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Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal greatest asset, says Louis Saha, and will be a 2026 World Cup threat because he has “same heart as a 20-year-old”.

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• Still going strong at the age of 40
• Remains captain of his country
• Expected to grace another World Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Questions have been asked of whether Ronaldo should be figuring as prominently for his country at 40 years of age as he did when performing at the peak of his powers. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently captained Portugal as they booked their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.

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  He has reached 219 caps for his country, scoring 136 goals, and is still going strong at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Various options are being mooted for CR7 as his contract in the Middle East runs down, but he is expected to grace another World Cup finals next summer.

• WHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID

  Ex-Manchester United striker Saha sees no reason why his former team-mate should not figure prominently at that event, telling : “I think that he's still got the same heart as a 20-year-old. He expresses every emotion. His desire is there, and I hope that he can still prove that he can help. That is what he did (against Denmark). I’m very impressed by him being in that kind of form at this age. It's an enormous achievement.

  “He has provided some interviews lately saying that he just wants to be there. He just wants to participate and to be an asset for Portugal and for any team that he's playing for. So yes, who would not want that guy to still score goals and still help his country to lift trophies? I'm a big, big supporter.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pressed further on whether Ronaldo will be remembered as the GOAT when the day finally comes for him to head into retirement, Saha added: “I think, yes, it's for me the one that I always said that he's the most complete player. In that regard, it's someone that can do everything on the field. Physically and football, IQ combined and all this, yes, as a player. As a player, he is the best version of a football player if you want to start any game at any level.

  “But if you want to have a bit different style because you have a team of other, talented players, you can maybe look at others. But as a machine, as a robot, he is the closest version.”

In the 2018/19 season, Chelsea spent €208.80m (£172.4m) making three huge permanent signings for Maurizio Sarri, alongside two loan deals for Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain.

During this season, the Blues finished third in the Premier League and won the UEFA Europa League, beating Arsenal 4-1 in Baku. Jorginho was seen as the most important of these signings, as he played a key role for Sarri at Napoli, and was looking to translate that system to the Premier League, bringing the Italian midfielder with him.

But the most expensive signing made that summer, has caused controversy from the very beginning, from a moment where he refused to be subbed off, to the present, where he clearly isn’t worth the wages he’s earning for the club.

Chelsea's costly transfer mistake

Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for a fee of around £71.6m, arrived to replace Thibaut Courtois, who joined Real Madrid for around £35m in the same summer window.

Speaking at the time, Blues director Marina Granovskaia outlined her excitement at the capture of the 23-year-old, stating:

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

The former Bilbao man made 160 appearances for the club, keeping 59 clean sheets, conceding 175 goals and totalling 14,523 minutes played, yet has largely failed to convince over the past six years or so.

The Spanish keeper was often criticised for his form at Chelsea, with pundit Ian Wright notably stating back in 2023 that he simply “makes too many mistakes”. Indeed, the 2020/21 campaign, for instance, saw him lead the way in the division among his fellow ‘keepers, with regard to errors leading to goals (three).

The 30-year-old is earning £150k-per-week at Chelsea, but is currently out on loan with Bournemouth this season, with the Cherries paying half of his wages (£75k).

But when he returns to the club next season, Kepa will have one year left on his deal, taking him to June 2026.

Whilst Chelsea’s goalkeeper position is far from secure, the club will want to move Kepa’s high wages on, keeping their current selection of shotstoppers on more reasonable wages, and potentially looking to acquire a new number one when the time is right.

How Kepa compares to Chelsea's current goalkeepers

Robert Sanchez was signed from Brighton in 2023, joining the club for a fee of around £25m. Since joining, the 27-year-old has made 36 appearances in all competitions, conceding 48 goals, keeping eight clean sheets and totalling 3,234 minutes played.

Chelsea also made another signing in this department during the summer, acquiring Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal for a fee of around £20.7m. The 22-year-old has made ten appearances for the Blues so far, conceding just nine goals, keeping four clean sheets and totalling 900 minutes played.

When comparing the three goalkeepers’ performances this season, Kepa has the worst save percentage despite conceding the most shots against him, has conceded the most goals per 90, and has made the fewest passes (mainly down to Bournemouth’s direct playstyle).

The two current Chelsea options have performed better, making more saves despite facing fewer shots, conceding fewer goals per 90, making more passes per 90 and stopping more crosses/commanding their area better.

Considering both Sanchez and Jorgensen are performing better and are on lower wages – earning £60k-per-week and £50k-per-week, respectively – Chelsea should certainly look to move the Granovskaia signing on at the end of the season, whether that is to Bournemouth on a permanent deal or elsewhere.

Beware Jackson: Chelsea chasing "monster" who'd be their own Gyokeres

Chelsea can sign their very own Gyokeres with “true monster”

By
Connor Holden

Dec 18, 2024

Arsenal are in ongoing discussions with the representatives of a Barcelona forward ahead of the looming January transfer window, and he could prove an extremely viable alternative to both Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.

Mikel Arteta hints at possibility of new winger for Arsenal in January

The Gunners have been dealt multiple injury blows in a key area of the pitch over these last few days, with Sterling and Saka now confirmed to be out for weeks through injury, as manager Mikel Arteta is handed a major selection headache.

"Extraordinary" player "top" Arsenal target to replace £200k-per-week star

The Gunners are putting plans in motion.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 24, 2024

Things were just beginning to look far more productive in the final third, after their brief struggle to score from open play in the Premier League, having just battered Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park – with the resurgent Gabriel Jesus making it five goals in two games against the Eagles.

The result has unfortunately been overshadowed by Saka’s injury, with the England star forced off on 24 minutes with a hamstring problem, and reports suggest that he could be facing a very lengthy lay-off – beyond Arteta’s confirmation.

Indeed, it has been reported since Arteta’s latest update that Arsenal fear Saka could be out until March (The Daily Mail), and that would be a seismic blow to their title hopes considering just how pivotal the £195,000-per-week winger is to their system.

Sterling’s knee injury means that the north Londoners cannot call upon the loanee summer signing to fill in for Saka, prompting rumours that Arsenal could bring forward their plans to sign a new winger in time for January.

Arteta, speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of Ipswich, refuses to rule out the possibility of a new emergency wide option – despite prioritising the use of his current resources.

“The preparation is done,” said Arteta on Arsenal bringing in January reinforcements.

“We are ready if something happens. Obviously we didn’t predict the situation with Bukayo and Raheem at the same time. We predicted more if something has happened, for example, in the defensive line. But the job is done. Then, okay, if something has to happen we will be open. But the main focus is now how we should strive to distil the potential that there is in this squad.”

Arsenal in "positive" talks with Dani Olmo's representatives ahead of January

Now, according to Sky Sports reporter and Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri, a very intriguing option has surfaced in Barcelona playmaker Dani Olmo.

The 41-cap Spain international only joined Hansi Flick’s side for an initial £46 million in the summer, but Barca’s financial problems, combined with an overall lack of opportunities as a mainstay starter, means he could depart this winter.

Catalans president Joan Laporta needs to rejig the club’s books to pay his £149,000-per-week salary for the second half of 24/25, and their trouble with affording Olmo’s wages means he could leave the Camp Nou “free of any contract” next month.

That is according to Tavolieri, who writes in a column for Sky, that Arsenal are in “positive contacts” with Olmo’s representatives ahead of January, and it is believed Barca’s versatile attacker could be one of the “big” talking points of the next transfer window.

The 26-year-old, who’s operated both out wide and through the centre of attacking midfield this season, has registered six goals and an assist in all competitions over 15 total appearances so far.

GOAL takes a look at key storylines and trends heading into the Matchday 7 of the 2025 MLS season

Matchday 7 of the MLS season is here, and teams are on the hunt for three points. Inter Miami sit atop the Supporters' Shield heading into the weekend, as the take on Toronto FC in Sunday Night Soccer on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ – with Javier Mascherano's side looking to extend their lead.

In a race to keep up with Messi and Co. in the East, two of the Conference's finest – Orlando City and Philadelphia Union – play Saturday, with each club looking to stay in the race with the reigning regular-season champions.

In the Western Conference, two storylines take centerstage this weekend. Sporting Kansas City will play rivals St. Louis CITY SC in their first match without Peter Vermes as manager since his appointment in 2009. And the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake are searching for identities as they clash in Utah. Both franchises are off to poor starts to the 2025 campaign, but an in-form player on each side could be the key.

GOAL dives into all that and more in The Kickoff, a weekly preview of MLS Matchdays.

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  The race to keep pace with Miami

  Philadelphia host Orlando on Saturday in a clash between two of the Eastern Conference's best teams. The Union are coming off of a valiant performance against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in which they fell, 2-1. However, striker Tai Baribo has emerged as an early frontrunner for MLS MVP this season as he leads the league in scoring in the race for the Golden Boot.

  Meanwhile, teen prodigy Cavan Sullivan looks for an opportunity with the first-team as Philly becomes one of the biggest storylines this season.

  Orlando are unbeaten in their last three matches and are coming off of two straight wins. Attacker Martin Ojeda is a man in-form, with four goals and three assists on the season, while striker Luis Muriel seems to finally be finding his footing in MLS after joining from Serie A side Atalanta in 2024. The Colombian has three goals and three assists in six appearances.

  Philly sit second in the East on 12 points, while Orlando are in a four-way tie at 10 points, sitting seventh in the standings. The winner of the match will move up the table as they look to keep pace with Miami.

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  Can LA or RSL end slumps?

  It has been six weeks to forget for reigning champions LA Galaxy. The 2024 MLS Cup winners have yet to win, and are sitting on just two points through six matches.

  Without Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil available due to injury, they've been struggling with linking all areas of the pitch – but a bright spot has emerged. MLS veteran Christian Ramirez has found his shooting boots in recent weeks after an offseason transfer away from the Columbus Crew. The 34-year-old has three goals, and will look to add to that tally in Utah this weekend.

  RSL, meanwhile, are looking to figure themselves out. They have yet to replace star striker Chicho Arango, and their attack has been left hanging. However, U.S. international Diego Luna is their X-factor heading into the match. The 21-year-old has one goal and two assists to start the season, and at home, he could use a big game to really get his season underway – and Saturday presents that opportunity.

  LA sit 13th and RSL 11th in the West, as both look to find a sense of attacking identity in the search for victory on Matchday 7.

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  Post-Vermes era begins

  For the first time since their rebrand to Sporting Kansas City in 2009, the club will be without Peter Vermes on the touchline, as the veteran coach was fired earlier this week. The club host rivals St. Louis CITY SC this weekend in what is expected to be a heated derby.

  Three points will be on the minds of Sporting, of course, but more than anything they're looking for a statement performance that shows they can compete without their longtime manager.

  After brining in $4M man Dejan Joveljic earlier this offseason, along with new DP midfielder Manu Garcia, Sporting will look to climb the Western Conference table. Sporting sit last in the West on just one point through six games with a minus-6 goal-differential.

  Can they prove they can succeed without Vermes? Or will their rivals overpower them at home?

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  What's trending?

  + The San Jose Earthquakes host D.C. United on Sunday, in a rematch of the first MLS game on April 6, 1996 – part of the league's celebration of its 30th anniversary. The Earthquakes will hold a halftime ceremony with legends returning to PayPal park to mark the occasion.

  + With a goal or an assist on Sunday, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi will become the club's all-time leading goal contributor for the , passing Gonzalo Higuain. He's currently tied with his former Argentine compatriot with 43 goal-contributions.

  + With a win against Nashville SC on Saturday, Charlotte FC would become the fifth-fastest MLS franchise to achieve 100 regular season points at home, excluding the shootout era. The club would reach the milestone in their 55th match.

As the January transfer window approaches, Fulham are facing a battle to keep hold of one of their key players, but they have now been offered an interesting proposition which could improve the squad in the long term.

Fulham transfer news

After a solid start to the Premier League season, Marco Silva’s Fulham appear to be running out of steam. They’ve won just one of their last six games in the top flight, losing once and drawing the other four. Most recently, they were held to a goalless draw with the league’s bottom club, Southampton, which Silva described as a “missed opportunity”.

“We should have won the game, definitely. We tried everything from the start. It is impossible to finish a game with more attacking players in our team,” said the Portuguese boss after the game.

“Our attacking line was never really a threat for them. We had two or three clear chances, but we should have created more. We have to be more incisive and more clinical.”

One positive, however, did come in the form of a debut for 17 year-old midfielder Josh King, who started the game but was replaced by Adama Traore midway through the second half. Now, the Londoners have been offered the chance to add to their upcoming crop of young talent.

Andreas Pereira transfer update

Things could be set to get tougher for Fulham after the New Year as they now face a challenge to keep hold of midfielder Andreas Pereira. Earlier this month, it was reported that Brazilian club Palmeiras had made their first approach to sign Pereira.

The Cottagers consider the former Manchester United star, who currently earns £50,000 per-week at Craven Cottage, to be “untouchable” and will likely shut down Palmeira’s attempt to sign him before it progresses. Silva has previously described Pereira as “outstanding” and a “top professional”.

But now, Nosso Palestra claims that Palmeiras have reached an initial agreement with Pereira over a move to Allianz Parque, leaving only Fulham to convince. The publication claims that Fulham want around £25 million, and to approach that value, Palmeiras are open to including players in the deal, including one of either Vitor Reis or Richard Rios.

The club’s management view both players as easily replaceable: Reis in the center-back role and Rios potentially being succeeded by Pereira himself.

Reis in particular looks an exciting talent who could certainly ease the blow of losing Pereira – the 18 year-old defender has been eyed by several top clubs and has been hailed for his leadership and “commanding, confident presence that’s rare in such a young defender”.

Both Reis and Rios have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain in recent months. Back in October, ESPN Brazil reported that PSG were eyeing the defender, while Antena 2 Deportes reported in August that the Ligue 1 giants had made a £17 million offer for Colombia international Rios.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reassured manager Carlo Ancelotti that his future at the club was safe amid Xabi Alonso and Brazil links.

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• Perez told Ancelotti his Madrid job is secure
• Italian linked with Brazil job
• Xabi Alonso tipped to take over this summer or the next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reassured head coach Carlo Ancelotti that his position at the club is secure. Amid ongoing speculation about Ancelotti’s future, which has once again linked him to the Brazil national team, MARCA reports that Perez met with the Italian coach over coffee at the club's Valdebebas training facilities last Friday and reaffirmed his full confidence in him.

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  Unless something unexpected happens between now and the end of the season, it is expected that Ancelotti will end this season with his Real Madrid job not on the line. Ancelotti signed a two-year extension back in December 2023, with the team firing on all fronts. As is usually the trend at the club, decisions regarding the coach's future at the club will be made at the end of the season in July, after the Club World Cup.

  Despite a challenging season filled with difficult moments — most recently following Real Madrid’s narrow Champions League qualification after eliminating cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid in the last-16 stage — Perez’s message to Ancelotti has been one of reassurance. Real remain competitive in all competitions, and the club values both the manager's leadership and the team’s efforts, especially considering the numerous injuries the squad has faced.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rumors surrounding Ancelotti’s potential move to the Brazil national team, and speculation about Xabi Alonso’s future as Real Madrid’s next manager continue to circulate. However, Alonso is currently under contract with Bayer Leverkusen, where he enjoys the backing of the club for at least one more season. Despite all the rumours, the former Spanish international dodged any questions surrounding his future last week and did not give a clear answer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CARLO ANCELOTTI?

  Although Ancelotti’s contract includes a clause that could potentially see him take on a role other than head coach, Real Madrid’s management remains convinced that he is the best option to lead the team. With his contract set to expire in 2026, it is quite possible that Los Blancos will not see a new coach at the dugout next season.

Declan Rice has been tipped to go on to become the greatest midfielder in England history after his incredible display against Real Madrid this week.

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• Rice scored stunning free-kicks vs Madrid
• Compared to the Premier League's greatest ever
• Carragher sees Roy Keane similarities

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rice stunned the Spanish giants with two free-kick goals as the Gunners ran out 3-0 winners in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday, giving Mikel Arteta's men a significant advantage heading into next week's return leg.

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  His double sparked comparisons to legendary England midfielder Stevie Gerrard by Rio Ferdinand. However, ex-England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said he resembles former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as he argued the player is unfairly criticised.

• WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

  "I have always said Rice has the potential to be the great English midfielder of his generation, and he showed why," Carragher wrote in a column for . "Too often he seems to be criticised for not scoring or creating enough goals, when that is not his primary function. He does not play in the same attacking midfield position as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in their prime. To me, Rice has always been more of a Roy Keane, who scored 57 across his 473 senior club games.

  "If Arsenal go through, Rice’s contribution over both legs will rightly be as revered by his supporters as much as Keane’s for United against Juventus in 1999. My suspicion is Arteta will want him and other stars such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard wrapped in cotton wool before they fly to Spain. Arsenal need a miracle to win the Premier League. So long as they prevent Real Madrid celebrating one of their own on Wednesday, they will have the consolation of being three games from one of the club’s greatest achievements."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RICE?

  Arteta may indeed opt to leave Rice out of the starting XI as his side host Brentford on Saturday before the return leg in the Spanish capital next Wednesday.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement might not be in charge at Ibrox for the majority of the January transfer window, especially if the club suffers yet another defeat to Celtic on Thursday afternoon.

The Premiership title race will definitely be over should this occur, but given the fact the Gers are currently trailing their rivals by 14 points, and it isn’t even January yet, many of the supporters believe that the manager should have been sacked already.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, the Light Blues must bring in some quality during the winter window to bolster the side. Not only that, but several members of the side need to be moved on.

Naturally, the rumour mill has already started with regard to potential incomings and one player that has been linked recently is shining in the Championship.

Rangers showing an interest in signing Championship midfielder

According to journalist Graeme Bailey,, Rangers have an interest in signing Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill on a pre-contract agreement next month.

The Englishman is about to enter the final six months of his current deal with the Turf Moor side, which means clubs can offer him a contract when the January window opens.

Bailey claims in the report that Lazio and Fiorentina have both made pre-contract offers to the midfielder, while English clubs such as Everton, West Ham United and Brentford will have to wait until the summer to make an approach for the player.

Celtic are also showing interest, and it is clear that the Light Blues have plenty of competition if they wish to bring Brownhill north of the border, especially with Premier League sides and clubs from the continent sniffing around.

Transfer Focus

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

Over the years, the Gers have had some success with signing players on a pre-contract when the winter window opens. The likes of Dado Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong and John Souttar moved to Rangers this way in the past.

If the club do manage to sign the Burnley star, however, it could turn out to be a repeat of the move to sign Scott Arfield back in 2018, who moved to Scotland once his contract expired.

Scott Arfield’s Rangers statistics

Arfield became one of Steven Gerrard’s first signings when he moved to Ibrox and, given the fact that he had played nearly 200 games for Burnley, with 86 of these coming in the Premier League, the move was an inspired one.

During his first season, the Scottish-born Canadian international midfielder registered 19 goal contributions – 12 goals and seven assists – across 46 matches, adding some much-needed dynamism in the final third.

This would be a recurring theme during his spell with the club, as Arfield would add quality whenever he was called upon, endearing himself to the supporters in the process.

Overall, Arfield made a total of 233 competitive appearances for the Light Blues, scoring 43 goals and chipping in with 19 assists. He was a key part of the teams that won the Premiership title in 2021 and the Scottish Cup a year later.

He left at the end of the 2022/23 season following the expiration of his contract, but there was no doubting how good a signing Arfield was for the club, especially with his impact on the pitch.

Brownhill could certainly offer the same sort of qualities that Arfield did during his time in Scotland and if the Gers could bring him in for free, it would be a wise piece of transfer business. That’s a certainty.

Why Josh Brownhill would be a good signing for Rangers

Before moving to Burnley in January 2020, Brownhill was a key player at Bristol City, and he once earned some interesting praise from Lee Johnson, his former manager at the club, back in 2019.

Since moving to Turf Moor, the midfielder has been impressive for the club, making 111 appearances in the Premier League during that time.

Burnley suffered relegation last season, but in the Championship this term, the 29-year-old has been in excellent form. Not only has he missed just one league match all season, but the midfielder has found the back of the net on nine occasions, while grabbing three assists in the process.

Brownhill has also created three big chances in the second tier along with averaging one key pass and averaging 1.9 shots per game, indicating how vital he has become for the club in the final third.

When compared to his positional peers in the Championship this term, the former Bristol City star currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.32), in the top 9% for total shots (1.9) and in the top 11% for touches in the opposition penalty area (2.44) per 90.

These statistics prove he is among one of the finest midfielders in the Championship, especially with regard to these attacking metrics, and he could be a wonderful addition to the Rangers team.

Building a squad which has excellent depth is now the main priority for the club, with players such as Kieran Dowell clearly not good enough to be squad members.

Bringing in someone like Brownhill, who has a wealth of experience in England, would allow the Gers to sign a quality midfielder for nothing. He may be nearing the end of his career rather than the start, but when finances are tight, making new signings who don’t cost a penny could be the way forward.

Not just Dessers: Rangers star who's in a "rut" is costing Clement his job

Rangers title hopes appear to be over after more dropped points in the Premiership

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 30, 2024

Aston Villa are blessed with talent up front. They have two excellent centre-forwards in their current squad, namely Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran. The pair have been on fire this season, in what has been an underwhelming campaign for the Villans so far.

The duo are the top scorers at Villa Park this term across all competitions. Colombian international Duran has scored 12 goals, and England centre-forward Watkins, who scored in the Euro 2024 semi-final, has eight goals to his name. Morgan Rogers, with seven strikes to his name, is the only other player with more than five goals.

Incredibly, the Villans are looking to add more depth in the striker department to their squad during the January transfer window.

Villa’s striker target

The player in question here is young French striker Tidiam Gomis. The 18-year-old has been impressive for Ligue 2 side Caen and has now been linked with a move away to some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

According to a report from The Athletic, Villa are one of the sides pursuing the young attacker and actually seem to be leading the race for his signature. They are believed to be ‘in advanced talks’ to bring the 18-year-old to the West Midlands.

Transfer Focus

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

In terms of the other sides who are believed to be interested, German outfit RB Leipzig and Italian giants AC Milan are in the race, according to Florian Plettenberg a few weeks ago. It seems as though the Villans will sign him. A fee is not clear at this stage, but his contract is up this summer and it could cost Unai Emery’s side next to nothing.

Why Gomis could be a good signing

There is no doubt that Villa are signing a player for the future as well as, or perhaps more so than, the present. Plettenberg described Gomis as a “top talent”, and he is certainly living up to that praise in a Caen shirt throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

This term in Ligue 2 for Caen, a club owned by France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, 18-year-old Gomis has scored two goals in 18 league appearances. He has played 1004 minutes this term, which equates to 11 full 90-minute games.

He also made history for the French side during the 2023/24 campaign, when he scored twice in the final game of the season. At the age of 17 years, nine months and 19 days old, he became the youngest player to do so for Caen, an impressive achievement.

Despite the fact he is so inexperienced, Gomis could certainly have a role to play at Villa Park this season if they decide to give him that opportunity. His stats on Sofascore are eye-catching, and he has created two big chances and completed 1.3 dribbles per game.

Gomis could form a deadly partnership with Villa’s latest recruit, Donyell Malen. On Tuesday evening, they confirmed the signing of the Dutchman from Borussia Dortmund, although it is not a deal that will affect the move for the Frenchman.

The former Arsenal academy player is someone who can both score and assist in attack, playing anywhere across the frontline. His best campaign came for former club PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 2020/21, where he scored 19 goals and grabbed eight assists in 32 games.

With those kinds of numbers, he could link up nicely with Gomis and could be a key provider of goals for the youngster. The Frenchman averages 1.2 shots per game and has already scored a couple this season, and with Malen’s obvious creative ability, that might only increase.

The same can be said the other way with Gomis also showing in the past he can be someone who can create chances, even if he is yet to register an assist this term. However, given Malen’s career-high of 19 goals in one campaign, the assists could start flowing for the Caen youngster.

All things considered, this seems to be a risk-free deal for the Villans. He is likely to cost little or nothing at all, and, as the stats show, clearly has talent waiting to be unearthed. Should he form a partnership with Malen, or indeed the likes of Watkins and Duran, it could be deadly for Villa.

Medical booked: Aston Villa closing in on "highly talented" Carlos upgrade

Villa have a medical booked for the defender

By
Joe Nuttall

Jan 14, 2025

Chelsea have made a recent amendment to Mykhailo Mudryk's contract at the club while the winger remains suspended after failing a drugs test.

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• Mudryk banned from football in December
• Has had contract at Chelsea amended
• Still waiting to discover what happens next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since November 2024 after being provisionally suspended from all forms of football following a positive drugs test. However, the Ukraine star has since seen his contract at the club tweaked by the Blues, according to the . There's no detail regarding what has changed in Mudryk's terms, while mystery continues to surround the winger's ongoing suspension.

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  Mudryk has maintained he never knowingly took any barred substances and is still awaiting the results of a 'B' sample. The Chelsea star is facing a four-year ban if found guilty which will be a real problem for the Blues, given he was signed for a huge fee on an eight-year contract. Yet it's still unclear when a verdict will be reached on Mudryk's case, with no new updates having been offered since he was provisionally suspended in December.

• WHAT MUDRYK HAS SAID

  Mudryk reacted to news of his suspension in a statement on Instagram at the time: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance. This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened. I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MUDRYK

  Mudryk is unable to even train with Chelsea during his suspension as he waits to discover his fate but is said to have employed the same law firm Paul Pogba hired after he received a four-year ban. The Frenchman saw his suspension reduced to 18 months on appeal and is now eligible to play again.