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Although much of their focus will undoubtedly be on regaining their automatic Championship promotion place from Leeds United, Ipswich Town could yet get one over on the Midlands club in the transfer market to land a future gem.

Ipswich Town transfer news

No matter which way the promotion race goes, Kieran McKenna and Ipswich deserve massive credit for the position they've battled to be in, having only just bounced back to England's second division last season. It would be a moment to remember in history if they managed to secure back-to-back promotions, but with the automatic spot conceded to Leeds in recent weeks, it remains to be seen whether Ipswich can complete what was once the unthinkable.

Whether they find themselves in the Premier League or Championship next season, Ipswich's transfer policy will remain the same, as they look to build for the long haul. The January transfer window saw the Tractor Boys take a similar approach, as they welcomed 21-year-old Ali Al-Hamadi from AFC Wimbledon as well as 21-year-old Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Now, with the summer transfer window fast approaching, McKenna and Co could move to sign another gem. According to the Daily Record, Ipswich are eyeing a move to sign Bobby Wales from Kilmarnock, having seen the forward perform well on loan at Alloa Athletic in Scotland's League One.

Newcastle reporter shares development on Ipswich interest in Paul Dummett

Another Championship side are also keen on him.

By
Henry Jackson

Feb 1, 2024

If they do want to secure the 18-year-old's signature this summer, then Ipswich will have to beat Leeds and Stoke City, however, in what could be a tight race. The Tractor Boys will be hoping that, by the time the window arrives, they'll have the advantage of Premier League football to offer over fellow promotion contenders Leeds. The teenager is certainly one for the future, though it remains to be seen just where that future will be.

"Excellent" Wales is one for the future

Given the interest from the Championship, it's fair to say that the forward has impressed whilst out on loan at Alloa Athletic this season, with Wales' stats painting an impressive picture. The young forward has scored nine goals and assisted a further three in just nine appearances in all competitions so far this season. The more game time and goals that come his way, the more that Derek McInnes may have to start thinking about a Kilmarnock first-team place for the youngster.

Wales has certainly earned plenty of fans already in Scotland too, with The Young Team – an account dedicated to scouting young Scotland players – previously posting on X:

It's the type of talent that Ipswich will be hoping to benefit from, especially if they can beat Leeds to his signature this summer to get one over on their Championship rivals.

Julian Alvarez proved his value to Argentina, as his goal set tone and led club to Copa America final

After all, Lionel Messi did show up.

The Argentine had received his fair share of criticism in what had been a goal-less run in the Copa America, and with good reason. His performance had been far short of his usual standards in his nation’s colors.

They beat Canada 2-0 in the Copa semifinals at MetLife Stadium, and advanced to Sunday's final, awaiting the winner of Colombia-Uruguay. And in reality it was never really that close. La Albiceleste strolled through the game for the most part. 

Julian Alvarez may have done enough to earn himself a spot in the XI for good, with the Man City forward finally finding his best at the right time – and did so while Messi returned to his usual self.

Clean, concise, and in the right place at the right time. Age aside, Messi remains crucial to Argentina's success.

Canada offered some attacking ideas. They have certainly improved in such a short period of time under Jesse Marsch.

“I've been saying that it'll be hard when we're all done to say goodbye because I've really enjoyed the process with this team, and I think we've made a lot of progress together," Marsch said postgame. "I took this job seven weeks ago. I couldn't have imagined that I'd be right here right now … 'm really happy with the team and really happy with the progress."

Alphonso Davies caused problems, but exited the game with an injury – and Canada's dreams ended with his substitution late. In the end, they lacked the clinical nature of the reigning champions, and it showed.

And Argentina simply stood taller. Lionel Scaloni has now led this side to three straight tournament finals. Chances are, he is in line for a third win. GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from MetLife Stadium.

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  WINNER: Julian Alvarez

  Argentina's team picks itself these days. Scaloni has mostly the same group of players that won the 2022 World Cup, and with no injuries to contend with, the manager doesn't have many big decisions to make. But the form of Lautaro Martinez – who turned in a number of impressive showings in the group stage – complicated things for Scaloni. Here, he decided to stick with Alvarez, who had played such a crucial role in Qatar 18 months ago. And his decision paid dividends.

  Alvarez wasn't relentlessly involved in play. But he made a constant impact. He made all of the right runs into space, fought for loose balls, and hounded the Canada backline. When his moment came, Alvarez pounced, taking his goal well after making a smart run between the split center backs. Scaloni, it seems, made the right call.

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  LOSER: Alphonso Davies

  The Bayern Munich man faces a number of questions about his future. His contract in Germany is running down, and there is reportedly little talk of a new deal to stay in Bavaria. Linked with a move abroad, Real Madrid has shown immense interest, but nothing has arrived in concrete form.

  This summer, then, figured to be something of a distraction – if not an opportunity for a top-tier talent to re-assert himself as a global star. And for three weeks, all looked well. Davies has been integral to this Canada side's surprise success, scampering up and down the left wing with glee.

  On Tuesday, though, his luck ran out. Davies enjoyed some good moments, and made important driving runs early on. But early in the second half, his ankle gave out, forcing the captain off the pitch – and seeing his side's slim final hopes fade away as a result.

  Post-game, it was revealed he was taken to a local hospital for X-rays on what appeared to be an ankle injury. Marsch was concise with his commentd, leaving much to speculation.

  “We’re hopeful he’s OK but we’re not sure," the manager said.

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  WINNER: Lionel Messi

  It has been a less-than-perfect tournament for the Argentine in the country he now calls home. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has been short of his usual best for weeks, failing to find the net, and strolling around even more than usual. This was a player who didn't look particularly fit, whose last big moment for his national team may have slipped away.

  Of course, that all changed. Because this is Messi, and Messi does Messi things.

  His goal wasn't exactly a beauty – he rolled the ball in off a deflected shot from two yards out. But his impact on the game throughout was vital. He picked up the ball in pockets of space, created problems with his movement and threaded passes.

  Canada refused to man-mark the Argentine, and felt the impact dearly. Too often, numerous defenders slid towards him, and opened up gaps elsewhere. This was the perfect example of a late career Messi performance – one in which he was seldom on the ball, but made the most of his chances. Another international trophy might await.

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  WINNER: The Copa America

  Well, the fans got at least one finalist they wanted. Brazil-Argentina would have been a dream rematch (even if the Selecao have struggled of late.) Of course, Brazil were bounced from the competition last week. And the presumptive favorites stayed alive with the win against Canada.

  International tournaments tend to be about spectacle. The big teams are supposed to play the big matches in front of as many fans as possible. The Copa America, in other words, Argentina in the final. They will have a tough time against the winner of Cololmbia-Uruguay, but they will certainly be considered likely winners in the fixture – an outcome that can only be good for the tournament.

Spain stars Alvaro Morata and Rodri have been charged by UEFA for their chants about Gibraltar during the team's post-Euro 2024 celebrations.

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• Spain beat England in Euro 2024 final
• Players involved in controversial celebrations
• Action taken against Spain duo

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rodri and Morata have been charged by UEFA for chants about Gibraltar after the team's Euro 2024 win. The duo were heard chanting "Gibraltar is Spanish" during La Roja's celebrations which saw a complaint lodged by the Gibraltar FA for "the extremely provocative and insulting nature of the celebrations."  An ethics and disciplinary inspector was appointed to look into the incident and disciplinary proceedings have now been opened.

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  WHAT UEFA SAID

  The charges relates to violations of the general principles of conduct, basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for non-sporting manifestations, and bringing the sport and UEFA into disrepute. According to a UEFA statement, a decision "is expected in due course." The two players could be hit with a two-match ban if UEFA opts to sanction both players, according to Marca.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gibraltar is on the southernmost tip of Spain but has been a British territory since 1713. Spain has long called for its return but saw a referendum on Spanish sovereignty rejected in 1967 by its population. The dispute has continued until the present day and has been further complicated by the UK's exit from the European Union in 2020.Gibraltar has been a full member of UEFA since 2013.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SPAIN

  Morata and Rodri must wait to see what action, if any, is taken for their celebrations. The duo are scheduled to return to action with the Spain national team in September with Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Switzerland.

West Ham United have a glorious opportunity to secure a third successive Premier League victory against Burnley on Sunday afternoon after falling to a bitter defeat against Freiburg in the Europa League last time out.

David Moyes' side have not been at the races since defeating Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium before the new year, but have rekindled their league form in recent weeks to keep pace in the race for continental qualification, and while the Irons were on top against Freiburg, Michael Gregoritsch leapt off the bench to give his side the first-leg advantage.

Recent Premier League wins over Brentford and Everton have moved West Ham back into seventh place – just two points behind Manchester United – but victory must now be clinched against struggling Burnley to confirm their newfound vein of form.

West Ham team news vs Burnley

While the east London side will be confident of securing victory, injuries to Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri have given Moyes a defensive headache to wrestle with.

That said, the likes of Ben Johnson could fill in for Emerson, while Aguerd has been displaced by Konstantinos Mavropanos in recent weeks anyway, with the latter's pace and energy likely to give him the nod.

Maxwel Cornet remains sidelined, but West Ham are expected to field a strong lineup despite Thursday's looming showdown against Freiburg in London.

Why West Ham must unleash Michail Antonio vs Burnley

Jarrod Bowen has been excellent for West Ham this season and is probably the favourite to win the club's Player of the Year award, having been one of the standout forwards in the Premier League this season.

Principally a right winger, Bowen has excelled up top with Danny Ings flattering to deceive and Michail Antonio spending much of the past several months injured, but the veteran talisman returned in February and has featured in the past three games.

Bowen is just as effective in his natural right-sided position, and this tweak would allow Mohammed Kudus to inject his pace and power from the left side, with Antonio's physicality – the 33-year-old has been described as a "monster" by journalist Paul Brown – perfect for creating holes and allowing the aforementioned wide-men to overlap and cause chaos.

As per FBref, the £85k-per-week Antonio ranks among the top 9% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting how he can penetrate the Clarets.

Moreover, the veteran talisman has plundered six goals and two assists across 14 career appearances against Burnley, with his seven-goal record against Watford the only higher tally.

Ultimately, West Ham should have enough in the tank to defeat Burnley, and while focus will inevitably linger on next week's crunch contest against Freiburg, Moyes must unleash Antonio to shuffle the pack while maintaining a sense of strength in the frontline.

Chelsea haven't been shy of a signing or two under the ownership of Todd Boehly, with the American splashing over £1b on transfers since his acquisition of the Blues back in 2022.

Some of the additions made by Boehly have proven to be a success, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi all appearing to be money well spent.

However, the vast majority of the signings made under Boehly's leadership have been unsuccessful, with the club wasting a lot of money on players who haven't cut it in the Premier League.

Marc Cucarella and Wesley Fofana both arrived at Stamford Bridge for fees over £50m with the pair failing to live up to expectations – with Fofana especially struggling after his multiple lengthy spells on the sideline with injury.

The club's spending has caused questions to be asked about their FFP status, with the club announcing pre-tax losses of £90m for the year ending June 2023 – with the west Londoners having to potentially utilise players currently in the squad or their youth setup.

The Blues may live to regret selling a player last summer, with the former Chelsea talent currently achieving great things in the Europa League this season.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's stats at Chelsea

After joining the club aged eight, midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek eventually made his debut in the 2014/15 season under then-boss José Mourinho, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

The midfielder became a more frequent player within the Chelsea squad throughout the 2015/16 season, making 13 appearances in the Premier League, with the majority coming from the bench.

Loftus-Cheek needed consistent top-flight game time if he was to progress at Stamford Bridge, with the youngster joining Crystal Palace on loan for the 2017/18 campaign – a loan spell that would catapult him into the first-team picture at Chelsea.

After a successful spell at Selhurst Park, he returned to Chelsea, making 40 appearances in all competitions, scoring ten times, including four in the Europa League.

His 2018/19 campaign was his best for the Blues, before making another 56 Premier League appearances over three campaigns for the club, with a loan stint at Fulham in 2020/21.

However, the towering midfielder decided to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer of 2023 to find more consistent minutes, with the now 28-year-old plying his trade in Italy for AC Milan.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's stats since leaving Chelsea

Since arriving at the San Siro, the "invincible" midfielder, as described by writer Zach Lowy, has impressed in Serie A and the Europa League, even staking his claim for an England recall.

The midfielder has featured 33 times in all competitions for Milan, including a spell in Europe which has seen him score four times in four appearances after settling into life in Italy.

His recent form has been impressive, with the Blues potentially letting go of a player who is an upgrade on current Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the 28-year-old's tally of 11 goal contributions blowing Gallagher's tally of seven out of the water.

Both men have operated in a number ten berth for their respective clubs this season, but it is Loftus-Cheek who appears to be shining, ranking in the top 2% among his peers in Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90 – his compatriot, meanwhile, ranks in just the top 31% and the top 28% for those same two metrics, respectively.

An elegant all-rounder, Loftus-Cheek may be one player whom the club will regret moving on, having perhaps pulled the trigger too early with regard to sanctioning his sale…

Arsenal stars Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard mingled with pop icon Justin Bieber after a friendly win in Los Angeles.

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• Gunners on tour in the United States
• Came from behind to beat Red Devils
• Famous faces among those in the crowd

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With the Gunners in action not far from the Hollywood Hills, there was always a chance that A-list guests would be in attendance for a meeting with Manchester United. That was the case as Mikel Arteta’s side recovered from falling a goal behind to see off the Red Devils 2-1.

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  Brazil internationals Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli were on target at SoFi Stadium – the impressive home of the LA-based Rams and Chargers NFL franchises. Arsenal also got some penalty practice in during a post-game shootout.

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• THE GOSSIP

  After events on the field had finished, Gunners players were free to rub shoulders with some of those in the crowd. Arsenal captain Odegaard was among the first to make a beeline for music superstar Bieber, as he watched on from a pitch-side seat.

Paul Mullin has revealed the extreme pain he endured while playing with a spinal injury last season for Wrexham.

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• Mullin played on through injury
• Forced to take painkillers
• Eventually had spinal surgery this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mullin underwent 'minor' spinal surgery earlier this summer, after lower back and hamstring injuries left him experiencing pain and discomfort throughout last season. The Wrexham star played on and helped guide his team to automatic promotion from League Two, but after finally undergoing surgery he has opened up about how much he struggled during this period.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mullin was forced to miss Wrexham's pre-season tour in America this summer, instead spending time recovering from surgery with his family. He was initially expected to miss the start of the 2024-25 campaign too, when Wrexham will play in League One for the first time in 20 years. However, reports suggest Mullin may be back "sooner rather than later".

• WHAT MULLIN SAID

  “It’s something I’ve struggled with for a while," Mullin told LeaderLive. "Because I was managing to play with the injury, I wasn’t sure about having the operation but the pain was getting worse. I couldn’t even put my socks on the day after a match." He continued: “I don’t like taking pain-killers but I had to. That’s when we decided it had to be surgery and it’s proved to be the correct decision.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Despite the positive news regarding his recovery, Mullin will still be a doubt for Wrexham's first game back in League One, a home clash at the Racecourse Ground against Wycombe Wanderers. It will be a stern test against a team who were recently playing in the second tier, but Wrexham's squad are more than capable of competing at this level, even without their star striker.

It's all coming to a head in the Premier League now, with the 2023/24 campaign drawing toward its closing stage and the heat throughout the division intensifying.

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur side recently dispatched Aston Villa away from home to slash their deficit to the fourth-placed team to just two points, and with a game in hand.

While Spurs were dismal for large portions of last season, there has been a refreshing new take under Postecoglou's management that has seen the transfer recruitment polished and the progress on the pitch ramped up, with some entertaining and proactive football to boot.

While the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson and Guglielmo Vicario have been tremendous since completing transfers to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer, the club's youthful underbelly speaks of an exciting future fighting for silverware and competing on the continent.

8/10 Spurs star has been even more impressive than Johnson recently

Ange’s side are clicking into gear as they chase down Champions League qualification.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 12, 2024

While this wave of quality within the Lilywhites academy is far greater and more prolific than anything seen over many years, Tottenham have chugged out a prospect or two over the years (Harry Kane, stand up) but they haven't always been convinced of remaining in north London, with Chelsea winger Noni Madueke a prime example.

Why Spurs let Noni Madueke leave

Days ago, Madueke celebrated his 22nd birthday in London, and while he has yet to cement a regular starting berth for Chelsea after returning to England, he's definitely made some good choices thus far in his career.

Madueke spent much of his teenage years on the Tottenham books, impressing for the academy and even making an appearance back in the 2016/17 U18 Premier League campaign, yet to break into adulthood.

But he departed the club when PSV Eindhoven came calling and detailed in an interview with Sky Sports the reason for making this decision aged just 16.

"Tottenham was a great academy and they’ve got a great development plan. I’d been offered a scholarship agreement at Tottenham but I’d seen a lot of the boys – that were good as well – just kind of get lost in the system and I just didn’t want that for me.

“Going to PSV is not going to harm my development at all and if I’m good enough, I’m going to play quick in the first team, so that was really my mindset. I’m thinking ‘if I jump the queue, I’ll just be better than all my peers because whilst they’re playing Under-18’s and Under-21’s, I’ll be playing against men.”

It's hard to argue that Madueke's thought-out approach to his early development was inauspicious, having caught the eye as one of the Dutch Eredivisie's most promising youngsters after leaving London.

Noni Madueke's transfer value after leaving Spurs

Madueke, despite his youth, posted 20 goals and 14 assists across 80 senior appearances for PSV before leaving, with his performances leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to pronounce him a "wonderkid."

Such displays caught Chelsea's attention around 14 months ago as they looked to combat an abject start to life under Todd Boehly's ownership, and Spurs' London rivals forked out some £29m to snap him up in January 2023.

Spurs made big mistake with £27m flop who's earning more than Van de Ven

This player failed to live up to the hype in the Premier League, albeit with some good moments.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 13, 2024

Chelsea continue to flatter to deceive and Madueke has not quite enjoyed the return to the capital that he would have envisaged, but he's undoubtedly a top talent and Tottenham might come to regret pushing him toward the exit so soon.

His fleet-footedness and dynamism would be perfect in Postecoglou's system and he certainly offers skill surpassing that of Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil, the latter notably without a single goal or assist in 2023/24.

On a wage of £50k-per-week at Chelsea, Madueke is actually earning the same weekly salary as Van de Ven right now, so were he kept hold of for longer Spurs could have enjoyed his precocity for little expense before, potentially, shipping him out for a lucrative fee.

Or indeed utilising his abilities and bringing him to the fore at an improving and attractive project in N17.

Noni Madueke's Chelsea career so far

Madueke arrived at Stamford Bridge in the middle of a bleak winter, with cash splashed on a slew of stars to shape this new era at Chelsea. It didn't work.

Tottenham did not enjoy a good campaign by any stretch but Chelsea slumped to a 12th place Premier League finish, with 11 victories and 16 defeats.

Madueke was young and untested in English football but he impressed sporadically, starting seven times in the top-flight, scoring once – in a defeat against Arsenal – completing 82% of his passes, averaging 1.1 key passes, 2.8 dribbles and 5.2 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

He has the trappings of a real player and Chelsea recognised this, with writer Bobby Vincent speaking of Madueke's potential and the regard that he was held in by the club's powers that be.

The journalist said: "There's a genuine belief from senior officials at Chelsea that the former Spurs youngster can develop into a world-class talent at Cobham. Madueke is a really exciting footballer to watch and he will certainly cause problems for full-backs thanks to his blistering speed, his fearlessness and his directness with the ball at his feet."

The cogs haven't quite meshed together yet but Madueke has some standout qualities that point toward a future of real success, with his core attributes already on show.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 2% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 17% for tackles and the top 1% for clearances per 90.

But what does that actually tell us? Well, he's got some breakneck pace at his feet, that's for sure, and while he's been neither clinical nor incisive in his goalscoring and playmaking under Mauricio Pochettino's wing, he's deadly on the wing and surges into the danger area with frightening regularity.

Moreover, Madueke is an active defensive member and will always chip in and provide support to his defensive peers, demonstrating the kind of commitment and desire that Postecoglou demands from his players.

Had Tottenham given him an opportunity, there's no telling whether he could have garnered a similar fee to the one that pulled him toward Stamford Bridge, but there's no question that a bit more prudence might have been wise, allowing him to complete a series of loan moves to settle his feet on the major stage.

Described as a "mentality monster" by reporter Samuel Isaksson-Hurst in the past, Madueke has everything he needs to find his feet in London, performing from the outset with constancy in the Premier League.

Ruefully, it's a shame it's not going to be with Tottenham.

Aston Villa returned from the international break in wonderful form, securing a much-needed 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

The win ensures that they remain fourth in the league table, three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, albeit they have a game in hand.

Unai Emery is clearly building something special at Villa Park. By securing Champions League football for next season, he will be able to attract even better players, using the financial boost to strengthen his side.

He recruited well in January, with Morgan Rogers an exciting signing who was signed from Championship side Middlesbrough.

The youngster enjoyed arguably his finest performance in a Villa jersey against Wolves.

Morgan Rogers’ game in numbers against Wolves

The winger was given a start by Emery with the hope that he could use his creativity and dribbling skills to good effect.

It certainly paid off. During the clash, Rogers attempted five dribbles, succeeding with all five, while he was fouled twice, indicating that the player was a big danger in the final third for the Midlands side.

The former Boro gem was also impressive when taking on opposition players, winning eight of his 12 ground duels contested, and he is swiftly becoming a reliable figure in the Villa first-team squad.

Another player who was even more impressive than Rogers during the comfortable win over the Old Gold was Moussa Diaby, as the Frenchman is becoming undroppable due to his displays of late.

Moussa Diaby shone for Villa against Wolves

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has been deployed in a more central role of late, tending to partner Ollie Watkins up top in Emery’s 4-4-2 formation. It certainly worked a treat on the weekend.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring for his side, smashing home a shot which no goalkeeper would have stopped, giving him a much-needed confidence boost.

Diaby also managed to grab an assist for Ezri Konsa to score the goal that sealed all three points, proving how important he can be if deployed as a centre-forward.

Along with his goal contributions, the 5 foot 7 dynamo succeeded with 50% of his dribble attempts, made two key passes, delivered a cross and lost possession just nine times during the clash.

If he can replicate this form over the coming weeks, Emery’s men will have a wonderful chance of securing a top-four finish, securing a spot in the promised land of the Champions League.

Previously hailed as “wonderful” by Statman Dave during his time in the Bundesliga, it has taken a few months for Diaby to really hit the ground running and showcase his true potential.

With eight Premier League matches to go, the Frenchman has scored five goals while registering nine assists, which is a solid return for a player who has struggled in spells at Villa.

Should he add another few goals and assists between now and the end of the season, he could give himself a solid platform to build on ahead of next season.

Aston Villa's 7/10 star enjoyed his best performance yet vs Wolves

Aston Villa recorded a solid 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday evening

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 31, 2024

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has personally assured Conor Gallagher that he remains keen to sign him from Chelsea this summer.

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• Gallagher was on verge of joining Atletico
• Deal stalled as Omorodion move other way collapsed
• Both teams trying to find solution

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea and Atletico Madrid had agreed a £33 million ($42m) deal for Gallagher to join the Spanish club and the England midfielder even flew to visit the Metropolitano Stadium while the move was finalised. But complications in Samu Omorodion’s switch the other way have left the saga in doubt. According to , Atletico head coach Simeone got in touch with Gallagher before he flew back to the UK to reassure him that he was still keen to get a deal done.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gallagher was reportedly barred from first-team training, so his return to west London marks an awkward moment for both the club. The deal is not currently dead but the 24-year-old is wasting valuable time with his potential new team as the two parties work to find a solution.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gallagher captained Chelsea for the majority of the 2023-24 campaign while regular skipper Reece James and vice Ben Chilwell were sidelined with injury. Despite his loyalty to the club, the Blues are still working hard to get the midfielder out the door and are now believed to be working to sign Joao Felix from Atletico instead of Omorodion in an effort to revive Gallagher's desired move to Spain.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER?

  Atletico Madrid will have been hoping to have Gallagher settled in by the time their La Liga opener against Villarreal comes about next Monday but it looks to be a tough ask. The Cobham academy graduate has returned to training with Chelsea and can only wait to see if an agreement with the Spanish side can be reached.