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Fair to say, Everton really need to strengthen their attacking options in January.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth means the Toffees have not failed to score in eight of their last ten Premier League matches, leaving them just one point and two places above the relegation zone.

Also, as noted during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, since the start of last season, Everton have scored just 26 goals from open play; for context, that’s a ginormous 30 fewer than the team second-bottom of this list, namely West Ham.

Under Sean Dyche, spending has been very minimal but, following the Friedkin Group’s takeover, confirmed in mid-December, there’s likely to be scope for the Blues to bring in much-needed reinforcements this month.

Premier League player wanted by Everton

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on Twitter earlier this week, Everton had “opened talks” with Aston Villa, as they attempt to sign Jaden Philogene.

However, in a big twist, the player is now on his way to Ipswich Town with Fabrizio Romano having revealed on Wednesday night that he’s due to travel to Portman Road for a medical.

Despite being just 22-years-old, Philogene has already played for Stoke City, Cardiff City, Hull City and now Aston Villa twice.

It was last season, when he was with the Tigers, he really burst onto the scene, scoring an astonishing rabona against Rotherham in February 2024, that was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.

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ByBarney Lane Dec 3, 2024

This led to journalist Lewis Railton describing him as a “skilful, yet direct winger”, labelling him a “real talent”.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

How Jaden Philogene would have improved Everton's attack

Well, since moving back to the Midlands, the winger has been given limited opportunities, starting just four matches across all competitions, totalling 535 minutes overall, yet to register a goal or an assist during his second spell in claret and blue.

Thus, a move away from Villa Park in January could be best for Philogene’s development.

As mentioned earlier, Everton really find goals hard to come by; they’re the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season with just 15 goals, while they’re also bottom of the xG standings, accumulating a miserly 18.1 to date.

Their joint-top scorers are Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye, both with a miserly three goals, so how does Philogene compare to the Toffees’ current wide-attackers?

Appearances

48

56

54

67

Minutes

3,353

4,732

3,720

4,116

Goals

12

7

4

8

Assists

6

10

3

3

Progressive carries

163

111

89

137

Shots

125

90

60

73

Shots on target %

32%

27.4%

21.7%

31.5%

Goals – xG

+3.3

+1.7

-2.8

-1.3

Shot-creating actions

133

190

87

130

Take-on success %

44.7%

48.5%

36.4%

50.7%

As outlined, since the start of last season, Philogene compares favourably to Everton’s existing winger options.

He’s scored more goals, registered more progressive carries and attempted more shots than all of the trio, most crucially of all, Philogene has overperformced his xG, while Jack Harrison and Ndiaye have both underperformed theirs.

McNeil, the most impressive of the Toffees’ trio, has missed the last six games due to a knee injury, with Dyche describing this issue as “a bit trickier than we thought”, but even when he was playing regularly, Philogene was outperforming his numbers.

Thus, put succinctly, this is a deal Everton should be gutted about failing to complete.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jan 7, 2025

أعلن عماد النحاس، القائم بأعمال المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، التشكيل الأساسي لمواجهة حرس الحدود، بعد قليل، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

يستضيف الأهلي نظيره حرس الحدود، مساء اليوم على استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من المرحلة النهائية لبطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع.. بعد زيزو.. الأهلي يستعد لتوجيه ضربة جديدة لـ الزمالك

ويدخل الأهلي اللقاء محتلاً المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب مجموعة التتويج، برصيد 43 نقطة، خلف المتصدر بيراميدز، فيما يتواجد حرس الحدود في المركز التاسع برصيد 22 نقطة، ويأمل تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية لتحسين موقفه.

ويسعى الفريق الأحمر لتحقيق الفوز في هذه المواجهة لمواصلة الضغط على بيراميدز في صدارة الترتيب، وتعزيز فرصه في الاحتفاظ بلقب الدوري الذي توج به الموسم الماضي.

ويقود عماد النحاس الفريق كمدير فني مؤقت، ويعاونه محمد شوقي ضمن الجهاز المعاون، فيما تولى محمد يوسف منصب المدير الرياضي، وذلك بعد استقالة كل من سامي قمصان ومحمد رمضان من الطاقم الفني وتوجيه الشكر للسويسري مارسيل كولر.

ويأمل الأهلي، استغلال تعثر منافسه بيراميدز أمام فاركو، للاقتراب منه، حيث يتصدر جدول الترتيب برصيد 47 نقطة. تشكيل الأهلي أمام حرس الحدود

حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني – رامي ربيعة  – ياسر إبراهيم  – أحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط: مروان عطيه – عمرو السولية – طاهر محمد – أشرف بن شرقي – إمام عاشور.

خط الهجوم: وسام أبو علي.

Visitors close on on 339 for 5 as Reece chimes in with fifty

ECB Reporters Network26-Jun-2022Wayne Madsen became only the third Derbyshire batter to score three consecutive hundreds against the same county as his side enjoyed a good first day against Sussex in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Hove.Sussex, seeking their first Championship win since April 2021, had the better of the morning session when they reduced Derbyshire to 83 for 4, but Madsen didn’t offer a chance on an easy-paced pitch as he progressed serenely to his 34th first-class century for the county. Only Kim Barnett (53) has scored more.By the close Madsen was 171 not out – the highest score by a Derbyshire batter in Sussex – as they closed on 339 for 5 from 97 overs.Derbyshire elected to bat first but lost Billy Godleman and Brooke Guest during a lively opening spell by left-armer Sean Hunt. Godleman offered a low catch to slip after Hunt found some late away movement while Guest lost his middle stump off a big inside edge attempting an expansive drive.At the other end, Shan Masood became the first player to lodge 1,000 first-class runs this season when he reached nine and the prolific Pakistan batter looked in the mood to make another big contribution, especially when he was badly dropped by wicketkeeper Oli Carter on 43 in Tom Haines’ first over.Fortunately for Sussex it did not prove an expensive miss. Masood had added three more runs when he was pinned on his crease during an excellent spell down the slope by Steve Finn, who was making his first Championship appearance since the meeting at Derby in April. In his 12th innings Masood did become the quickest Derbyshire batter to reach 1,000, beating the previous record by Peter Kirsten of 16 in 1980.Haines was rewarded for his accuracy when he went round the wicket to Leus du Plooy and uprooted his leg stump as the batter offered no shot. Haines should have been celebrating again when Luis Reece, with just a single to his name, drove to mid on but Hunt failed to hold onto the catch as he dived forward.On this occasion it was to prove a costly drop as Reece and Madsen added 120 in 36 overs. Sussex’s seven-man attack plugged away but there was little assistance once the ball went soft and it took a misjudgement on Reece’s part to end the stand shortly after he’d reached his fifty, when he top-edged a sweep at Delray Rawlins and lobbed up a simple catch to Carter.Madsen drove Archie Lenham through the covers shortly after tea to bring up his 40th hundred in all formats for Derbyshire – only Barnett (66) has scored more – and Derbyshire’s 999th first-class century.Sussex took the new ball immediately it became available, but the remorseless Madsen soon had Sussex back on the defensive again as he was joined in another productive partnership by Anuj Dal, who has contributed 45 to a stand of 136 in 40 overs.

An encouraging new development regarding the future of West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has emerged, following a fresh development before the weekend Championship action.

West Brom prepare for Bristol City clash

The Baggies return to the field on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Bristol City to The Hawthorns for another important game in the promotion race. Their weekend opponents sit 11th in the Championship table and only five points adrift of Corberan’s eighth-place side, highlighting the importance of the game, as they look to pull eight points clear of them.

West Brom have endured a frustrating period of form in recent months, topping the table back in September before going on a long winless run, with so many draws thrown in. In fact, they have drawn 11 of their 21 league matches so far this season, leading to them falling out of the playoff places.

For Corberan, it has been such a frustrating period, and considering that managers are ultimately judged on results, there has been some understandable criticism aimed at him in recent times, during a season in which many expected the Baggies to be one of the leading contenders to win the Championship title.

That said, the 41-year-old has largely impressed since taking charge at West Brom back in 2022, guiding his side into the playoffs last season, being beaten by Southampton in the semi-finals. Now, a significant update has emerged regarding the future of the Baggies manager.

Encouraging update over Corberan's West Brom future

Despite a claim from AS [via Sport Witness] that Southampton have sent an “important offer” to West Brom boss Corberan, following the sacking of Russell Martin, they have instead agreed a deal with Ivan Juric, according to Fabrizio Romano on X.

For all the disappointment at West Brom’s form at times this season, this update still represents a real boost for the Baggies, considering what an influential figure Corberan has been over the past couple of years.

The fact that a Premier League club were actively trying to prise him away from a Championship club says a lot about his credentials, but it looks as though he is staying put. To see him leave The Hawthorns midway through the season would be a bitter pill to swallow.

Hopefully, Corberan feels that West Brom are the perfect club for him for the time being, believing that he can guide his West Brom team into the top flight in the coming months, masterminding an upturn in fortunes.

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That said, the lure of the Premier League is great for so many managers, both in terms of being able to test yourself against some of the best coaches in the world and also the financial benefits.

It remains to be seen if Corberan’s head could be turned by another approach from a different club, assuming Juric does complete a move to Southampton, but his sole focus is now hopefully on sealing promotion in the coming months.

كشف أحمد شوبير مقدم البرامج التلفزيونية بقناة الأهلي، موقف علي معلول لاعب فريق الكرة بالنادي من المشاركة خلال مباراة صن داونز المقبلة في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه الأهلي منافسه صن داونز يوم السبت المقبل في مواجهة من العيار الثقيل، تعيد للأذهان سلسلة من اللقاءات القوية التي جمعت بين الفريقين، خلال السنوات الأخيرة، وسط ترقب جماهيري كبير داخل القارة.

طالع | كاف يُعلن موعد مباراة الأهلي وصن داونز في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ويعاني الأهلي من أزمة في مركز الظهير الأيسر بعد إصابة الثنائي يحيى عطية الله وكريم الدبيس خلال مباراة بيراميدز الأخيرة في الدوري المصري.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة الأهلي: “علي معلول غير جاهز بنسبة 100%، ومن الممكن أن يسافر مع بعثة الأهلي إلى جنوب إفريقيا استعدادا لمباراة صن داونز”.

وأكمل: “أحمد نبيل كوكا سليم 100% وهو المرشح الأول لمركز الظهير الأيسر، والدفع بـ علي معلول بمثابة الانتحار في هذا اللقاء لأنه غائب منذ سنة ثم أول مباراة يشارك فيها بدور نصف نهائي إفريقيا، وهو الخوف عليه وليس منه في هذا الأمر”.

واختتم: “أعتقد معلول يستحق أن يتواجد مع البعثة ومسؤولية المشاركة أمر يخص كولر”.

الأهلي تأهل إلى نصف النهائي بعد التفوق على الهلال السوداني بنتيجة 2-0 في مجموع مباراتي ربع النهائي لدوري أبطال إفريقيا، بينما تخطى صن داونز عقبة الترجي التونسي بهدف نظيف، في مجموع الذهاب والإياب.

It might be too early to say with any certainty, but it’s starting to look like Arsenal are getting back to their best.

Mikel Arteta’s side were in dreadful form before the international break, not winning any of their four Premier League games, but have now won back-to-back games for the first time in almost two months.

The North Londoners put in a stellar performance to beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend and then did even better to smash the impressive Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

Arsenal’s recent form

Team

Result

Sporting CP (A)

5-1 (W)

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-0 (W)

Chelsea (A)

1-1 (D)

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Newcastle United (A)

1-0 (L)

However, this afternoon brings with it a fresh challenge in a West Ham United side who beat Newcastle United at St James Park last time out, and if Arteta wants to stop the incredible £100m-rated Jarrod Bowen, he must start someone who shone in Europe.

Arsenal's star performers

So, before getting to the player in question, let’s look at some of those who stood out for Arsenal on Tuesday night, starting poster boy Bukayo Saka.

The Englishman provided an assist for Kai Havertz in the first half and then picked up a goal of his own from the penalty spot at a moment when the Lisbon-based outfit threatened to get back into the game.

However, he wasn’t the only winger who looked good on the night, as Gabriel Martinelli reminded fans and pundits alike just how effective he can be by scoring the opening goal of the game, which also happened to be his fourth of the campaign.

Likewise, club captain Martin Odegaard showed for the second game running how much better the team are with him at the heart of everything.

The Norwegian superstar won the penalty that Saka converted, but he did so much more than that, as his close control and general footballing intelligence were vital in allowing the team to launch attack after attack throughout the 90 minutes.

With all that said, it wasn’t just a night for the attackers, as one of Arteta’s summer signings demonstrated just why he has to start every game he’s fit for, and why he’s the ideal player to bully Bowen this afternoon.

The Arsenal star who has to start against West Ham

So, with a plethora of defenders to choose from, especially on the left, Arteta has to make the right one if he wants to stop the talented Bowen this afternoon, and that would be Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italian international joined the club for a whopping £42m in the summer but has endured something of a stop-start beginning to his Arsenal career due to a few injuries he’s picked up since moving to England.

However, when he’s been fit, the former Bologna star has been simply sublime, both in his ability to maraud up the pitch “like a wild horse on the loose,” as journalist Sam Dean puts it, and in his ability to drop back and do the defensive side of the job.

Calafiori’s scout report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Pass Completion

88.6%

Top 2%

Aerials Won

2.26

Top 2%

Interceptions

1.60

Top 7%

Assists

0.19

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.12

Top 12%

Passes Attempted

64.99

Top 14%

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.08

Top 15%

Clearances

2.96

Top 19%

All Stats via FBref

We can see this duality in the 22-year-old’s game best when looking at his underlying numbers, as according to FBref, he sits in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion and aerial duels won, the top 7% for interceptions, the top 11% for assists, the top 12% for non-penalty goals and more, all per 90.

Moreover, this, combined with the fact that he stands at 6 foot 2 and is seemingly unfazed by the pressure, is why he has to go against Bowen this afternoon, as he has all the skill required to lock the Englishman down while posing a real attacking threat himself.

In fact, his ability to hurtle down the byline should help him keep a handle on the former Hull City ace as well, as he’ll have to think about tracking back more often than if it was Jakub Kiwior there, for example, or even Oleksandr Zinchenko who cannot pose the same physical threat.

Ultimately, Arsenal will be favourites heading into the game at the London Stadium, and rightly so, but if Arteta wants to give his team the best chance of claiming all three points, he must start Calafiori.

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Two years into international cricket, 17-year-old Shafali Verma is fully aware of the need to improve constantly and her immediate focus is on tweaking her short-ball game against fast bowlers.Having made her India debut as a 15-year-old, Shafali has come a long way over the past 24 months and alongside Smriti Mandhana, forms one of the most explosive opening pairings in women’s cricket. However, on tours of England and Australia this year, Shafali was peppered with short balls and she didn’t look particularly comfortable against them. So, to get better against the rising ball, Shafali is now facing 200-250 balls from Under-25 men’s players, who can clock 125-130 kmph, at Shri Ram Narain Cricket Academy in Gurugram, under the watchful eyes of her coach Ashwani Kumar.”It feels good that I have been able to complete two years in international cricket but there is a long way to go. I know the areas of my game I need to get better at and one of them is playing the short ball,” Shafali told PTI after being named a Hyundai brand ambassador. “The coaches have also told me to play as per the ball and I will continue to do that. I will never change my game.”During the England and Australia series, Shafali was seen backing away to the short balls and the approach fetched her mixed returns. The coaches at the academy are making her play the short ball on cemented, astroturf and normal wickets. And, besides negotiating higher speeds from the men, Shafali is also facing throwdowns.Related

• Mithali: We have had 'good preparation' for 2022 World Cup

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“I won’t back away that much going forward. You will see me shuffling around the crease a lot more and play as per the merit of the ball,” Shafali, who is also working on her fitness, said.Her coach Kumar feels Shafali will only get better with time and experience. “We must not forget that she is still 17. Her dream Test debut shows that she has got the required technique to succeed at the highest level.”In the shorter formats, where there is scoreboard pressure, you need to be really quick with your thinking and that is where she needs to improve a bit. As she goes along playing for India, you will see her only getting better.”Mandhana targets better consistency for World Cup success
Mandhana, who was named a Hyundai ambassador alongside Shafali, Jemimah Rodrigues and Taniya Bhatia, said she wants to add more consistency to her batting going into the Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand in March.”Post [the] Covid [-enforced break from cricket], it was hard to get the rhythm back as I was playing international cricket after one and a half years,” Mandhana told PTI. “It took a while to get into the groove but the last two series [England and Australia] have been decent but surely there is scope for improvement.”I am really happy with the way I have been timing the ball… [But] as a batter you have to be selfish to be more consistent and that’s something I want to work on, closing games on a regular basis especially the tight finishes.”It is something which we all know that we need to work on as that is going to help us in the World Cup.”India has lost ODI series to South Africa, England and Australia since March, but Mandhana feels the team has got the best possible preparation for the World Cup. India will also play New Zealand before the World Cup.”The last one year has been really important for us and especially playing in England and Australia. We are also playing New Zealand, so playing the top three-four teams in a space of seven-eight months, that is the best preparation for World Cup. We have learnt a lot in the last two series.””The Australia series was a good one though results didn’t go our way. Almost all the matches were decided in the last over and those were matches we could have won or lost. We were able to score 250 plus in two out of three games. Will take take all the positives from that. I also learnt a lot in Australia.”

The USMNT star launched his sixth signature collection with the global sports brand in a bid to inspire the next generation

• Pulisic's new collection designed to inspire young athletes
• Features the return of the ULTRA 5 ULTIMATE boot
• Available as of Feb. 20 across various retail platforms

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Christian Pulisic, the U.S. men's national team and AC Milan star, partnered with PUMA to release his sixth signature collection, titled "Chasing The Dream." The collection, which includes footwear and apparel, is designed to inspire young athletes to pursue their goals both on and off the pitch.

  All items feature Pulisic’s official logo and the pack features the return of the ULTRA 5 Ultimate boot.

  “This collection is special because I want it to be part of the younger generation’s journey as they write their own story on and off the pitch,” said Pulisic. “It’s meant to give them confidence – not just when scoring goals, but in the countless hours of practice that build real skill and passion.”

Advertisement

• THE COLLECTION

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This collaboration between Pulisic and PUMA represents more than just a new product line. It is intended to symbolize the journey of a young athlete who has risen to the top and now aims to inspire the next generation.

  The collection's theme of chasing dreams resonates with Pulisic's own career trajectory, from a young talent in Pennsylvania to a star in European football and with the USMNT.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  AC Milan face a challenging climb to reach the top four in Serie A. They dropped a 2-1 match to Torino on Saturday, a match in which Pulisic missed a penalty kick. AC Milan face a trip to Bologna next before hosting Lazio in March as they look to climb back up the table.

Glasgow Rangers’ recent financial results show a loss of £17.2m, and it is clear that the Light Blues could face challenges in the next couple of years.

Judging by the performances on the pitch this season, Philippe Clement will be doing well to finish second in the Premiership given the recent form of Aberdeen, the side that Rangers play this evening.

Having laboured to a 2-1 win over St Mirren on the weekend, Aberdeen will pose a much greater challenge. Changes will be made, but who comes into the starting XI?

Clement could unleash Cyriel Dessers vs Aberdeen

Hamza Igamane started against the Buddies but struggled and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers for the second half.

The Nigerian has scored seven goals this term, although none have come in the Premiership since August. With limited options in this department and Igamane’s lack of experience, the 29-year-old looks nailed on to start against Jimmy Thelin’s men this evening.

Clement needs players behind Dessers to make things happen for him, giving the striker the best chances to increase his goal tally.

While Tom Lawrence is available, the Belgian should give a start to someone who can make all the difference – Ianis Hagi.

Why Hagi could make his first start of the season for Rangers

The Romanian has scored at Pittodrie before, netting during a 1-1 draw in January 2022, just a few days before he suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out for a year.

Due to a contract dispute, Hagi only made his first appearance of the season last month, coming on as a substitute against St Johnstone. He grabbed an assist before being shown a red card, announcing his return in dramatic circumstances.

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Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Once hailed as an “absolute dream to work with” by Steven Gerrard, the £21k-per-week star could get Dessers firing again, especially if he can replicate his early Rangers form.

The attacking midfielder was perhaps at his best during his maiden campaign in Glasgow, helping the Gers win the 2020/21 Premiership crown unbeaten.

Ianis Hagi’s stats in 2020/21 for Rangers

Goals

7

Assists

11

Big chances created

6

Total duels won per game

3.2

Shots per game

1.8

Key passes per game

1

Via Sofascore

Across 33 matches that season, Hagi registered 18 goal contributions in the league alone – seven goals and 11 assists – while also creating six big chances, averaging one key pass per game and succeeding with 0.6 dribbles each match.

His creativity allowed others such as Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe to flourish and there is no doubt he could do the same for Dessers tonight.

Making an impression against Aberdeen this evening could be the catalyst that Hagi needs to push on and finally live up to his potential. If he can create a few chances in the northeast and help the Light Blues secure a confidence-boosting victory, Clement may give him plenty of opportunities in the coming weeks.

The Dons have yet to taste defeat this season. Will Rangers be the first to inflict such a result tonight? Or will Thelin lead his side to another impressive result against one of the Old Firm?

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Unai Emery got in the way of a potential exit from Aston Villa over the summer, it has been reported, with the Spanish coach keen to keep one man at the club despite offers to sell.

Aston Villa flying high under Emery

Though a 0-0 home draw with struggling Manchester United dampened spirits at Villa Park somewhat, it has been an excellent start to the season for the midlands side.

Currently fifth in the Premier League, they have lost just once (to second-placed Arsenal) and are just four points off early pace setters Liverpool.

Premier League table as it stands

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

Liverpool

7

6

0

1

11

18

Manchester City

7

5

2

0

9

17

Arsenal

7

5

2

0

9

17

Chelsea

7

4

2

1

7

14

Aston Villa

7

4

2

1

3

14

Though their fixture list has not been the most demanding (including games against struggling Everton, West Ham and Leicester City), they have still made a strong start to their attempts to become a mainstay at the top after their fourth-placed finish last season.

Their best moment of the season so far has come in the Champions League though; playing in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 1980s, they have won both of their games so far, including a 1-0 win over German giants Bayern Munich at Villa Park, settled by a fantastic strike from Jhon Duran.

It follows a tricky summer transfer window in which Duran was one of several players that could well have been sold in a bid to balance the books at Villa Park as they battled financial fair play regulations.

He was not the only star to have proved his worth after being denied a move though.

Emery personally blocked Aston Villa exit

That comes as The Athletic report that Emery personally intervened to block young defender Lamare Bogarde’s departure from Villa Park after a bid was received from Nottingham Forest over the summer.

Villa’s midlands rivals tabled a £4m offer to sign the defender, and it had already been decided that Bogarde “move on or agree a new deal” before the new campaign.

Yet to break into the first team, he had been dubbed “quality” by Joey Barton during a loan spell with Bristol Rovers.

“He’s quality, isn’t he?” Barton said. “You can see his composure and he is young in terms of years on the clock, but he is very mature and he passes the ball correctly.”

But a debut for Villa was yet to emerge.

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However, Emery, who was “a growing advocate” of the youngster, chose to take him on the pre-season tour of the USA rather than accept an offer from their Premier League rivals. During that tour, Bogarde impressed and “convinced Emery he should be part of his 2024-25 squad”, something that saw him sign a new deal at Villa Park not long after.

He has gone on to make two appearances this season, both coming in an unfamiliar right-back role rather than the centre-back role he has played for much of his youth career, with Bogarde asked to tuck inside when required similarly to Ezri Konsa when the England international plays the same role.

Clearly, Emery has seen something in the youngster, and given his reputation for developing young talent, that will be an exciting theme to watch this season.