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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing up a wildcard option to potentially replace in-demand talisman, Harry Kane this summer, amid reports that the Lilywhites are showing an interest in Flamengo striker, Pedro.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

With under a year left to run on his current contract in north London, Kane is still facing an uncertain future at the club with the new Premier League season just a few weeks away, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich among those particularly keen to prise the 29-year-old from N17.

If the England skipper is to secure an exit in the near future, the Independent's Miguel Delaney has revealed that Ange Postecoglou's side are 'considering a move' for Pedro, with the 26-year-old among a 'range of options' on the club's radar.

The piece notes that the notion of Kane leaving is now seeing as 'more realistic', hence looking to figures like the Brazilian – who reportedly has an £87m release clause in his contract – in an attempt to try and build a new-look attack moving forward.

Who will replace Kane at Tottenham?

As Delaney suggested, Daniel Levy and co are believed view it as 'virtually impossible' to replace their record goalscorer such has been his impact over the last decade or so, hence trying to implement a more 'fluid' forward line in Postecoglou's image.

There may be those already at the club who would be hoping to emerge as the new attacking figurehead if Kane was to depart, with last summer's £60m signing, Richarlison perhaps a prime candidate having regularly been utilised as a central striker for Brazil – for whom he has 20 goals in just 44 games.

That being said, however, the former Everton man endured a wretched debut season in the capital after netting just a solitary Premier League goal last term, having hardly proven that he can be a reliable goalscoring presence through the middle.

While pre-season is not often a fair gauge of a player's talents, the 26-year-old doesn't look to have turned a new leaf if the recent defeat to West Ham United is anything to go by, as he once again 'lacked composure in front of goal', according to 90min's Sean Walsh.

As such, the signing of his compatriot, Pedro, could then prove terrible news with regard to Richarlison's hopes of being the man to replace Kane, with the Flamengo marksman having proven far more prolific of late after netting 26 goals in just 35 outings in the current campaign.

Lauded as an "excellent finisher" by South American football expert, Tim Vickery, the 6 foot 1 hotshot boasts a standout tally of 93 goals in just 190 games in all competitions for his current side, having previously bagged 20 goals in just 58 games for Fluminense – for whom Richarlison scored 11 times in 46 games in the early stages of his career.

A truly clinical threat in the final third, Pedro notably ranks in the top 1% among his peers in the Men's next eight competitions for non-penalty goals – at an average of 0.88 per 90 – while the current Tottenham man has an average of just 0.20 per 90 for the same metric.

While it would represent something of a rogue choice if Postecoglou and Levy were to settle on Pedro as Kane's heir – with the six-cap hitman making just four appearances for Fiorentina in his only previous European adventure – it looks as if the Rio native has the finishing prowess needed to be able to thrive in north London, something Richarlison is yet to do.

Ricardo Pepi has revealed why he picked the USMNT over Mexico at senior international level after being offered opportunities by both nations.

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El Paso native boasts dual nationalityKept his options open as a teenagerNow committed to the U.S. causeWHAT HAPPENED?

The talented striker, who is now playing his club football at Eredivisie giants PSV, attended training camps for the United States and Mexico at U17 level. His potential was clear for all to see, with an MLS debut for FC Dallas taken in at just 16 years of age.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

El Paso native Pepi continued to be courted by the U.S. and El Tri before eventually choosing to represent the country of his birth – with a senior debut for the USMNT taken in against Honduras on September 8, 2021.

WHAT PEPI SAID

Explaining why he sided with the United States, Pepi has told the podcast: “It was always a difficult decision growing up, having to go with the U.S. national team or the Mexican. It was always a decision that I knew someday I was going to have to take. It was something that I always had in my head. I was always thinking about it. Then came both national teams when it was time to make that decision. I talked to my parents and was like ‘what do you guys think?’ They were like ‘no matter what team you pick, we’ll be with you and will support you 100 per cent. The day you pick the U.S. we are going to take off the Mexican jerseys and put on the USA one, or the day you pick the Mexico national team we are going to get the Mexican national team jersey and leave the USA one behind’. It was something that I was thinking about the opportunities that both national teams gave me and the path they had for me. It was just easy to be able to decide. The U.S. wanted me to join them in the World Cup qualifiers, which is something that is a big deal – qualifying for the World Cup. It’s a unique opportunity, being at a World Cup, and something that I didn’t even have to think about because Mexico wanted me to play for the U20s and eventually make my way up to the first team. I was like ‘I’m past that’, so eventually the U.S. gave me the better opportunities so it was easy to decide where I wanted to go.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR PEPI?

Pepi, who is now playing Champions League football after completing a transfer to PSV in the summer of 2023, is up to 22 caps for the USMNT. He was left out of their 2022 World Cup squad, but does have 10 international goals to his name and will be hoping to figure prominently in CONCACAF Nations League and Copa America campaigns during 2024.

Manchester United have put a poor start to the season behind them as they have won successive matches for the first time, defeating Burnley and Crystal Palace and this should give them confidence.

Erik ten Hag would’ve hoped his side were going to kick on from a positive maiden term in Manchester for the Dutchman, yet it hasn’t quite gone to plan.

His summer arrivals haven’t really hit the ground running while a series of injury problems has left United short in key areas, most notably the defence and attack.

This has led the former Ajax boss to utilise the services of several youngsters in his first team so far, as Alejandro Garnacho, Hannibal Mejbri and Facundo Pellistri all stepping up when it matters most and giving Ten Hag something to think about.

The Old Trafford side are of course, famous for believing in young talent since the days of Sir Matt Busby and a plethora of academy graduates have played a key role in United’s success over the years.

Marcus Rashford has arguably been one of the finest players to emerge from the youth ranks in the previous decade as he has established himself as one of United’s best players and the Red Devils have certainly struck gold on him, especially considering his market value.

When did Marcus Rashford make his Manchester United debut?

During Louis Van Gaal’s final season in 2015/16, United dropped from the Champions League into the Europa League and headed into their second leg tie against FC Midtjylland trailing 2-1 from the first leg.

Due to various injuries, the Dutchman gave Rashford his first start for the club and he went on to score twice as the Red Devils won 5-1 on the night, and it was certainly the catalyst which sent the youngster on his way to stardom.

Indeed, just three days later, he netted a double on his Premier League debut against Arsenal to secure a 3-2 win, and it was looking like the teenager was going to be a regular fixture until the end of that season.

These performances laid the foundations for the career the Englishman has gone on to have, while his value has since skyrocketed following his embryonic stages at the club.

What is Marcus Rashford’s market value now?

Having cost United nothing due to working his way through the youth ranks, the winger is now currently valued at €62.3m (£54m) according to Football Transfers and this represents a stunning rise over the previous few years.

His value actually peaked at €82.7m (£71.5m) back in November 2021, yet if he continues to showcase the form which has turned him into one of United’s main goal scoring outlets since Ten Hag arrived, his value could return to this figure, or even surpass it.

The Dutchman won't be looking to sell him anytime soon, yet if the player wanted a move away from Old Trafford, they would stand to rake in a momentous profit on the 25-year-old as he looks to be heading into the prime years of his career.

Why is Marcus Rashford worth this much?

Although the 5 foot 10 sensation enjoyed a breakthrough first few months in 2016, it took him a few years to finally remain consistent enough in order to score ten or more Premier League goals during a single season.

This came during the 2018/19 campaign, scoring 17 goals across all competitions, and it was clear that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who took charge midway through that term – had a player he could trust to score 15 or more goals every season.

Returns of 22 and 21 efforts over the next two seasons indicated that Rashford was becoming the main man at the Red Devils, yet his form dipped during 2021/22, scoring only five times all season which saw the Norwegian sacked as the manager.

With a new era set to begin following the appointment of Ten Hag ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it represented a fresh start for the 25-year-old, and it was one that he relished.

Across a total of 56 matches, Rashford scored 30 goals and grabbed a further 11 assists and this was his best total in a single season since he broke onto the scene at the back end of the 2015/16 campaign.

He ranked first across the United squad in the league for goals and assists (22), while also finishing top of the pile for shots on target per game (1.4) and successful dribbles per game (1.5) as he was arguably the star of the season for Ten Hag.

When compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Rashford’s performances ranked him in the top 1% for total shots per 90 (3.84), the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.53) and the top 9% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (6.39) which is further proof that he is one of the finest forwards on the continent.

Although he has only scored once and registered two assists in seven games this term, he has been hailed for his performances, with analyst Statman Dave dubbing him “electric” due to his impressive first-half performance against Brighton and Hove Albion a few weeks ago.

If Ten Hag wants his reign at United to be a success, keep Rashford motivated will surely be his main task and this includes keeping him fit and happy while deploying him on his favoured position – the left wing.

Throughout his career, he has played 182 matches on the left wing, contributing 62 goals and 41 assists during those ties, and it is imperative that he continues to get utilised in this role.

The Old Trafford side have hit the jackpot on the talented winger, there’s no doubt about that and his rise from rough diamond into one of the best performers in the top flight suggest that there is hope for the majority of young players who are trying to emerge from the United academy.

Rashford is a beacon of hope for many people, both inside and outside the club and his value rising to stratospheric levels indicate that the club are still doing some things correctly.

Manchester United have been linked with a surprise move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, with the defender impressing Old Trafford scouts last season.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have been productive so far this summer despite the ongoing takeover saga involving the Glazers in the background.

Big-money moves for midfielder Mason Mount and goalkeeper Andre Onana have been finalised, whereas centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund looks set to be the next to arrive.

United submitted a player-plus-cash offer last month, however, Atalanta have been holding out for a cash-only deal, with a package worth around €70m now agreed between the two clubs.

Hojlund has already agreed on a five-year deal in Manchester and is travelling on Tuesday to undergo a medical and finalise a transfer.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

After the Denmark international, it appears as if another new midfielder could be on the cards for United and Ten Hag in Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat. The 26-year-old is into the final 12 months of his contract with the Serie A side, and reports have claimed that a £26m deal is close.

Should Hojlund and Amrabat complete deals for the fees mentioned, United’s summer spend would be pushing £200m, however, it may not be the end of the club’s business.

The Daily Mail shared a transfer round-up on Monday and looked at potential defensive additions at Old Trafford. They name-checked Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo as an option but said Branthwaite is a surprise name on the Old Trafford radar.

“Everton's left-sided centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who impressed scouts while on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, is a surprise name that has been floated.”

Who is Jarrad Branthwaite?

Branthwaite is 21 years of age and is a left-footed centre-back who appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €10m Transfermarkt valuation. He made the move to Everton back in 2020 from Carlisle United and has made 13 senior appearances for the Toffees, scoring once.

During his time on Merseyside, Branthwaite has been sent out on loan to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship and was with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven last season, turning out on 36 occasions.

The defender has been hailed as a ‘terrific footballer’ by his former Carlisle United manager Steven Pressley, who believes he will go on to play for England.

“I told people he was a future England international. Not once from when I gave him his debut did I ever consider leaving him out again, because I felt his performances had been so strong.

“And If he continues to develop, then, without doubt, he can be an England player.”

The Red Devils could well be in the market for a new centre-back before the window closes, should someone like Harry Maguire leave amid interest from West Ham.

Branthwaite may not be viewed as an immediate starter at Old Trafford, but over time, he may go from strength to strength and eventually replace one of United’s senior defenders, and by the looks of things, a transfer could be one to keep an eye on.

Kylian Mbappe's comments on his future after Paris Saint-Germain's Trophee des Champions triumph has reportedly left Real Madrid frustrated.

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Real Madrid unhappy with Mbappe's commentsHave set a deadline for the playerLiverpool in race to sign the French star WHAT HAPPENED?

After guiding PSG to Trophee des Champions triumph on Wednesday, the French star claimed that he is yet to decide on his future and that he has an agreement with the Ligue 1 champions. The post-match comments have reportedly angered Real Madrid, who have set a deadline of mid-January for Mbappe to take a final call on if he wants to move to the Spanish capital in the summer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Journalist Josep Pedrerol, while speaking on (via ), said: "Real Madrid are not amused by Mbappe’s words. They do not want to get into a season-long drama, and it appears Mbappe does."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 25-year-old attacker has entered the final six months of his contract with PSG, meaning he is free to negotiate terms with clubs outside of Ligue 1, with no extension clause being activated as yet. Other than Los Blancos, Liverpool have also emerged as possible candidates to sign the Frenchman.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

It remains to be seen whether the World Cup-winning French star will hold talks with Real Madrid in the next few weeks and finalise his much-anticipated move to Spain. On the pitch, he could next be seen in action for Luis Enrique's side on Sunday as they take on Revel in the French Cup.

Last year, Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) cricketers dropped just one game in winning the President’s Trophy. In 2005, with one match in the preliminary round of the new KFC Cup in Barbados left to go today-against Guyana-the celebrated “Cinderella Kids” of

Garth Wattley09-Oct-2005

T&T coach gives clean chit to Daren Ganga, the captain © Getty Images
Last year, Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) cricketers dropped just one game in winning the President’s Trophy. In 2005, with one match in the preliminary round of the new KFC Cup in Barbados left to go today – against Guyana – the celebrated “Cinderella Kids” of 2004 have lost their title and are still looking for their first win of the tournament.The reason?”Mentally we just broke down,” team coach David Williams said yesterday.The ability to fight out of tight spots, especially when chasing targets, was strength of the 2004 squad. But in this tournament, T&T have been beaten by 14, 41 and two runs in the three matches in which they have batted second thus far. Friday’s six-wicket defeat to fellow strugglers Jamaica in a rain-affected 20-over affair was the only match where T&T had to set a target.Asked about the repeated failures, Williams isolated the area of “mental breakdown”.”It boils down basically to our batting. Mentally, we haven’t batted well at all. That contributed to most of the games that we lost. The bowlers have been doing a tremendous job. The wickets are very, very good here in Barbados. Ideal batting strips. For some reason, the batters can’t seem to get it right.”The current squad contains Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon and Lendl Simmons, players with West Indies experience who all missed the tournament last year won by a team given very little chance. And Williams yesterday conceded that many key men did not live up to expectations.”We have a lot of senior guys, guys who we expected to have got the job done,” the coach began. “We probably expected a bit more from Dwayne Bravo and Dillon. We probably expected more from both of them. I think Bravo could have done a bit better with the bat.”And Williams refused to blame the successive reversals on either a poor team spirit or the leadership of Daren Ganga. “I don’t think the team spirit was bad, we just didn’t click at the right time. Ganga has done his best. The captain can only do so much. The captaincy was decent. We had no problem with Daren.”The coach also declined to blame poor preparation for the results. “When we left Trinidad, I honestly felt the preparation was decent,” although he added, “More could have been done in terms of more practice matches. I don’t think the effort to give us more knocks was 100 per cent. But that is not an excuse.”The one other plea Williams did make, though, was for the more regular use of a psychologist in the preparation of future teams. “I think we need to get in a psychologist to help with the mental development of the players.” That is a recommendation Williams said he would make to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB). But for the moment, he is hoping his charges can lift themselves against the Final Four-bound Guyanese in an effort to avoid an embarrassing fifth defeat.”I don’t think this has ever happened,” Williams said. “They (the players) don’t remember a situation like that in the history of Trinidad and Tobago cricket. We are hoping we can pull this one off.”

Chelsea are planning a sensational midfield overhaul that could escalate their spending to unparalleled heights.

The Blues look set to resist Liverpool’s outlandish attempt to hijack their Moises Caicedo deal as they prepare to break the record Premier League transfer fee for the South American.

Furthermore, these clubs are also battling it out for Romeo Lavia’s signature.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Chelsea?

According to Sky Sports News, Chelsea are ‘close’ to an agreement with Southampton over signing Lavia, but Liverpool retains a strong interest in the youngster.

The 2021 Champions League winners remain in direct contact with the Saints, who are holding firm with their £50m valuation.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

Chelsea submitted a £48m bid earlier this week, while Liverpool have had three separate offers – the latest of which was £45m – all rejected.

This outlet also revealed that the West Londoners are looking to welcome two midfielders in this window, and they feel that landing Lavia and Caicedo is a real possibility.

Why would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

Although the Belgian has only played on 29 occasions in the Premier League, he has swiftly established himself as one of Europe’s most attractive and sought-after assets.

Last season, Lavia, who was described as “tremendous” by Rio Ferdinand, averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 84% pass accuracy in the opposition half in domestic football as per Sofascore – scoring higher than Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher for the aforementioned metrics.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a quick rise to prominence with Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht’s head of Academy, eulogizing over Lavia’s composure and bright future, saying: “His best position is as a low playmaker because he can deliver passes.

“He’s always calm on the ball. You can give him it under pressure and he will solve the problem. He is going to have a brilliant career.”

Paul Scholes has followed up this praise, feeling that Lavia is someone with “so much potential.”

A player of this calibre and defensive acumen could be a pivotal figure in aiding Reece James to recapture his best form at Stamford Bridge.

The last two seasons have been difficult for the right-back – he has missed 45 games through various injuries that have massively disrupted his rhythm and consistency.

Last campaign, Chelsea failed to win in any of his final eight outings in the Premier League, and he mustered just four goal contributions in all competitions.

Nevertheless, he is one of the world’s most effective full-backs, and as the club’s new captain, he will be an imperative figure in any Chelsea revival.

James will be looking to emulate and surpass Trent Alexander Arnold’s influence. The £180k-per-week man also endured a tricky campaign, as Liverpool unexpectedly dropped out of the top four, but he still managed to hit double-digits for assists.

Both players have built formidable reputations for their awe-inspiring technical ability. Interestingly, over the past 365 days, James comfortably outranks Alexander-Arnold for progressive carries per 90 (3.51 vs 1.41), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.8 vs 0.91). Then, the latter narrowly outperforms the former Wigan Athletic loanee for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.46 vs 3.88), and progressive passes per 90 (6.29 vs 7.31).

In summary, these figures mean that James sits within the best 10% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics. To still possess these numbers whilst going through the toughest period in your career is a testament to his quality, which could reach even more frightening heights with Lavia’s addition.

Fifties from three India A batsmen and impressive returns from Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped the hosts claim the five-match series with one match yet to be played

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2017
ScorecardGeorge Worker scored his 11th List A hundred•AFPSeven wickets between Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped India A clinch the series with a 64-run win over New Zealand A, despite a century from opener George Worker. Propelled by three half-centuries, India A scored 289 for 6 and dismissed the visitors for 225 to take a 2-0 lead with one match to go in the five-match series.Left-arm spinner Nadeem scythed through the New Zealand A line-up with returns of 4 for 33 off his 9.1, assisted by a handy three-for from Kaul, skittling the opposition inside 46 overs. A 113-ball 108 from Worker proved insufficient as lack of support from the rest of the line-up yielded a second-highest score of 37. Having lost their top three inside 15 overs for only 50 runs, the major part of the resistance came in the form of a 74-run fourth-wicket stand between captain Henry Nicholls and Worker, who added another 63 for the fifth wicket with Tom Blundell (31).Kaul, who triggered the slide with the top-order wickets of Glenn Philips and Will Young, also took out Blundell to finish with 3 for 25 from seven overs. Nadeem, on the other hand, accounted for Nicholls in the 25th over before removing Colin de Grandhomme and Worker in consecutive overs, leaving New Zealand A on 217 for 7.India A’s decision to bat found validation as opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, playing his first match of the tour, scored his seventh List A half-century en route to a 104-ball 83. He peppered seven fours in his knock, anchoring two 50-plus stands, with Ankit Bawne (39) and Deepak Hooda (59), for the second and fourth wickets respectively.While Easwaran’s opening partner Prashant Chopra and captain Rishabh Pant fell cheaply, Bawne and Hooda’s contributions helped the side past the 200-run mark. Hooda hammered five fours and two sixes and found able support in No. 6 Vijay Shankar, who put on 45 runs for the sixth wicket and 55 for the seventh with a 33-ball 61. His knock featured five sixes and four fours, setting up a competitive total, as Scott Kuggeleijn (2 for 37) finished with the best figures for the visitors.

He has bowled 334.5 overs across formats in 2017, playing all four of Australia’s most recent Tests and acting head coach David Saker was not averse to the possibility of rotating him out of the XI during the limited-overs series in India

Daniel Brettig14-Sep-2017In 2013, Australia played India in an ODI series before a home Ashes encounter – same again in 2017. In 2013, Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann skipped the tour in order to prepare for the England challenge – same again in 2017. In 2013, Mitchell Johnson played a key role as the ODI spearhead before flying home early to prepare for England – Pat Cummins is in that boat in 2017.Further strengthening the case for Cummins to be spared from full duty in India is the fact that both Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are currently recovering from injury in the hope that they will be fit to take part in a trio of Sheffield Shield matches that prelude the Ashes. Given his high pace and steep bounce, Cummins stands some chance of having the sort of impact Johnson did four years ago, provided he is well looked after. He has bowled 334.5 overs across formats in 2017, playing all four of Australia’s most recent Tests, and the IPL as well.David Saker, the assistant coach responsible for the pacemen who is deputising for Lehmann in India, did not shy away from the prospect of Cummins being rested at some point during the limited-overs series due to begin on September 17.”At this stage we’re planning for him to play all the games,” Saker said. “We’ll look at [resting him], it’s obviously been brought up between all of us. We know that his workloads are up there, but we know it’s an important series. It’s Australia v India, you don’t get any bigger than that. He’s really determined to play well over here. It’ll be game-by-game basis, we’ll play it by ear.”In discussing Hazlewood and Starc, Saker revealed there was uncertainty about exactly when the pair would be ready to play for New South Wales, with the former recuperating from a side strain while the latter is in the final stages of his own recovery from a foot problem that reared its head during the India Tests earlier this year.”We’re hoping they’ll be ready before the first Shield game or second Shield game and that will give them good preparation,” Saker said. “We’ve probably got a bit of a blessing that we’ve got three Shield games before the first Test of the Ashes and it’s probably as good a build-up as you’d want for an Ashes.”So in that sense as long as they’re ready to go by the first Test in Brisbane [on November 23] and ready to play and perform, I’ll be really happy. This time last year, we were in South Africa and it was the same thing, Hazlewood and Starc were rested for that tour. And they got through a really heavy workload in the summer, got through all the Tests. It’s not such a bad thing that they’re not here, as long as they’re ready to go for that first Test in Brisbane.”The bowlers subbing in during the ODI series in India are Nathan Coulter-Nile – himself an unused Ashes squad member in 2013-14 – and Kane Richardson. Other pace bowling options are provided by the allrounders James Faulkner and Marcus Stoinis, who are among the players in contention to occupy the No. 6 spot in the batting order during the Ashes.

Aston Villa have had an impressive summer of transfer movements, however nothing could’ve prepared Unai Emery for the misfortune set to hit the club at the start of the league campaign.

An opening day 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United was the least of the Spaniard’s problems, as both Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings suffered extensive knee injuries that will leave the pair away from the action for the foreseeable future.

The Villans must now look for further reinforcements following the double injury blow, with one target expected to be close to joining the club according to the latest update.

Who could Aston Villa sign to solve injury woes?

As widely speculated, the Midlands club are closing in on their fourth summer signing, with Galatasaray forward Nicolo Zaniolo set to be unveiled as a Villan in the coming days.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

As reported by the Daily Mail, the Italian will sign on an initial £3m loan deal at Villa Park, with an option to buy included, which is said to be in the region of £19m.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano speculated that the 24-year-old will undergo a medical on Wednesday with personal terms already agreed between club and player.

Is Nicolo Zaniolo the right move for Villa?

Once hailed as a “lethal playmaker” by journalist Zach Lowy, Zaniolo could be an exciting new addition to the squad constructed by Emery.

Deployable as both an attacking midfielder and on the right flank, the skilful Italian made the move from his homeland to join Galatasaray in February, signing from Roma.

After just six months with the Lions, the 24-year-old is set to be on the move again, with Villa knocking on his door, but in such a short period of time, Zaniolo made quite the impact in Turkey.

In 10 Super Lig appearances, the Fiorentina youth product netted five goals, to showcase just how prolific he can be in the final third, posing a strong option for Emery to consider replacing the injured Buendia.

Positionally, the Italy international seems the perfect fit to fill the void left by the Argentine, however, there is far more to be considered than his on-field ability.

In fact, Emery could be in for a nightmare, with Villa obtaining a player full of potential, but cursed by recurrent injury throughout his still developing career and described as “injury-prone” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.

With Mings and Buendia out with worrying knee injuries, there are not many players that would understand the pain and misfortune of suffering extended periods on the sidelines than Zaniolo.

The 24-year-old has missed more days in his career due to injury than he has made domestic appearances, being absent for a recorded 575 days throughout his career so far, compared to his 226 match appearances.

Like the player he will be fielded to replace, the Italian missed a hugely significant period of his development to two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, both agonisingly coming in 2020.

While his talent is attractive, Emery could be leading Villa towards another injury nightmare by signing Zaniolo, who is currently out of action and nursing a groin strain.

With the season only just underway, the club must avoid further injuries, especially European football incoming and league and cup fixtures set to come thick and fast, with the pending arrival sadly posing to be a huge risk of absence.