More than half a million viewers tuned in to watch the third women’s Ashes ODI on television, in the strongest sign yet of what Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland has called the game’s “single most significant growth opportunity”.The audience for the third ODI, won by England at Coffs Harbour on Sunday October 29, peaked at a national audience of 512,568 on the Nine network’s main channel during the afternoon session, with an average of 312,787, after programmers chose to move the match from the digital channel 9Gem, where the first match of the series attracted a peak afternoon audience of 281,394.In a telling reminder of the importance of free-to-air deals to expand cricket’s audience, the peak figure was greater than the 467,000 viewers recorded nationally across Britain for Sky’s coverage of the final day of the first men’s Ashes Test in Cardiff in 2015.At the same time, it provided further evidence for CA to press ahead with plans to make October a month for standalone women’s fixtures, such as the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in 2020 and also the Women’s Big Bash League, which is under consideration for movement to a separate time slot from the men’s tournament that takes place in December and January.”Cricket is an incredibly popular sport – but the sports and entertainment market is extremely competitive and changing all the time. To ensure cricket’s sustainable future as a mainstream sport, we can’t afford to take anything for granted,” Sutherland told ESPNcricinfo. “We strongly believe that growing cricket as a sport of choice for women and girls is our game’s single most significant growth opportunity. It is an extremely important initiative within our recently adopted five-year strategic plan.”In recent seasons we have seen the WBBL played in front of large crowds and drawing strong TV audiences on Network Ten. The competition is the best women’s league in the world. For us domestically, it not only provides clarity on the pathway to our national team, but exposes the tremendous depth of female talent in this country. We will continue to explore our scheduling to enable our women’s matches to attract the highest possible levels of fan support.”Earlier this year, the ICC approved our request to separate the Women’s World T20 event from the men’s – and so the women’s event to be played in February-March 2020 will precede the men’s event which will be in October-November. Just as we have with the World T20, we are looking to find discreet windows in the calendar where we can promote the women’s game so as to attract ever higher audiences at match and on TV.”Entering into CA’s next round of domestic broadcast rights negotiations, the television pulling-power of the women’s game is a significant change in the value of any prospective deals, much as the creation of the BBL in 2011 impacted on the 2013 contracts signed with Nine and Ten.The purchase of the BBL rights by Ten in 2013 for about A$20 million a season over five years was considered a gamble at the time, but the tournament’s consistently strong broadcast audiences have now raised estimates of the tournaments rights value to as much as three times that amount. Just as CA was able to convince broadcasters that domestic cricket could be a viable option for free-to-air television, the governing body is now hopeful of doing likewise with the women’s game.”Following on from the hugely successful World Cup in England, we are seeing women’s cricket continue grow in popularity and we are delighted to see cricket fans’ appreciation of the women’s game reflected in ever increasing crowds and TV audiences,” Sutherland said. “The Nine Network’s broadcast of the ODI series has been outstanding, and to see the final ODI match televised on the main channel attracting a very significant audience was further indication of the growing appetite for the women’s game.”It is especially pleasing to see our Australian team attracting the support they have during this women’s Ashes series. This public support has been reflected in the exceptional media coverage including the outstanding access through the free-to-air broadcast on Nine.”At the same time, strong television audiences are likely to aid CA in another goal – that of growing female participation numbers of in the game. “In the short term for the rest of this summer, we’re all about providing the platform to ensure we keep pushing the fantastic story of this squad and their performances in the Ashes,” Sutherland said.”There is no doubt that their feats and growing profile is inspiring the next generation of girls to play and love cricket. Female participation numbers will be up strongly again this year, with huge growth expected in the number of girls teams at school and club level.”

The allrounder and Western Australia captain, slammed an unbeaten 80 to drive his side to a six-wicket win in the final against South Australia in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2017
ScorecardThe victorious Western Australia team with the trophy•Getty Images

Western Australia captain Mitchell Marsh led his state to a comfortable victory over South Australia to lift the domestic limited overs trophy at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday.South Australia made a swift start after winning the toss, but the loss of regular wickets limited their chances of posting the sort of totals that had allowed them to beat Western Australia in the qualifying rounds and Victoria in the elimination final.Western Australia, who had been unbeaten before the SA loss, were then able to reel them in with 38 balls to spare, largely due to the efforts of Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Bancroft, the sometime-Test opening contender, but now a free-scoring gloveman.While Mitchell Marsh was named Man of the Match, at a time when his recovery from shoulder surgery rules him out of bowling and by extension an Ashes berth, it was his brother Shaun Marsh who was named Man of the Tournament for a string of outstanding displays at the top of the batting order.South Asutralia had started fluently through a first-over boundary from Alex Carey, but the early dismissals of the wicketkeeper and dual tournament centurion Jake Weatherald set a pattern. South Australia scored freely but lost regular wickets, which meant the later acceleration typical of their bigger totals was instead a steady stand between Tom Cooper and Cameron Valente followed by a late rush of wickets.Their new-ball bowling had been another feature of their progress, but after Michael Klinger fell early and Shaun Marsh had not fired from the start, Mitchell Marsh and Bancroft missed scarcely a beat in bringing the target under control. Long touted as a future leader by his coach Justin Langer, Mitchell Marsh has aced his very first exam as state captain.

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is close to signing a new long-term deal at the club, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When is Nathan Ake out of contract?

Pep Guardiola's side enjoyed a truly legendary season last time around, winning the treble after securing Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory. It was a monstrous effort from everyone involved, with the manager showing why he is one of the best of all time, and so many players doing their bit for the cause.

While the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan may have often made the headlines, Ake was an outstanding performer in his own right, playing with such consistency and authority throughout the campaign. He started 22 Premier League games, averaging 1.8 clearances per game and enjoying a 91.1% pass completion rate, also featuring five times for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup.

The 28-year-old only has two years remaining on his current City contract, and given his importance to the squad last season, the club will surely be wanting to extend his stay as soon as possible. That certainly looks set to be the case, following a promising new update.

Is Nathan Ake set to sign a new Man City deal?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided a positive update regarding Ake's future at the Etihad, saying a contract extension is now close to coming to fruition:

"Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Nathan Ake over new long term deal. Talks are advanced – understand it’s just matter of time to get it done. Salary will be significantly improved, as Telegraaf reported."

This is brilliant news for anyone of a City persuasion, with Ake really growing into his role at the club after what was arguably a fairly slow start there, having arrived from Bournemouth back in 2020. The Dutchman has displayed his versatility superbly, allowing him to shine at both centre-back and left-back, and he has played with so much intelligence and defensive nous in recent times.

Guardiola has described Ake as a "proper defender", while former City striker Paul Dickov has lauded him as "fantastic", following a particularly impressive performance up against Arsenal's dangerous attacker Bukayo Saka last season. Having players of his ilk around is so important to the club's success moving forward, given his consistency and knowledge of the system, so the idea of him signing an extension is good to hear.

At 28, there is no reason why the Netherlands international can't continue to be an important figure at the Etihad for the next four or five years, becoming an even more experienced head, and he is a great example and showing patience with a player and seeing them eventually develop into a real force.

Ake will have to continue to improve, such is the level of competition at City in defence, but he has shown that he is ready to fight for his place, and his spot in the starting lineup became undeniable at times last season, including in the Champions League final win over Inter Milan in June.

Australia’s captain led from the front before England’s top order was rattled in a hostile final session to tilt the opening Test the home side’s way

The Report by Andrew Miller25-Nov-2017England 302 and 2 for 33 lead Australia 328 (Smith 141*, Marsh 51) by seven runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIn the course of what is rapidly developing into a supernatural Test career, Steven Smith has surpassed himself time and time again. But in the course of 57 Tests and 21 centuries, it is hard to believe that he has compiled a more brilliant and vital innings than his unbeaten 141 in the first Test of the 2017-18 Ashes.On Smith’s dogged and indomitable watch, Australia seized hold of a rapidly freefalling first innings, and dot by dot, nudge by nudge, turned what had at one stage looked like being a 100-run deficit into a vital lead of 26.And then, as if ignited by their skipper’s deeds, Australia’s bowlers tore into England’s top order in a gory final hour. Josh Hazlewood ripped out two prize wickets, including Alastair Cook for his second failure of the match, before Mitchell Starc clanged England’s captain, Joe Root, a savage blow on the helmet. Root and Mark Stoneman limped to the close on 2 for 33, a lead of 7, but in the course of 16 high-octane overs, the legend of the Gabbatoir had burst back to prominence in no uncertain terms.It was a sensational day’s cricket, glacially slow at times – particularly during a morning session in which Smith added just 17 runs to his overnight 64 – but never less than utterly absorbing, thanks to a match situation in which two wholly committed teams have surged and slipped like a pair of boat-race crews hurtling under Hammersmith Bridge.But, by the close of day three, it was abundantly clear which team had pulled ahead by a length. Hard though England toiled in the field, not least in the build-up to the second new ball, when Jake Ball and Chris Woakes – backed up by funky leg-side fields – set themselves to slow the run-rate to a crawl, their efforts were as nothing compared to the pace and fury that Australia’s seamers were able to generate on a surface that is appreciably quicker now than it had been on a sluggish first day.From the outset of England’s second innings, it was clear that Starc and Hazlewood were generating a touch more heat than their English counterparts. However, Cook was still taken completely by surprise in Hazlewood’s second over, when he fizzed down a pinpoint bouncer that the former skipper could only flap off his eyebrows to fine leg, where Starc had only moments earlier been changing his boots and now dived forward to scoop up a stadium-igniting catch.In came James Vince, England’s hero of the first innings, who moments earlier had been pictured shadow-batting in the dressing room. He got off the mark with a neat clip off his pads, but could go no further than that, as Hazlewood zeroed in on his outside edge, for Smith to snaffle a flying edge at second slip.And before Root had had a chance to settle, it was Starc’s turn to leave his mark on the innings – or more specifically the peak of Root’s helmet, as he smashed a stunning bouncer flush into the corner of the visor and sent his ear-guard flying in the process. Australia’s fielders showed instant concern for the England captain, and the team doctor rushed out to give him a standing count, but with Mark Stoneman showing his mettle once again, England managed to reach the close with their hopes more intact than the fury of the session might have suggested.And yet, England will have regrouped at the close of play wondering how they were not firmly in control of this contest. The simple answer is that Smith refused to let them take control, although there were also some crucial questions flying around about the fitness of James Anderson, whose withdrawal from the attack after just three overs of the second new ball undermined England’s hopes of a quick kill, after he and Stuart Broad had struck twice in as many overs to reduce Australia to 209 for 7.To focus on England’s tactics in that particular instance, however, would do a disservice to the immense levels of skill and determination shown by Smith in particular, but Pat Cummins too – whose innings of 42 from 120 balls helped add 66 vital runs for the eighth wicket, as Australia put crease occupation ahead of forward momentum in a bid to endure by whatever means necessary.Smith had resumed his innings knowing full well how vital his continued presence would be, given that England’s own innings had featured three half-centuries but nothing more substantial than Vince’s 83. And, having converted 20 of his previous 41 fifties into three figures, he was in the right frame of mind to go on again and give Australia the best possible chance of extending their proud unbeaten run at the Gabba.In total, he needed a hefty 261 balls to bring up his hundred, which he finally achieved with a crunching drive through the covers off Broad, one of the few occasions when he allowed his natural ability to over-ride his defensive mindset. His moments of alarm could be counted on one hand – on 69, he was caught unawares by a perfectly directed throat-ball from Ball, but the spliced opportunity plopped short of the slips. But beyond that, Smith was happy to duck the short balls and get firmly into line against the straight ones, and bide his time in a manner that few players of the modern era are willing to do.Shaun Marsh rather proved that point in the manner of his dismissal. He had been Smith’s partner when Australia resumed on 4 for 165, and though he marked his return to the Test team with a hard-fought fifty, he was eventually done in by a canny piece of bowling from Broad. Lured onto the front foot by an apparent wide half-volley, Marsh failed to clock that Broad had rolled his fingers down the seam, and Anderson collected a dolly of a lofted drive, as the ball skidded off the splice to mid-off.Tim Paine, who had made his Australia debut alongside Smith against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010, came out to join Smith for his first Test innings for seven years. And though he looked solid for a while, he had no answer to the ball of the day from Anderson. Armed with the new ball, as well as the knowledge that he needed to make it count, Anderson produced a snorter that angled into the right-hander, nipped away, and kissed the edge for Bairstow to collect a fine one-handed catch behind the stumps.Starc started his innings with eye-popping intent, slamming his second ball, from Broad, clean over long-off for six – to induce a wry grin and a shrug from the bowler. Two balls later, however, Broad had his revenge, hauling his length back just an inch or two to collect another attempted drive in his follow through. At 7 for 209, Australia were on the ropes.But then came Anderson’s apparent injury – a clutch of his side midway through his third over with the new ball, and a guarded chat with his captain. Though he initially remained on the field, he was delivered a tablet by England’s 12th man before lunch, and departed into the dressing room for further treatment in the afternoon. And without his incisive attack-leading, England’s remaining bowlers went flat at precisely the moment that a moment of magic was required. That it was left to Root himself to end the innings, courtesy of Cook’s leg-side catch off Lyon, was an indictment of a fielding performance that finally ran out of steam. Australia’s bowlers, by contrast, haven’t looked fresher all match.

Just six months into his stint with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Roberto Firmino has been reported to be looking to leave the club.

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Firmino could leave Al-AhliJoined the club six months agoAl-Ettifaq interested in the player(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Just three goals have been scored by the 32-year-old in his 17 outings for Al-Ahli. The legendary player from Liverpool has now lost his spot in the all-star team led by Matthias Jaissle and hasn't started a game since late October. The Mirror reports that Steven Gerrard is looking to get Firmino back together with his old Liverpool teammates Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum at Al-Ettifaq.

AdvertisementWHAT GERRARD SAID

Gerrard recently talked about potential interest in Firmino [via The Mirror]: "I obviously know Bobby extremely well, I've been a massive fan. I've followed him for years. At the moment, he's Al-Ahli's player, so it's very difficult for me to comment on that situation. But I've loved Bobby Firmino since the first day I watched him and I'm a huge fan."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Al-Ahli boasts a number of marquee players within their ranks including former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Edouard Mendy, Franck Kessie, Gabri Veiga, Merih Demiral and Roger Ibanez. The Saudi league only permits six foreign players in the team, thus the sale of the Brazilian would clear the way for another international acquisition.

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WHAT NEXT FOR FIRMINO?

Al-Ahli will next be in action when they take on Al-Khaleej on Friday, December 29. The game could be Firmino's last for the side as the league will break for the winter and return in mid-February.

Leeds United could be set to secure a sensational summer coup, should they tempt the reigning European champions to offload one of their younger stars…

How much is Rico Lewis worth?

That seems to be what Daniel Farke is seeking to achieve, as he is reportedly battling with Southampton to tempt Manchester City's Rico Lewis to continue his fine development on loan at Elland Road.

This comes per a report in the Sunday Express [July 30, page 5], who suggest that loan offers have already been dismissed by Pep Guardiola, who will seek to give his 18-year-old gem additional playing time in the coming campaign (as relayed by HampshireLive).

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

That being said, if a good enough case can be put forward, perhaps the Whites could convince the Spanish boss that the full-back is best served to receive consistent play time as a starter under their stewardship for the season.

FootballTransfers value the teenager at just €13.4m (£11m).

How good is Rico Lewis?

Last year marked a true breakthrough season for Lewis, who put himself on the map for displacing Kyle Walker due to his adaptability within Guardiola's system.

Jamie Carragher outlined this back in January, noting:

"Pep Guardiola knows how good he is and every time I've seen him play this season, Kyle Walker brings a more dynamic style to his play but Guardiola wants control of the game. Right now, Rico Lewis is giving him that control because his game understanding is years beyond his age."

It was admittedly a convoluted one, but in the end bore fruit, as the Spaniard's side wrote their name in history by claiming a historic treble.

Their academy graduate would feature admirably throughout the term, with 14 Premier League appearances, five in the FA Cup and a further two in the Champions League, where he would score too.

As such, his trophy cabinet is already bursting at the seams despite his career only really just beginning.

Perhaps a stint in Yorkshire could help add some steel to his creative arsenal, forcing him to fight in the Championship to earn promotion, rather than cruising to comfortable victories at the Eithad. After all, he has already shown he boasts more than enough quality to dominate the second tier.

Across his 14 league appearances last season, the full-back, who would often find himself in midfield, posted a 91% pass accuracy alongside 0.9 key passes and 1.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

To sign someone of such creative quality in that role could even see Farke emulate Marcelo Bielsa's success with Ezgjan Alioski, who operated in similar channels despite being a left-back by trade.

During their 2019/20 promotion campaign, the North Macedonian stalwart posted eerily similar figures alongside his eight goal contributions.

Whilst his pass accuracy sat at a lowly 77%, he instead maintained 1.1 key passes and 1.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore, which suggests that his role was a more offensive one where he would risk a loss of possession should it potentially forge a chance.

The 31-year-old was an all-action defender with that unique ability to invert, which Lewis could seek to replicate during a one-year stint under Farke.

Guardiola sought to compare him to another who enjoyed periods at both full-back and midfield, lauding Lewis:

"There are players who play for themselves really well, but he has the ability to make all the team play better. He has this ability and it's not easy to find it. He is our little Philipp Lahm."

With the foundations of a trophy cabinet that will one day rival the German legend, perhaps he could add another string to his bow by battling through the Championship and adding promotion to his ever-growing list of experiences.

Winward Islands posted their first win of the season, Kyle Mayers’ match haul of nine and Devon Smith’s twin centuries helping them trounce Jamaica by 118 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2017

Seamer Kyle Mayers’ final-innings five-for handed Winward Islands their first win of their season, a 118-run thumping of Jamaica in Gros Islet. Jamaica slipped from 180 for 3 to 279 all out as Mayers scythed through the line-up, ending with career-best match figures of 9 for 124.Jamaica bowled Winwards out for 226 after having elected to bowl, with Devon Smith (107 off 247 balls) and Kirk Edwards (57 off 98 balls) making the only significant contributions. In reply, Jamaica faltered to 108 for 8 with Mayers and Sherman Lewis striking back-to-back as they finished with a four-for each. Jamaica declared on 112 for 9.With Winwards sliding from 111 for 2 to 263 for 9 in their second innings, it was once again Devon Smith who ensured an adequate score, extending his staggering form in the tournament to be last man out on 154. His ton gave Jamaica a target of 398.Winwards’ Delorn Johnson struck of successive balls in the sixth over to cause a top-order crash, but a 115-run partnership between Brandon King (88 off 108 balls) and captain Paul Palmer (46 off 90 balls) just about kept Jamaica in the game. However, Mayers returned to wreck the innings, taking out both set batsmen in quick succession, and Jamaica fell away quickly.

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.

Trevor Bayliss has said he would have “no problems at all” selecting Mason Crane as England’s spinner during the Ashes series

George Dobell in Adelaide07-Nov-2017England might have sent for a replacement fast bowler, but they will not be calling up another spinner.Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, was so impressed by Mason Crane in last week’s two-day warm-up game in Perth that he would have “no problems at all” selecting him during the Ashes series. And while Bayliss admitted that Crane, the 20-year-old legspinner, was “inexperienced”, England are so impressed with his character and potential that they now view him as the natural understudy to Moeen Ali.”I wouldn’t have any problems at all playing Crane in the Test match,” Bayliss said as England trained under lights in Adelaide. “He’s young, but he’s feisty and likes to get into the contest.

Bayliss on Steven Smith

“He was always a talent. At Sydney Sixers we made him captain and won the Big Bash. He was always captaincy material – the natural leader in the group – and we won it that first year under him. He was always a batter that bowled a bit. He didn’t necessarily have the most pure technique, but he knows how to score runs. He is living proof that you don’t have to have a perfect technique to do that. Both he and Joe Root have their little quirks, but both are magnificent players. It’ll be an interesting battle this year.”

“He’s inexperienced and still has a fair bit to learn. One of those reasons he’s on this tour is that we think he’ll be a very good bowler in years to come. He’s got to start somewhere and if it’s here during the Ashes then so be it.”Central to Crane’s emergence is his character. While the England management have decided that Adil Rashid could be a little diffident – and a little expensive – they feel that Crane, as Bayliss put it, likes to “get in the battle”.While there might be some eyebrows raised at the idea of Crane as an especially economical bowler – he conceded five fours in seven deliveries at one stage during the tour game at Perth – the quicker pace at which he bowls and the potential for improvement he still offers have clearly moved him ahead of Rashid.”We have spoken to Rashid,” Bayliss said. “The captain was looking for someone in Test cricket that could get in the battle.”Rashid is an attacking-style bowler, like Moeen. So the captain wanted someone who could maybe keep it tight at one end as well. In Test cricket, you have to try to keep a lid on it at time and not give one or two bad balls an over. Rashid has struggled with that a bit.”He’s not been forgotten about. He’s certainly in the one-day team and we spoke to him when we conducted the player reviews a couple of weeks ago. He is in contention if he is bowling well and deserves a spot.”Rashid might also have stiffened the England tail. In the absence of Ben Stokes, England could well go into the Test series with Stuart Broad, Jake Ball – who Bayliss praised as “the one who kept it tight” in Perth – and James Anderson batting at Nos. 9-11. But while that isn’t ideal, Bayliss feels it might be the shape of the side in the future and foresees a scenario where Stokes returns at No. 5 to allow room for another bowler.”That’s one of the things we have had to compromise on with Stokes not being here,” Bayliss said. “It puts more emphasis on the batters doing their job.”But it’s a combination I’ve liked for a while. Obviously I’d have liked Stokes in there, but with Moeen Ali at No. 7 and Chris Woakes at No. 8, it gives the option of another pace bowler or a second spinner.”Meanwhile Bayliss dismissed any suggestion that England might be unhappy with the opposition or conditions they are likely to face ahead of the first Test in Brisbane. While Nathan Coulter-Nile played against them in Perth, it seems England are unlikely to face much pace bowling or many quick pitches – by Australian standards, at least – ahead of the Test series.”We get our county second teams to play them when they come over,” Bayliss said. “So we can’t complain.”

Aston Villa have provided Monchi and Unai Emery with funds to bolster the playing squad so far in the summer transfer window…

Who have Aston Villa signed this summer?

The Villans brought in Belgium international Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City as their first signing ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

They have since added Moussa Diaby for a club-record £51.9m deal from Bayer Leverkusen and central defender Pau Torres from Villarreal on a permanent basis.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

There could be further business to come for Villa, though, as they have been linked with a swoop to sign Leeds United ace Wilfried Gnonto this summer, who would cost at least £40m.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

The 19-year-old dynamo is an exciting young talent who could come in as a player with long-term potential whilst also having the ability to make an immediate impact on the pitch.

Emery could land Ollie Watkins a dream partner in the final third as the Italian ace is a versatile gem who could either play out wide to provide service for the England international or through the middle as a striker partner for him.

The former Inter prospect produced two goals and four assists in 14 top-flight starts for the Whites as they were relegated from the division last term and could improve upon that tally as part of a better team, given that Villa finished seventh in the table and a whopping 30 points clear of the Yorkshire-based outfit.

Watkins scored 15 league goals for the Villans last season and he could help the Italy international, who struck ten times in 16 U17 matches for Inter, to find his feet as a goalscorer at the top level after signs of promise so far.

The Leeds ace scored 12 goals and assisted ten in 74 games for Zurich prior to his move to England, but it is his play in deep possession that has caught the eye during his time at Elland Road so far.

In the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Gnonto ranked amongst the top 13% of his positional peers for progressive carries per 90 (4.39), which shows that the teenage ace is excellent at driving his team up the pitch by picking the ball up in a deep position before racing past players to eat up ground.

Watkins, on the other hand, ranked in the bottom half of players in his position for progressive carries per 90 (1.44) and this suggests that he would benefit from having the Leeds star as a strike partner to do that side of the game for him.

Gnonto could use his dynamism and ball-carrying ability to push Villa forward and Watkins can maintain his position through the middle as the starting number nine and concentrate on getting into goalscoring areas to punish teams at the top end of the pitch.

The £40m-rated ace, who was described as an "absolute nightmare" for defenders by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has not proven himself to be a lethal scorer but his four assists in 14 top-flight starts suggests that he also has the creativity to provide the English striker with chances to score from.

Therefore, they could form a dream partnership upfront for Villa and one that could have the potential to get even better with time as Gnonto, hopefully, develops.