant performance against the then-world champions Argentina in the 1990 World Cup, Cameroon are one of world football's greatest sides.

With that in mind, we here at Football FanCast have created a list of the country's ten greatest footballers.

10 Rigobert Song

Uncle to former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, Rigobert Song, kicks off our list. Song is an interesting name on this list as despite being immensely successful with Cameroon, making 137 appearances for the side, his club career was ultimately a little disappointing.

He started his career in 1994 at French side Metz, later moving to Liverpool in 1999, where, despite winning the UEFA Cup with the club, he failed to deliver and moved to West Ham after just a single season. Afterwards, he would spend time at FC Koln, Lens, Galatasaray, and Trabzonspor.

It was in Turkey where he would find most of his domestic success, winning two league titles and two Turkish cups.

However, he would shine for the national team, playing a vital role in both AFCON wins in 2000 and 2002. In fact, he remains fundamental to the national side as manager, a position he has held since 2022.

Under his stewardship, the team successfully completed their qualifying campaign for the Qatar World Cup.

9 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Now, the case for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is pretty much the exact opposite of Song's, where he has failed to win a trophy with the national team, he has more than made up for with his domestic success.

However, that's not to downplay his contribution to the Lions, as he has made 76 senior appearances for the side and scored 20 goals in the process, it's just that his club triumphs are the real reason he's on this list.

In total the Bayern Munich forward has won three German titles, one Club World Cup, one German Super Cup, two French titles, one French Cup, and one French League Cup. And he's almost certain to win more with how dominant Bayern look this year.

8 François Omam-Biyik

Francois Oman-Biyik is responsible for one of Cameroon's greatest-ever moments in international football, scoring the goal to give them that 1-0 win over Argentina, who were reigning world champions at the time.

He shouldn't be remembered for just that moment, however, as he also helped the country win only their second AFCON title in 1988 and is currently the team's fifth-highest goalscorer.

On the domestic scene, he only came away with one trophy, a League Cup for French side Lens, but he certainly deserves a spot on this list for his contributions to the national side.

7 Joseph-Antoine Bell

The first goalkeeper on our list – and not the last – is the legendary Joesph-Antoine Bell, sometimes known as Jojo Bell.

Bell, much like everyone on this list, had a remarkable career. He spent the first decade of his career playing in Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Egypt before securing a brilliant move to French giants Marseille, a club he would make over 100 appearances for.

The second decade of his career saw him remain in France, playing for Toulon, Bordeaux, and Saint-Etienne before he finally hung up his gloves in 1994 at age 30.

Despite the International Federation of Football History & Statistics naming Bell the African Goalkeeper of the Century for the 1900s, he often played second fiddle to his rival Thomas N'Kono.

He ended his career with two African Cups and an Egyptian Premier League to his name, failing to win a domestic trophy in Europe.

6 Patrick Mboma

Patrick Mboma is a player with a long list of clubs he represented in his playing days, ten to be exact – including three loan spells. He started his career with Paris Saint-Germain in 1992 before spending three years on loan at Chateauroux and Metz. Interestingly, he would then head to Japan to spend a season with Gamba Osaka before returning to Europe and spending a couple of years in Italy and England.

Mboma was clearly ahead of his time, as he opted to join Saudi side Al-Ittihad in 2002 – yes, Karim Benzema's current side – before heading back to Japan to retire in 2005. Through all of this travel, he would remain a near constant in the Cameroon national team between 1995-2004, making 57 appearances and scoring a seriously impressive 33 goals.

In terms of trophies, he ended his career with two French League Cups, one French Cup, one Italian Cup, an Olympic Gold Medal, two AFCON titles and one African Football of the Year award.

5 Thomas N’Kono

The second goalkeeper to make it onto the list, and just like his long-term rival Jojo Bell, he was one of the best to ever do it. His club career spanned three decades and saw him play in his home country, Spain for Espanol, and Bolivia.

He won 66 caps for the national team, playing in two world cups, 1982 and 1990, and making it into the squad for a third in 1994.

While he failed to win anything during his time in Europe, N'Kono still ended his career with several trophies and personal awards. He won the African Champions League in 1978 and 1980, African Player of the Year in 1982, the African Cup in 1984 and the Bolivian Championship in 1996 and 1997.

The IFFHS might've picked Bell over N'Kono, but for our money, the Espanol legend just about edges it against his old rival.

4 Lauren

A name loved in Islington and Portsmouth, Lauren was one of the Premier League's best defenders in the 2000s, spending seven years at Arsenal before moving to Portsmouth for two years in 2007.

His time in North London coincided with one of Arsenal's most decorated periods in recent memory. He won two league titles with the Gunners and was an ever-present figure in their invincible backline.

The former Mallorca man also picked up three FA Cups under Arsene Wenger before adding an unlikely fourth with Pompey under the guidance of Harry Redknapp.

Interestingly, it's his relationship with the Indomitable Lions that is a little bit more complicated.

Despite his glowing club career, Lauren would only represent Cameroon 25 times at senior level, retiring from international football in 2002 at just age 25. That said, his 25 caps coincided with the country's golden generation, and so he retired from the side with an Olympic gold medal and two AFCON titles under his belt.

3 Roger Milla

Kicking off the medal positions is none other than the instantly iconic Roger Milla. He was dubbed 'King of the Corner Flag' for his instantly recognisable dancing celebration from the 1990 World Cup.

While his celebration has continued to live on in the collective consciousness of football fans everywhere, we can't forget just how brilliant a footballer he was.

He began his career in 1967 with Cameroonian side Eclair de Douala, eventually making his way to Europe in 1977 to join French side Valenciennes. He spent the next 12 years in France, playing for massive sides like Monaco, Saint-Etienne and Montpellier.

He would retire with two African Cups, two French Cups and as a two-time winner of the African Football of the Year Award.

2 Geremi

Coming in at number two is the great Geremi Sorele Njitap Fotso, more commonly known as just Geremi. The versatile star was a key player for two supremely successful sides in the 2000s, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

He would make 76 appearances for Madrid between 1999 and 2003, scoring two goals, providing nine assists and, most importantly, winning two Champions Leagues and a league title. For Chelsea, he would make 109 appearances, winning two league titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup and a Community Shield.

Geremi's contributions to Cameroon's national team were also invaluable, making 119 senior appearances, winning two AFCON titles and an Olympic gold in 2000.

1 Samuel Eto’o

Well, come on, who else could possibly claim the top spot if it wasn't the generational talent that is Samuel Eto'o? Not only does the former Barcelona man stand out as the greatest footballer to ever come out of Cameroon, but he also has a genuine shout to being one of the greatest African footballers of all time.

His outstanding club career spanned over twenty years, starting in 1997 with Real Madrid and coming to an end in 2019 with Qatari side Qatar SC. Across those two decades, the Douala-born forward made 728 professional appearances, scored 364 goals, and provided 118 assists.

He ended his career with four Champions League trophies to his name, one with Real, two with Barça and one with Inter Milan. He also picked up eight domestic cups and four league titles and was named African Footballer of the Year on four occasions.

Eto'o wasn't a player who hid away on the international stage either, helping Cameroon claim two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002 and an Olympic medal in 2000. In all, he made 118 senior appearances for his nation and scored 56 goals. And if all of that wasn't enough, he became the President of the country's Football Federation in 2021, seemingly intent on further serving his nation.

Every one of the names on this list are footballing greats, but very few can match up to Samuel Eto'o, Cameroonian or otherwise.

And there you have it, Cameroon's top ten footballers of all time.

Martin Guptill’s 13th ODI century and Matt Henry’s four-wicket haul led the way as New Zealand endured a late attack from Pakistan’s lower order to seal the series

The Report by Danyal Rasool18-Jan-2018 by 15 runs
Getty ImagesAt five matches, this ODI series may have seemed excessively lengthy, but only because it appeared to have been one interminable match stretched out over a fortnight. It didn’t need five games for anyone to find out that Pakistan have serious trouble facing the new ball in conditions that New Zealand offers. But the home side hammered that point home ad nauseam, sealing it with a 15-run win that was more comprehensive than the scorecard suggests, and delivering just their second whitewash in a five-match series.The chase, as on every other occasion, was effectively over before it began. Matt Henry, coming in for the rested Trent Boult, made full use of his opportunity, taking three wickets in his first four overs. Fakhar Zaman was harassed, hit on the helmet, dropped and finally caught at extra cover. With no movement on offer, Henry bowled a steady off stump line, cleverly waiting for Pakistan’s batsmen to make their own mistakes. Ever the gentlemen, they didn’t keep him waiting long. Umar Amin and Babar Azam edged behind and Pakistan were reduced to 31 for 3. Azam may still average over 50, but his dismissal on Friday was an act of mercy, releasing him from a series in which he scored 31 runs at 6.20.Three wickets soon became five, thanks to a pair of sharp catches in the infield, and it was left to Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan to do the face-saving again. They showed the fight they have demonstrated whenever given the chance, putting on a century-partnership without ever really threatening a result. That wasn’t their fault – it merely illustrated the extent to which the top order has let the visitors down all series.Both fell after scoring half-centuries, looking to pick up the scoring rate to meet an ever-rising asking rate. Mohammad Nawaz and Aamer Yamin put on an entertaining little partnership that briefly called the result into question, riding their luck as Pakistan took the game to thepenultimate over. However, New Zealand had just enough runs, and had inflicted just enough damage at the top of the innings, to ensure their winning streak – now eight ODIs – remained intact.Earlier, a 112-run partnership between Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor guided New Zealand through the middle overs and steered them to 271 on a tricky surface. Guptill scored a hundred – the 13th of his ODI career – while Taylor recorded his 58th 50-plus score, surpassing the record for a New Zealand batsman. Run-scoring through the middle overs was harder work than it had seemed in the first ODI at the Basin Reserve, but that could at least partially be put down to a solid bowling performance by Pakistan, complemented by their best day in the field this series. A late implosion from New Zealand, combined by fabulous end-overs bowling, meant the innings fell away after flattering to deceive for most of the first 40 overs.For a series involving Pakistan, it was surprisingly predictable in some respects. To nobody’s surprise, New Zealand, batting first, set about taking advantage of the opening Powerplay. As usual, it was Colin Munro doing the early damage, complemented by the occasional destructively elegant shot from Guptill – a straight six off Rumman Raees the pick of the bunch. Yamin bore the brunt of the aggression but neither opening bowler was spared the heat as New Zealand brought up fifty inside six overs. Munro perished as he had thrived, top-edging Raees while looking to slog across the line, but the platform had been set. Kane Williamson and Guptill built on it, the early onslaught giving them the space and time to construct the partnership at their own pace. Pakistan began to come back into the contest, too, with Shadab and Nawaz bowling tight lines to choke the batsmen.It might have accounted for the second wicket. With the partnership on 49, the New Zealand captain lifted Yamin into the leg side, looking to clear deep midwicket. Amin took the catch to dismiss Williamson in the strangest of ways. Pakistan took control through the middle overs, the bowlers varying their pace and length adeptly as Taylor and Guptill struggled for timing. The ground fielding improved too, as New Zealand were starved of the singles they usually take for granted, and the run rate dipped below five at the 30-over mark. However, what Pakistan didn’t manage was more wickets, and with the duo getting their eye in, New Zealand were gearing up for a big finish.It didn’t quite materialise that way as they fell within a few overs of each other. Colin de Grandhomme couldn’t get going with the fluency withwhich he had devastated Pakistan in Hamilton. Other wickets fell as Pakistan began to strangle the New Zealand middle and lower order; Henry Nicholls was caught in the deep trying to get Raees away, while Faheem Ashraf got rid of Tom Latham as he attempted a scoop.The innings turned sloppy – Mitchell Santner was run out off the first ball he faced, and a total that had looked to push past 300 fizzled out.As it turned out, though, the ineptitude of Pakistan’s top order ensured they wouldn’t have to pay for their profligacy.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of new signings this summer, yet a fresh name has emerged that could set off a chain reaction…

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

Despite their success last season, Mikel Arteta has been ruthless in his efforts to progress his side further.

Granit Xhaka was an unfortunate casualty, whilst Thomas Partey's future remains up in the air as a number of Saudi Arabia clubs circle.

One move that would certainly put the final nail in the coffin of the Ghanaian midfielder is a swoop for Sofyan Amrabat, who the Independent's Miguel Delaney did note as a player that the Gunners have looked at this summer and could consider moving for alongside other Premier League clubs.

His acquisition would bring in a younger, more mobile model of the engine room enforcer who impressed last year, with a touted €40m (£34m) price tag more than surmountable for the free-spending north London outfit.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

However, the issue remains that they may have to sell before they can buy again, having already spent big on Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Whilst the 30-year-old enforcer played an important role in the success Arteta earned last campaign, it is clear that his sole focus remains on youth.

After all, with the relegation of Southampton, they now boast the outright youngest average squad in the Premier League, and yet nearly won the whole thing too. It bodes well for the future, of which Partey likely will not be a part of.

To swap his exploits out for Amrabat would see little decrease in quality, and yet gain four precious years given the Morocco international is just 26 years old.

Having shot to fame for his exploits at the recent World Cup, it is no surprise that many are clambering to tempt the powerful presence from Fiorentina. After all, he represents a fine metronomic presence in the midfield, capable of building play for his side and breaking up the opposition's play, which Luis Enrique praised:

"Achraf [Hakimi], En-Nesyri, Amrabat and Ziyech are extraordinary players."

As such, in Serie A last term, the La Viola machine posted 1.3 tackles per game, and when ranked against other midfielders in Europe he still sits in the top 5% for pass completion per 90 and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

He shines in the attributes that Partey would leave vacant should he depart, and that helped maintain his 7.11 average rating in the league last year. This was buoyed by his 88% pass accuracy, 0.8 key passes and 2.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Despite that, he was lambasted by pundit Darren Bent for his drop in form late in the campaign, leading him to suggest: "He can’t lace Rodri’s boots!"

To make matters worse, earlier in the year Rio Ferdinand had even argued that Casemiro offered more than the former Atletico Madrid ace.

Arteta will want the best in every position, and a malleable team he can bend to his will.

Perhaps Amrabat, with room for improvement on top of his already sprawling skillset, could finally offer viable competition to these Manchester midfield monsters and topple Manchester City's reign over English football.

Leeds United are “one of the clubs” in the race to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer this summer, and a reliable journalist has revealed when to expect developments on a potential move.

Where was Cameron Archer born?

Archer was originally born in Walsall and has been at Villa Park since his childhood days having graduated from the club’s academy to get promoted to the first team back in 2021, but having only ever made 13 senior appearances, he’s spent most of his career out on the road.

The England youth international has carried out three development loans since bursting onto the scene, the first at Solihull Moors, the second at Preston North End and the third and most recent being last season at Middlesbrough, and it sounds like he could now be heading for a permanent exit despite still having four years remaining on his contract.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that the Midlands outfit are “open” to selling the 21-year-old as a result of strong interest from the likes of Sheffield United and Michael Carrick’s side once again, but if the following update is to be believed, Daniel Farke has entered the race with the aim of bringing him to Elland Road.

Are Leeds signing Cameron Archer?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs delivered an update on Archer’s future at Aston Villa and name-checked Leeds as a team firmly in the running to secure his signature. He said:

“With Archer, what's interesting is that he's been made for sale now. So there is an opportunity to do that deal. He's had a couple of good loan spells in the Championship including with Middlesbrough and now, Aston Villa are willing to let him go. I think that he put himself in the shop window with I believe, a couple of goals and an assist at the under 21 Euros for England.

"He also scored plenty of goals, he got into double figures for Middlesbrough last season and I think that was only in about 20-odd appearances and he added several assists on top of that. So that can be one to watch because Aston Villa are now prepared to sell him. Leeds are one of the clubs no doubt Middlesbrough are another. So I would expect movement on Archer between now and the end of the window."

How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?

At Middlesbrough last season, Archer posted a remarkable 17 goal contributions (11 goals and six assists) in 23 appearances, with this form having seen him hailed “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Leeds.

Villa’s £20k-per-week earner also has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline so he would be a great option for Farke to have in the building, not only in terms of being able to cover for injuries in other roles but additionally if the boss ever wanted to switch up his team selection to have multiple top players out on the pitch together.

Furthermore, the centre-forward shares the same agent, Unique Sports Group, as Karl Darlow, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small advantage should they try to get a deal over the line.

The Whites have also been heavily linked with a swoop for Everton striker Tom Cannon, but with the need for attacking reinforcements strong, Archer could be following in the formerly mentioned player’s footsteps to walk through the doors as a pair before September 1st.

West Ham United appear to be closing in on a midfield replacement for Declan Rice, with their list of targets now reportedly whittled down to four.

Who are West Ham United signing?

According to transfer insider ExWHUEmployee, via Patreon, Conor Gallagher, Scott McTominay, Amadou Onana and Youssouf Fofana are the four men David Moyes has been running the rule over.

All four can bring different qualities to the London Stadium, but it is Onana who appears to be Moyes' top choice to replace Rice, having been constantly linked with the Irons over the past few months.

Indeed, the Belgium international came close to joining the Irons 12 months ago when a £33.5m agreement was reached with Lille, only for Premier League rivals Everton to get his signature first.

Transfer insider Alan Nixon has previously reported that it would take a bid of up to £50m to prise the 21-year-old away from Goodison Park this summer – a valuation West Ham could realistically match, given they will receive £105m through the sale of Rice to Arsenal

Is Amadou Onana a good option for West Ham?

West Ham's loss was very much Everton's gain last season as Onana took no time at all to settle into his new surroundings in the Premier League. The Senegal-born ace ranked in the top 7% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won per 90 (2.17), as per FBref.

Onana is also in the top 23% for tackles per 90 (2.60) and the top 26% for both interceptions per 90 (1.34) and clearances per 90 (1.41). For comparison, Rice is only among the top 45% for tackles (2.17), but he ranks higher than Onana for interceptions (top 5%) and clearances (top 17%).

While the two men have strengths and weaknesses in various areas, there is no doubt that Onana would be a good fit for West Ham, especially if it is alongside a more attack-minded player in a pivot.

Moyes certainly has a good record when it comes to nurturing Belgian players in the past, most notably Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj.

Moyes was Everton manager when Fellaini joined for a then-club record £15m from Standard Liege, before making him his first signing as Manchester United boss.

Fellaini was far more successful at Everton than he was at United, but even then he still did the job that was asked of him by Moyes at Old Trafford and lasted five-and-a-half seasons before heading to China, where he is still plying his trade now with Shandong Taishan.

Like Onana, he boasted that bullish midfield presence, acting as a nightmare for those on the opposition.

Januzaj is another example of Moyes getting the most out of a Belgian talent, given he was the manager who handed the youngster his senior United debut in August 2013 – the first of 63 appearances he made for the Red Devils, with his career never truly taking off – before reuniting at Sunderland.

Described as a "colossus" by Daily Mail reporter Dominic King, it may well be that Onana is the next Fellaini-esque player that shines under Moyes. Should that be the case, Rice's drawn-out transfer saga really will be a thing of the past.