Nottingham Forest are preparing for a busy conclusion of the transfer window, as Steve Cooper eyes final reinforcements to cement his squad for the battles ahead in the 2023/24 campaign.
The Tricky Trees welcomed their fifth arrival this week through Gonzalo Montiel, with the right-back signing on an initial season-long loan with the option to make the move permanent.
In what is a strong capture for the Reds, it seems as though the club are far from closing the book on the window, with more defensive targets circling around the media.
Who could Nottingham Forest sign this summer?
There is ongoing speculation regarding Forest’s interest in Galatasaray centre-back Victor Nelsson, with recent news suggesting that the 24-year-old titan is in the middle of a bidding war.
Reports in Turkey (as relayed by Sport Witness), Forest had an opening bid for the Denmark international rejected, and were told by the Super Lig champions to improve their offer, with it being in the region of €18m (£15m) and his release clause sitting at €25m (£21m).
The report claims that the Premier League side have improved their offer by €1m (£860k), with clarity on the situation not echoed.
It’s unknown whether the new bid will suffice, yet another target has emerged in the same position, with Sport Witness also relaying a report from Portugal that links Forest to Benfica defender Felipe Morato.
The report speculates that the Reds have made a €30m (£25m) offer for the centre-back, who has a €100m (£85m) release clause in his contract with the Eagles.
How good is Felipe Morato?
Considering that Forest are reported to have submitted two offers to Galatasaray in the hope to capture the signature of Nelsson, it would seem that the club are determined to bring him to the City Ground.
However, in Morato, Cooper could find himself chasing a colossus that could be the perfect alternative to the 24-year-old.
Having been described as being a “magnificent centre-back” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Brazilian is coming to be an assured member in the backline for Benfica, as he continues to integrate into the first team.
Benfica defender Morato.
As per FBref, the 22-year-old averaged an impressive 5.28 progressive passes per 90 last term, as well as making 1.28 tackles and winning 2.64 aerials per 90 during the Eagles’ league-winning Primeira Liga campaign.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the Brazilian showed his maturity and composure through his distribution, in which he averaged a stellar pass completion rate of 90.0% last season.
Once lauded as a “beast” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the youngster came out on top in comparison to other target Nelsson in some decimals, with the Galatasaray whiz averaging 0.8 tackles and maintaining a pass completion rate of 86%, via Sofascore.
Mango also hailed the Benfica starlet previously as being “one of the most well-rounded” young defenders, noting his abilities as a ball player and having the perfect fusion of “aggressiveness, intelligence and awareness” so early in his career.
While Nelsson has more experience in playing at senior level, in monitoring Morato, Cooper could have the choice between two potentially strong acquisitions at the City Ground, with both excelling at centre-back for their respective clubs.
West Ham supporters have been handed a big update on the future of manager David Moyes by talkSPORT presenter Jim White.
The Lowdown: Moyes pressure mounts…
Despite a 2-0 win over AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League Last 16 on Thursday, the pressure is still well and truly on Moyes with supporters very much still dissatisfied.
The Premier League strugglers spent £172 million since last summer and Moyes has arguably failed to get the very best out of his squad, even if the Scotsman has also had to deal with injuries.
West Ham have won just once in their last five league games as members of the fanbase grow worried over their top flight status.
The Latest: White shares big Moyes update…
Speaking to talkSPORT, via their live feed [March 9], there is now a feeling at West Ham that Moyes could carry on even if they’re relegated.
White explained:
“I’ve been speaking to someone of authority at West Ham.
“The feeling there, what is dominating their thoughts at this stage of the season is Premier League survival and winning the Europa Conference League. Those are their targets.
“There is also the feeling that even if West Ham go down, David Moyes would carry on.”
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-6/” title=”West Ham latest news” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
The Verdict: Bizarre…
The former Everton boss has undoubtedly built up plenty of credit in the bank, guiding West Ham to two successive campaigns in Europe and a famous Europa League semi-final run last year.
However, given the state of their standings, there is a very real argument that Moyes has taken the east Londoners as far as they can go now.
Perhaps a fresh face with new ideas is the best solution to really get the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca firing, yet according to this update, the board appear set to keep faith in their current boss.
Time will tell whether this is the right decision but it may be an unpopular one with some West Ham supporters.
Fulham are "ready to swoop" for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and believe a deal can be struck for him, according to reports in the last 48 hours.
Who will Fulham sign this summer?
Marco Silva's side, at long last, recently confirmed new signings ahead of the 2023/2024 season with Mexico international striker Raul Jimenez and centre-back Calvin Bassey joining the west Londoners.
Jimenez will help to fill the void by Aleksandar Mitrovic's potential departure, with the Serbian mooted to be chasing an exit regardless of whether his Saudi move goes through or not.
Meanwhile, Bassey joins Fulham with plenty of potential, having previously starred for Rangers in the SPFL and on their Europa League run in 21/22 – not to mention a brilliant campaign at Ajax last season.
Silva, after sealing these major moves, is certainly not done there according to recent rumours – with the likes of Everton's Demarai Gray, Fluminese's Andre and Man United midfielder Fred all linked in the past week.
Fulham enjoyed a fine campaign over 2022/2023, briefly contending for a European spot and securing a solid mid-table finish – all the while finishing above big-spending London rivals Chelsea.
Another player to have been repeatedly linked with a move to Craven Cottage is Hudson-Odoi, with reports suggesting he is likely to leave Chelsea this summer.
A report by Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke shares an update on their pursuit of the 22-year-old, and it's stated they are "ready to swoop" for him.
There is currently a difference in valuations delaying a full agreement between the clubs, but there is a belief a deal can be wrapped up for the forward.
While Serie A side Lazio and league rivals Nottingham Forest are believed to be keen on signing Hudson-Odoi, Fulham have a slight edge in the race, with the player apparently keen to remain in London.
The £180,000-per-week star is also "ready" to quit Chelsea, meaning it could be just a matter of time before one of the aforementioned clubs seal a deal for him, depending on developments.
How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?
On loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season, Hudson-Odoi struggled to make an impact, scoring just one goal and assisting one other in 21 total appearances.
However, the Englishman is still only young, and maybe a fresh opportunity away from Chelsea is exactly what is needed to reignite his career.
Chelsea legend and two-time manager Frank Lampard tipped him to be "huge" in 2019, going on to call him an "incredible player".
“I know what a player he is," said Lampard to the media.
"He can be an incredible player and he has improvement to make and I want to work with him to do it. But for that he needs to stay longer at the club and of course that then goes to a decision between him and the club itself. I can see him being a huge player for us.”
Meanwhile, members of the media like FourFourTwo writer Mark White have revered Hudson-Odoi for his "unbelievable vision" whilst calling Hudson-Odoi "special".
"Hudson-Odoi is special," said White in 2022.
"He can breeze past full-backs and has unbelievable vision. But what was mad about him from a young age was the sheer mentality. The confidence. The control. He exuded a vibe like nothing ever seen in English football."
Manchester United have seen a sizeable bid turned down for a prolific top-five European league striker this window, according to recent reports.
How good is Randal Kolo Muani?
Randal Kolo Muani is a distinctive attacking force who would've added another dimension to Manchester United's final third. In his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, Kolo Muani, who has previously been labelled as "explosive" by his former youth coach Yann Lecoq, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to becoming one of Europe's most prolific marksmen, registering 25 goals and 17 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Expectedly, he has started the new Bundesliga campaign in fine fettle, netting the opening goal in his current employers' 1-0 victory over Darmstadt in their first league fixture, as per Sofascore. The France international converted his goal from an xG of 0.91 and picked up a match rating of 7.2/10 for his exploits on the pitch for Eintracht Frankfurt.
According to FBRef, Kolo Muani ranks highly compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in successful take-ons and has managed around 2.24 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 96th percentile.
What happened with United's bid?
According to L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, via Sport Witness, Manchester United have had a bid in the region of €70 million plus bonuses (£60m) turned down for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani earlier this window.
Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are also looking to add to their star-studded squad and are keen to bring the France international to the nation's capital – they now hope to finalise his signature later this week.
As per L'Equipe, transcribed by The Mirror, Kolo Muani did not close the door on a move to Old Trafford and even confirmed his dream is to play for an elite-level club in an interview earlier this year, stating: "We talk about it a lot already, but I try to be focused on my club. We continue our performances and we will see this summer. Afterwards, I always dreamed of playing in big clubs. I thought I was going to need some time to adapt, maybe a year. But everything exploded. Either way, I’m ready for any challenge."
Foot Mercato claim that Paris Saint-Germain have agreed personal terms with the 24-year-old on a deal that would see him sign on for five years at the Parc des Princes. Tottenham Hotspur were reported to be keen on Kolo Muani earlier this summer, though their lack of Champions League football complicated any potential swoop, as per Sport Bild.
Manchester United now look to have found their solution to a long-standing striking problem in the form of Rasmus Hojlund, who joined the Premier League giants from Atalanta in a transfer worth £72 million, as per Sky Sports. Nevertheless, the Denmark international is currently out injured due to a back problem and it is unclear when he will come into contention to make his Red Devils debut, according to The Evening Standard.
Manchester United could've benefitted from having someone of Kolo Muani's unique abilities leading the line in 2023/24, though they will be excited to see how Hojlund settles in once his injury clears up.
Fulham and manager Marco Silva appear to be pursuing a late move for Arsenal defender Rob Holding as news emerges before deadline day.
Who will Fulham sign?
The west Londoners have undergone a fairly solid start to this new Premier League campaign, having sealed a win, draw and loss over their trio of opening league games.
Their most impressive results have come most recently, though, with Fulham sealing a dramatic late draw away to title contenders Arsenal courtesy of a last gasp equaliser from midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Fulham have also just knocked high-flying Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup second round, as Tete's decisive spot-kick sealed a penalty shoot out win and their place in the draw's third-round on Tuesday night.
There is clearly momentum to build upon with these results as Silva's side attempt to improve on last year's mid-table finish, and they have been tipped to be one of the busier clubs over these last few days of the transfer window
Indeed, having already sealed deals for Calvin Bassey, Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore and Timothy Castagne, Fulham are believed to also be chasing late deals for Sevilla striker Lucas Ocampos and Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi.
Speaking late last month, Silva highlighted the need for further additions, with former star striker Alexandar Mitrovic since joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
"Unfortunately, we need many still. We have some important players injured,” Silva said.
“I hope they can come sooner. We have just two full backs, we need a midfielder too and we have just two wingers so we need another two wingers."
According to a report this week, Fulham also want to bolster their central defensive ranks once more after the signing of Bassey, coming as Tosin Adarabioyo remains linked with a late exit.
Holding, who will be allowed to leave Arsenal amid "significant" interest across Europe, is one player being targeted by Fulham for this role.
This information comes courtesy of 90min, who claim that Fulham have already approached Arsenal over signing Holding in the form of an enquiry.
Arsenal defender Rob Holding.
As well as Fulham, clubs from La Liga, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.are also eyeing a late move before September 1, with Holding now entering the final year of his Arsenal deal which expires in 2024.
The Englishman's contract, though, contains an optional clause to extend it by a further 12 months.
How good is Rob Holding?
Holding has struggled to fight his way into Arteta's plans this season, with Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Ben White all ahead of him.
However, the 27-year-old has been praised for his influence and value behind-the-scenes. Journalist Charles Watts, speaking after Holding stepped in for the injured Saliba last term, called him a "very valuable" member of the dressing room.
"Clearly, people who were there [at the Emirates] said he played well," said Watts last season.
"And he's no Saliba, there's no doubt about it, but as a squad player, I think he's a very valuable, and really, really influential figure behind the scenes. Everyone loves him at Arsenal.”
Perhaps a second chance to assert himself on the pitch at Fulham is needed.
With Leeds United seeking to secure a swift return back to the top-flight, it has not quite been the start to the new Championship season that Daniel Farke would have been hoping for, with the Whites picking up just two wins from their opening six league games.
That being said, however, the Yorkshire giants did have to endure a turbulent summer which saw 15 players depart and nine new faces arrive at Elland Road, with the squad having been overhauled following last season's dismal relegation.
With the transfer window now at a close, the hope will be that Farke can begin to truly get to work with the aim of his steering his side toward the top end of the table, with the most recent 3-0 victory away to Millwall having illustrated the exciting potential that the German has at his disposal.
That classy away performance also proved another fine day for the club's record signing, Georginio Rutter, with the promising striker seemingly shaking of last season's woes after having made his mark at The Den in style.
Leeds forward Georginio Rutter.
With two goals from just five league appearances so far this term the young Frenchman is beginning to truly showcase his quality, although he will have to go someway if he is to reach the heights of the club's stellar centre-forwards of years gone by…
How good is Georginio Rutter?
Brought in for an eye-watering sum of £35.5m in January, the former Hoffenheim man initially looked like being a colossal waste of money for those at Elland Road, having failed to score in what was a deeply disappointing end to last season.
The 6 foot forward was described by Leeds Live's Beren Cross as being basically "a non-entity" during the defeat to Chelsea back in March, with Rutter unable to prove the difference-maker that was needed in the club's battle for survival.
Fast forward just a few months, however, and there are signs of life in the 21-year-old's Leeds career as his three goal contributions this term indicate, with the £70k-per-week hotshot having already struck up a promising partnership with summer signing Joel Piroe.
Quite whether the one-time Rennes man can maintain this impressive early season form remains to be seen, however, with Farke potentially wishing he had a more guaranteed supply of goals to lead the line this term.
Looking back into the past, Leeds have been blessed with some top-drawer strikers who certainly knew where the goal was, with now-retired ace, Mark Viduka seemingly one such talent who would have been ideal in the present day.
How much did Leeds pay for Mark Viduka?
The 6 foot 2 marksman had begun his career in his native Australia and in Croatia prior to joining Scottish giants Celtic in 1998, going on to score 28 goals in just 34 games across all fronts for the Old Firm outfit, after overcoming initial stress-related struggles at Parkhead.
That prolific introduction to life in Britain saw the Melbourne-born goal machine catch the eye of Leeds and then-boss David O'Leary in the summer of 2000, with the Whites preparing for a crack at the Champions League for the forthcoming campaign.
Having been impressed by the striker's displays north of the border, O'Leary and co opted to fork out a sizeable sum of around £7m in order to bring Viduka to England, with that ultimately proving money well spent as he quickly made his mark in his new surroundings.
How many goals did Mark Viduka score for Leeds?
It didn't exactly take long for Viduka to endear himself to the Leeds faithful as he hit 17 league goals during a stunning debut campaign, having also scored four times and contributed four assists as part of the club's surge to the Champions League semi-final.
That latter tally included a goal and an assist against La Liga giants Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, although that season is best remembered for the Aussie's four-goal haul against Liverpool in the 4-3 thriller in November 2000.
Such a complete performance showcased the full array of the striker's clinical and devastating talents, as he ultimately ended that 2000/01 season with 22 goals in 53 games in all competitions under O'Leary's watch.
Those heroics continued over the next few years as the imposing hitman ultimately scored 71 goals in only 165 games in all competitions prior to his departure for Middlesbrough in 2004, having hit double figures for league goals in each of his four seasons with the Whites – including a stellar haul of 20 top-flight goals in 2002/03 to help steer his side to safety.
Leeds United
165
71
Middlesbrough
101
42
Newcastle United
40
7
Celtic
34
28
Dinamo Zagreb
14
2
Stats via Transfermarkt
Unlike the aforementioned Rutter, the 39-cap international proved himself as a truly reliable goalscoring presence in England's top-flight, with such a dependable talent seemingly worth his wait in gold, both then and now.
How good was Mark Viduka?
As a figure who courted attention from the likes of AC Milan and Manchester United when in his pomp in Yorkshire, it is fair to say that Viduka was the type of striker that seemingly any side in Europe would wish to have their hands on.
That was the verdict of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, at least, with the ex-Red Devils skipper having said of his former rival's quality back in 2020: "My view on Viduka is that he could have played for any team in Europe at that time. I think he was one of the best forwards in Europe. He was capable of playing in a technical team, he could have played in a long ball team, he was capable of playing in any type of team."
Viduka's suitability to the modern era – as the hypothetical figurehead in Farke's side – was also noted by Neville, with the former England international going on to add: "I think [Viduka] would grace the Premier League today if he was playing, he was such a great player. Technically, he was brilliant. I always thought he was ahead of his time in terms of the way he played the game, he would have enjoyed it a lot more today than he would have done back then.”
With both the ability to find the back of the net and effectively hold the ball up to bring others into play, the 47-year-old was at times someone who you simply "couldn't stop" – as per pundit Jamie Carragher.
As such, for all the exciting promise that Rutter is beginning to demonstrate, Leeds are still arguably crying out for an 'unstoppable' striker of Viduka's ilk.
Leeds United have been handed a boost after learning that one of their players could feature for his country tonight despite an injury scare, according to a reliable journalist.
Leeds injury news
The Whites currently have Stuart Dallas on the sidelines with a longer-term injury as it stands, whereas Sam Byram who, despite being out with a hamstring problem, is expected to return to domestic action early next month so it won't be too long before he's back in contention.
On a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Djed Spence is another who has recently been in the treatment room and he remains a doubt ahead of Friday evening’s game vs Rotherham United in the Championship, but there has been some more positive news regarding another senior squad member.
During last Thursday’s 7-0 victory over San Marino, Wilfried Gnonto was forced off the pitch for Italy’s U21s whilst holding his thigh which will have caused initial concern among supporters because it looked like he had sustained a problem.
Daniel Farke’s left-winger first put pen to paper last summer from FC Zurich and he’s since gone on to make a total of 39 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Gnonto stats), and if the following update is to be believed, the 20-year-old luckily shouldn't have to wait long to make his 40th outing despite his scare.
Wilfried Gnonto available for Italy
Taking to X on Monday, Leeds reporter for The Yorkshire Evening Post, Joe Donnohue, stated that Gnonto has seemingly avoided a serious injury and could feature for Italy’s U21s vs Ireland this evening.
He wrote: “Understand Gnonto has remained with the Italy squad and could feature tomorrow night. Appears the 20 y/o has escaped any sort of significant damage and should be available for #LUFC this weekend, all being well.”
Leeds United forwardWilfried Gnonto.
Leeds handed huge boost over Gnonto
Whilst Gnonto has only started six games this season in the Championship (WhoScored – Gnonto stats), Leeds will know that he’s still capable of performing at a high standard, therefore, it will come as a massive boost for Farke to know that he hasn't suffered a serious injury.
The Verbania native has posted 10 goal contributions (five goals and the same number of assists) in 39 first-team appearances following his arrival, posing a threat to the opposition’s defence regardless of whether the end product isn’t always there.
The Elland Road outfit’s £20k-per-week earner (Leeds salaries), currently ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive carries (FBRef – Gnonto stats), highlighting his desire to push his team as high up the pitch as possible by using his pace to dribble past his marker.
Gnonto’s versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline and also in three roles in the midfield is another attribute that makes him a “nightmare” for defenders to deal with, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so the fact that he isn’t set for a spell on the sidelines is a big plus for the club in West Yorkshire.
It’s not been the summer that Wolverhampton Wanderers would’ve planned, with woes regarding Financial Fair Play (FFP) consuming all areas of the club.
After joining the Old Gold back in November, Julen Lopetegui worked wonders in his first season, taking over from Bruno Lage when Wolves were bottom of the table, and firing them to a 13th-place finish.
Following the tests and turnaround of the 2022/23 campaign, the Spaniard has been rumoured to be moving towards the exit door, as the Midlands side’s financial problems become more and more of a hindrance on progression.
Who could replace Lopetegui at Wolves?
As reported by talkSPORT this week, Fosun could seek help in the form of former AFC Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil, should Lopetegui decide to part ways.
The report claims that the Old Gold owners ‘will consider’ approaching the former Premier League boss in the instance of the Spaniard’s exit.
It would be a fast return for the Englishman, who was let go by the Cherries after keeping them safely in the top-flight at the end of last season.
Should Wolves hire Gary O’Neil?
Praised by Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodsgon for his “fantastic” efforts in keeping Bournemouth up in what was an “enormous job”, O’Neil could be the perfect candidate to take the reins from Lopetegui.
Thrown into action just after the commencement of the 2022/23 season, the 40-year-old was relieved of his role as a coach within the first team and pulled into the spotlight following Scott Parker’s dismissal.
In November, the former midfielder was appointed as head coach following his temporary appointment as interim manager, in a move that ultimately kept the Cherries fighting in the top-flight.
Bournemouth were three points above the relegation zone at the point of his crowning as permanent head coach, and luckily for those at the Vitality Stadium, the Englishman managed to keep the momentum going.
julen-lopetegui-wolves
O’Neil received an abundance of praise for his transformation of things on the pitch for the south coast side, chopping and changing between his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation to find the best shape for the side he had.
Finishing the season in 15th and five points clear of the chop, was a monumental achievement considering the club’s run-in, however at the end of the campaign the 40-year-old was shockingly dismissed.
Speaking following his exit, former Arsenal legend and pundit Martin Keown branded the decision as “brutal”, however in hindsight, it could be good news for Wolves.
Ending last term as the Premier League’s lowest scorers, things had to change this window, however with the club caught up in the midst of FFP concerns, it doesn’t seem as though things will change.
Club chairman Jeff Shi penned an open letter to fans to explain the struggles and to suggest that the transfer situation is not expected to change dramatically before the close of the window.
Lopetegui has spoken openly about how he is “worried” about the new season, leaving many doubtful about his commitment to staying at Molineux.
O’Neil could be the perfect man, considering how he utilised his squad at the Vitality, taking them six league matches unbeaten at the beginning of his tenure and visibility improving the side’s playing style, whilst also helping them beat the drop – something that the Midlands outfit seem destined to face themselves this term.
The Englishman’s thorough tactical approach and ability to not only keep Bournemouth up last season but to implement an attractive style of play, makes him a strong acquisition for Wolves to consider should Lopetegui exit.
Given his experience at a similar level within the Premier League to the Old Gold’s situation last term, his ability to succeed against the odds could turn fortunes around at Molineux.
An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans to bolster their defensive options before the end of the summer transfer window…
What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Villans are exploring a deal to sign left-back Nuno Tavares from fellow Premier League side Arsenal, as Unai Emery eyes a move for the defender.
The reporter has claimed that Nottingham Forest's swoop for his services has now collapsed, which has opened the door for another team to snap him up.
Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…
Romano also added that personal terms are yet to be agreed between Villa and the Portuguese full-back as it is up to the clubs to agree on a fee first.
It was recently reported that the Gunners would demand a fee within the region of a staggering £22m to sell him on a permanent basis this summer, amid interest from West Ham and Galatasaray.
How good is Nuno Tavares?
The 23-year-old dud's performances in recent years suggest that he would not be a very good option for Emery this season and that means that the club could land Lucas Digne 2.0 by signing him.
Villa signed the France international from Everton for £25m in January of last year and he struggled badly throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
The 30-year-old flop averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 across 28 Premier League appearances, which placed him 16th within the squad. This shows that he was far from being one of the club's top performers despite his big-money switch from Goodison Park.
He failed to provide a threat in possession from left-back as the season ended with one goal and zero assists for the former FC Barcelona defender, whilst his 0.6 key passes per outing was the seventh-best in the team.
Former Marseille loanee Nuno Tavares.
Emery could now sign Digne 2.0 in a move for Tavares as his poor form for Marseille is a huge cause for concern, particularly if it would cost £22m to secure his signature this summer.
The Portugal U21 international spent last season on loan in France and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 across 31 Ligue 1 appearances, which shows that he was as disappointing as the French dud was for the Villans.
Tavares was beaten far too easily by attackers as he was dribbled past 0.9 times per game and Alex Moreno (1.2) was the only Villa defender who was dribbled past more per match in the Premier League last term.
The ex-Benfica prospect also lost 58% of his duels and failed with 58% of his attempted dribbles, which shows that the opposition found it too easy to outmuscle him in physical contests and were able to stop him moving forward the majority of the time.
This also came after he averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 over 22 Premier League clashes for Arsenal during the 2021/22 campaign.
Tavares, who was described as "catastrophic" by Casa Sports director of development Cherif Sadio during his time at Marseille, also failed to register a single assist in Ligue 1, although he did rack up six goals from left-back.
Therefore, Emery must now avoid a deal to sign the Arsenal dud as his performances over the last two years suggest that it would be another expensive flop at left-back for the club.
For a brief moment it looked as if Manchester United had snatched victory at the death away to rivals Arsenal, as teenage starlet Alejandro Garnacho stepped off the bench to produce a simply clinical finish to quieten the home crowd.
Wearing the boots that his idol Cristiano Ronaldo had worn when terrorising the Gunners in that Champions League semi-final triumph in north London back in 2009, the 19-year-old appeared to have emulated his former teammate by stealing the headlines this time around, clinching what would have been a much-needed win for the Red Devils.
Alas, the tightest of offside calls ultimately cut the Argentine's celebrations short as Erik ten Hag and co were left to reflect on what might have been had Casemiro's pass been made a fraction earlier, or had the winger begun his run a split-second later.
Alejandro Garnacho
As it is, that composed finish counted for nothing in the end, albeit while having yet again illustrated to those at Old Trafford just what a talent they have on their hands, with the club having truly hit the jackpot when signing the Madrid native back in the summer of 2020.
How much did Man United pay for Alejandro Garnacho?
The teen superstar was snapped up during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time in charge just under three years ago, with the then-Atletico Madrid youngster arriving alongside two other Spanish talents in the form of Real Madrid's Alvaro Fernandez and Barcelona's Marc Jurado.
Among that trio of deals, the latter man is no longer on the books at the Theatre of Dreams after signing for Espanyol this summer on a permanent deal, with elegant left-back, Fernandez has been sent out on loan to Granada, despite the injury crisis involving Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
As for Garnacho, the wing wizard – who cost a measly £420k at the time – has already established himself as a prominent figure in Ten Hag's first team ranks, having chalked up 39 senior appearances since making his debut as a stoppage-time substitute at home to Chelsea back in April 2022.
It is fair to say that since making that move under Solskjaer's watch the forward's valuation has soared dramatically, with it hard to underestimate just what a bargain capture he was for the Red Devils.
What is Garnacho's market value?
Not only was 5 foot 11 gem signed alongside Fernandez and Jurado, but he was also part of a summer influx that included the acquisitions of both Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri, with the pair joining from Atalanta and Penarol, respectively.
In the case of Amad, the Ivorian gem – who didn't actually arrive in Manchester until January 2021 – has gone on to make just nine appearances for United following his £37m switch, with the 21-year-old currently valued at just €15m (£13m), according to CIES Football Observatory.
As for Pellistri, the diminutive winger was snapped up by Solskjaer and co from his native Uruguay on a £9m deal, although like the man above the 21-year-old's impact has also been rather limited, having been restricted to just 12 first-team outings over the past three years.
Goal vs Real Sociedad (Europa League – 03/11/2022)
Assist vs Aston Villa (Carabao Cup – 10/11/2022)
Assist vs Aston Villa (Carabao Cup – 10/11/2022)
Goal vs Fulham (Premier League – 13/11/2022)
Assist vs Bournemouth (Premier League – 03/01/2023)
Assist vs Everton (FA Cup – 06/01/2023)
Assist vs Manchester City (Premier League – 14/03/2023)
Goal vs Leeds United (Premier League – 12/02/2023)
Goal vs West Ham (FA Cup – 01/03/2023)
Goal vs Wolves (Premier League – 13/05/2023)
Stats via Transfermarkt
That has ensured that the Montevideo-born speedster is now worth as little as €5m (£4m), with those two rather costly deals having paled in comparison to the low-cost addition of the sparkling Garnacho, who is now said to be worth €50m (£43m) – as per CIES.
Such a stellar figure represents an increase of roughly 10,138% since his move from Atleti, with that signing seemingly one of the few astute transfer moves that United have made in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Why is Garnacho worth that much?
There may even be those of a United persuasion who believed that the £50k-per-week talent is worth even more than that £43m figure, particularly with the fleet-footed dynamo having only recently signed a new contract extension until the summer of 2028.
That bumper new deal had come amid reports that Real Madrid were sniffing around in the hope of prising the in-form ace from Old Trafford, with Los Blancos having previously captured Ronaldo from the club back in 2009.
Such interest in Garnacho's talents has emerged due to his apparent likeness to the Portuguese icon, having been described as being like a "young Cristiano" by treble winner Paul Scholes after being handed his full senior debut against FC Sheriff in the Europa League last season.
That competitive first-team bow had come after the player had shone in academy ranks during the 2021/22 campaign, notably firing the club to a first success in the FA Youth Cup since 2011, after scoring seven times and providing just three assists in just six games in the competition.
The two-cap international was particularly instrumental in the showpiece victory over Nottingham Forest after scoring twice on the day in front of a record-breaking home crowd, having proved just why he is seemingly a man for the big occasion.
How many goals has Garnacho scored for Man United?
Described as a "full-back's nightmare" by MUTV pundit Febian Brandy, Garnacho soon kicked on from that FA Youth Cup success despite enjoying little involvement during last season's pre-season tour, having been punished by Ten Hag for being late to team meetings.
A stunning winner at the death in the EFL Trophy win over Barrow early last season seemingly illustrated that the dynamic menace was destined for a more a prominent role in the first-team, with that chance soon coming against the aforementioned Sheriff.
The teenager truly announced his arrival to the wider world just prior to the World Cup break back in November, however, having clinched victory for Ten Hag's side in added time away to Fulham, latching onto Christian Eriksen's threaded pass before calmly slotting home
That eye-catching burst and finish remains one of just five goals that Garnacho has scored to date, albeit with those efforts notably including a late winner in the FA Cup against West Ham United, as well as away to bitter rivals Leeds United at Elland Road.
The emerging Red Devils poster boy also provided the assist for Marcus Rashford's clincher in the Manchester derby victory back in January and he currently has five assists in total from his 39 outings so far, indicating just what a weapon he can be from the flanks.
Of course, the next step is for Garnacho to establish himself as regular fixture in the starting XI, although it would be no surprise if that promotion was to occur sooner rather than later, thus helping to bolster his already sizeable market value.