All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester City’s first Champions League game of the season did not get off to an ideal start after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Italian champions Inter Milan. Simone Inzaghi’s side were superb and won a lot of plaudits for holding the Premier League holders away from home.

There were some golden chances for both sides throughout the game, especially in the second half. Henrikh Mkhitaryan missed from 15 yards for the visitors, blasting over the crossbar, and Phil Foden saw a shot saved with his right foot, which, had that been on his stronger side, might have ended up in the back of the net.

However, arguably City’s best two chances of the game came late on, for their returning midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. He had two headers from inside the penalty box, one of which landed safely in the arms of Yann Sommer, and the other which was headed over the bar.

Pep Guardiola will no doubt be disappointed that his side dropped points in the opening game of the Champions League. It will be a competition they are surely aiming to win, and they would have been hoping to kick-start proceedings with three points.

Man City’s attacking stats vs Inter

It was certainly a frustrating night for the Citizens who had plenty of chances but simply could not score.

As per Sofascore, Inter’s Swiss shot-stopper Sommer made an impressive five saves on the night, with three of those from shots inside the penalty area.

Overall, City had 22 shots against the 20-time Scudetto winners, managing to get just five efforts on target, seven being blocked by the I Nerazzurri defence, and the other ten completely missing the target.

Shots

22

Shots on target

5

Shots off target

10

Blocked shots

7

Shots inside the box

16

Shouts outside the box

6

Expected goals

2.35xG

Frustratingly for the Manchester outfit, their star striker, Erling Haaland, had a tough night at the Etihad Stadium.

He had just 14 touches and managed three shots. It will not be too much of a concern in terms of the Norweigan’s form, given he has nine goals in just four Premier League games, but it is frustrating for Guardiola that they could not score without Haaland.

It was certainly a disappointing night in front of goal for the Premier League side but one of their attackers in particular was underwhelming.

Savinho’s stats vs Inter

The player in question here is Brazilian winger Savinho. It was not an easy night for the 20-year-old who looked a far cry from his normal self. He is usually one of the most confident players on the pitch, taking players on in one-vs-one situations, but looked a shadow of that player.

He was subsequently taken off at half-time by Guardiola, and was replaced by Foden who had a much greater impact on the game than the Brazilian managed during his 45 minutes on the pitch.

The former Girona winger received a 6/10 rating for his performance from Simon Bajkowsk, chief Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News. The journalist explained that “it must be a concern” if he was getting subbed at half-time again for something other than tactical reasons.

Indeed, his tough night was reflected in his Sofascore stats. Surprisingly, the young winger attempted just one dribble, and whilst he did complete it, it is a far fewer amount attempted than normal. He did not manage to have a shot on target, lost the ball seven times, and even had one fewer touch than Ederson, 36 compared to the goalkeeper’s 37.

It was certainly a disappointing performance from the young winger, and it could see him dropped for a crunch clash against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Whilst it is arguably harsh for Guarduola to make such a decision, he might prefer the impact of Foden in the team, or the addition of Jeremy Doku who is a more like-for-like change.

Man City let a big talent leave for £76k, now he's outperforming Grealish

The former Cityzens youngster has caught the eye since moving on from The Etihad.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 9, 2024

Mikel Arteta has shared some “great news” for Arsenal before their all-important North London Derby trip to Tottenham on Sunday, with an injury update coming out of London Colney.

Arteta dealt absences for key Arsenal players ahead of Tottenham

After signing a brand-new three-year contract which keeps him at the Emirates Stadium until 2027, Arteta’s next item on the Arsenal agenda is to come away from Spurs with all three points, not to mention all the bragging rights on derby day.

Mikel Arteta really wants Arsenal to sign £203,000-a-week Real Madrid star

He’s a key player for Carlo Ancelotti.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 13, 2024

Arteta’s new contract at Arsenal will see him pocket around £288,000-per-week, putting him in line with the Premier League’s highest-earning managers like Man City boss Pep Guardiola, but the Spaniard has little time to celebrate his fresh terms.

Ange Postecoglou’s Lilywhites await Arteta’s men tomorrow, as the north Londoners prepare to face-off in a mouth-watering clash right after the international break. Arsenal have been dealt a few selection headaches before the game, with summer signing Mikel Merino sidelined after his shoulder injury.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

The Euro 2024-winning midfielder could be absent until after the October international break, as reports last week claimed Merino is facing nearly two months out. Meanwhile, another star man in Declan Rice is set to miss Arsenal through suspension, after the England star controversially picked up two bookable offences in their 1-1 draw with Brighton two weeks ago.

Versatile defensive ace Takehiro Tomiyasu is also expected to be unavailable for Spurs, as the Japan international still hasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury sustained in pre-season.

However, Arteta did suggest in his pre-match press conference that Riccardo Calafiori could be fit to play Tottenham following an injury scare. The centre-back collided with Ousmane Dembele during Italy’s 3-1 win over France last week, and was subsequently forced off with a calf injury, which resulted in him leaving Luciano Spalletti’s camp early and returning to Arsenal for medical assessment.

In what is another real boost for Arteta, following a week of reports suggesting Martin Odegaard could be out for beyond four weeks after he twisted his ankle on international duty, the Norway midfielder could actually play a part at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Arteta confirmed on Friday afternoon that Odegaard is contending to be fit for Spurs, and the 42-year-old has shared even more “great news” ahead of the game, which involves striker Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta confirms Gabriel Jesus could play against Tottenham

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta shared news that Jesus will potentially be selected to play Tottenham, as the £265,000-per-week star is seemingly nearly fully recovered from a groin problem.

“Gabi was out there,” said Arteta on Jesus’ availability for tomorrow. “He’s got another session tomorrow and if everything goes well he’ll be ready to be selected in the squad which is great news for us.”

While Raheem Sterling is contending to play as a false-nine, having Jesus as a centre-forward alternative comes as an undoubted boost for Arsenal. The Brazilian is capable of producing match-winning moments, and has done so for Arteta before, with pundit Alan Shearer once calling Jesus a “game-changer”.

“It’s not just his goals and creativity that make him so important to them, it’s his relentless energy and willingness to run in behind defences too,” Shearer said in a column for BBC Sport in 2022.

“He’s the game-changer for Arsenal. He’s the one who sets the tone from the front. Defenders hate players who are prepared to run in behind, he does that. He’s the one who starts the press. You see his movement and his ability too.”

Leeds United will fly over a "quality ball striker" for a medical ahead of late Elland Road transfer, according to Graham Smyth.

Leeds’ deadline day plans

The Whites have made six summer signings, but that could turn out to be nine if things go the club’s way on the final day of the window. Talking on Thursday in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Hull City on Saturday, Daniel Farke was inevitably asked about new signings, to which he said:

"I just speak about players who are under contract for us. As long as players are under contract with other clubs, I never speak about players from other clubs. We have confirmed two important signings with Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon. We've made clear what position we need to strengthen. There's not much time yet, I hope and expect there will be some business.

“I spoke quite extensively that we definitely need a midfield player and also a full-back addition and to stay awake in the offensive positions. But everything is done when it's confirmed, medicals are done and everything signed. I never speak about a player as long as he's not under our contract."

One of the deadline day signings is set to be midfielder Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf, who is on course to fill the void left by Glen Kamara earlier in the window.

After Tanaka, there has been plenty of speculation over full-back Isaac Schmidt, who emerged as a real target on Thursday. Now, a new update has emerged.

Leeds on course to sign Isaac Schmidt

According to reliable reporter Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are planning to fly Schmidt to Yorkshire for a medical and to complete the paperwork ahead of a late transfer.

Smyth said Schmidt will follow Tanaka through the door and he will be able to provide competition to Junior Firpo, Jayden Bogle and Sam Byram at right-back and left-back.

Meanwhile, reporter Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express has since added on X: “St. Gallen have given full-back Isaac Schmidt permission to undergo medical ahead of proposed move to Leeds United. Deal believed to be worth in region of £4.6m inclusive of performance-related add-ons.”

Schmidt looks set to offer Farke a versatile defensive option and even a goal threat after he scored for St. Gallen on what look to be his final appearance on Thursday evening.

All Leeds TV presenter Oscar Marrio reacted to his goal against Trabzonspor, saying ahead of his proposed move to Leeds: “I won’t pretend to know anything about Schmidt but he’s a really interesting profile and his versatility means at the very least he’s good depth if we do sign him. And adding another quality ball striker would be nice as well to help break down the teams who sit in vs us."

Newcastle United might have to contend with a "Newcastle-tax" on transfer dealings from now on even if Sandro Tonali was tax-free, claims transfers expert Graeme Bailey.

Newcastle United transfer news – Suffering from success

The Magpies made their grand statement of intent earlier this week when it was finally confirmed that they had secured the signature of Tonali from AC Milan for a fee of £55m.

Whilst there have been some pretty big deals on Tyneside since the Saudi takeover, with Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes opting to don the famous black and white stripes over the traditional big sides, Tonali feels different.

The arrival of the Italian international feels like an announcement of 'here we are, and here we shall stay'. The Toon have made their way into the 'big six/seven' and aren't stopping there.

However, this newfound status and wealth have also brought with it new problems and dilemmas.

Where the team could once go about their transfer dealings in relative peace, making deals without the eyes of the world on them and paying reasonable fees for them, they will now be followed by a spotlight, likely unable to haggle as much as they once could.

One of the ways around this new "Newcastle-tax" for the club might be to leave their transfer business late, giving selling clubs fewer opportunities to drive up prices or haggle over fees, per Graeme Bailey.

He explained the situation on the Talking Transfers podcast, saying:

"When Newcastle come calling, there is a tax being paid on this, and they're very reluctant to pay this Newcastle-tax as it is. They would argue with Tonali they didn't pay it to Milan, and for £50m, they probably didn't pay it, £50-60m.

"Newcastle are going to be busy, but I think they'll be going right to the end of the window to try and negotiate the best deals because they don't want to be ripped off on any deals."

Who else are Newcastle United linked to this summer?

One of the areas that Newcastle are looking to target in this window is in defence. So it's not surprising to hear that the club are extremely keen to secure the signature of Crystal Palace captain and England international Marc Guehi.

According to Football Insider, the Toon have been told that an offer of £60m would be enough to tempt the South London club into selling their star player, and whilst the centre-back was outstanding last season, averaging a rating of 6.68, £60m sound like the aforementioned tax is being sprinkled on top.

Another defender reportedly being watched by Eddie Howe and Co is Fulham full-back and United States international Antonee Robinson, who, according to the Evening Standard, would be available for the more reasonable fee of £35m.

Perhaps in a bid to avoid paying over the odds this summer, both Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips have been linked with loan moves to St. James' Park, per the Telegraph.

Whatever strategy Newcastle end up employing going forward, they might just have to accept that one of the downsides of having such unbelievably wealthy owners is that clubs will be looking to make as much money off their backs as possible.

Liverpool continue to track Mainz's teenage striker Nelson Weiper and could look to lodge a formal bid this summer, according to recent reports…

What's the latest on Nelson Weiper to Liverpool?

That's according to German outlet BILD (via Sport Witness), who claim that the 18-year-old is a player who Liverpool have been very keen on for several years now, but his Bundesliga outfit will not sell him for anything under €20m (£17m).

There are even claims that Die Nullfünfer could value the player at around €50m (£43m) in two years' time, given that the meteoric rise he is currently riding shows no sign of abating as he continues his development.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is understandably prioritising bolstering the midfield this summer, though the opportunity to sign such a precocious talent could be too good to turn down.

Who is Nelson Weiper?

It's been a tremendous start to life on the major stage for Weiper; having scored 41 goals from 39 matches at youth level, the German "mega-talent" – as hailed by German football consultant Adam Khan – netted twice for Mainz's senior side last season.

Indeed, Weiper scored twice in the Bundesliga from just nine appearances, and given that he is still yet to make his full debut in the competition it is no wonder that clubs of Liverpool's stature are circling.

The teenage sensation has been active for Germany U21s at the U21 European Championships this summer and started once from three outings, no he yielded no goals as the nation foundered in the group phase – albeit demonstrating his striking instincts by registering 2.7 shots per game, as per Sofascore.

While the onus will indeed shy away from the centre-forward position on the red half of Merseyside this summer given the necessity for reinforcements elsewhere and the recent acquisitions of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, Weiper would be a remarkable option for the future and is undoubtedly a true footballing "prodigy" – as also proclaimed by Khan.

His prospective move could spell danger for Kaide Gordon, who has been making a comeback from injury after impressing at youth level for Liverpool and scoring one goal from four senior appearances – on his debut against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup.

Gordon has been described as an "exceptional" prospect by his German manager and does have the advantage of thriving across a multitude of positions, notably the offensive flanks and central striking role, but has indeed been unfortunate to have seen his progress hindered by a cruel injury that has left him on the sidelines for over 16 months.

Regardless, the one-cap England U18 international would likely see Weiper leapfrog him in regard to the ceiling of his career should he be signed, but from a more positive slant, there is every chance that the pair could forge a deadly striking alliance to wreak havoc in the future.

Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta have made a "very strange" signing in Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, says talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Who have Arsenal signed this summer?

The Gunners have many plates spinning in north London with some reports even suggesting they could spend in and around £200 million in total on new additions.

West Ham star Declan Rice, who is reliably believed to be of interest, has already been at the centre of two rejected bids from Arsenal with one of them being a club record.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Southampton's Romeo Lavia are on the list, with talks being held over both players (Football Insider).

Before all of them, though, Arsenal and sporting director Edu have sealed the signing of Chelsea's Havertz in a £65 million move from Chelsea – with the German set to undergo medical tests ahead of a formal announcement (The Evening Standard).

Fabrizio Romano also backs that Arsenal have signed the forward, though former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor thinks the Gunners are making a mistake.

Indeed, the talkSPORT regular seems to believe that Havertz actually doesn't suit Arteta's system, and they should be looking for an out-and-out goalscorer instead.

"I don't understand that transfer its very strange,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider.

“Arsenal haven’t learned their lesson with transfers, Kai Havertz is not a clinical striker.

“He is not an out and out number nine, which what Arsenal need as they currently have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah but require an upgrade on them.

“Havertz hasn’t got that finishing instinct, so it is very strange from Arsenal if they are going to give £50-£60million to Chelsea, so they can then sign a player that the Gunners want in Moises Caicedo.

“It would be a wrong deal for the Gunners, and I am sure that their fans would agree.”

How has Kai Havertz played?

Scoring just seven goals and grabbing one assist last season, you wouldn't describe Havertz as a serious goal-getter, but his versatility will be a big draw for Arteta.

He can play anywhere across the forward line, out wide and in central attacking midfield, with the 24-year-old also averaging more attempts at goal per 90 than any Chelsea player last season bar Joao Felix (WhoScored).

Havertz, for £65 million, could be viewed as a promising transfer and it will be interesting to see how Arteta utilises him.

Nottingham Forest transfer target Aaron Martin would be the perfect replacement for Renan Lodi as the left-back heads back to Atletico Madrid, and he'd cost absolutely nothing.

Nottingham Forest transfer news – Aaron Martin identified

The Tricky Trees completed their first bit of business of the summer earlier this week, with Chris Wood signing with the club on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell in the first season back in the Premier League.

The striker cost the club £15m, but if last summer was anything to go by, Steve Cooper and his side aren't afraid to splash the cash, so don't expect their business in the transfer market to end anytime soon.

They've got a lot of holes to fill in the side, with Keylor Navas' return to Paris Saint-Germain and Jesse Lingard's departure leaving them with plenty of work to do as they look to replace the outgoing talent.

Fortunately, according to the Daily Mail, it seems Forest have already identified Martin as a suitable replacement for Lodi, who has returned to his parent club following his loan spell in the Midlands, and better yet, any move for the left-back won't cost them a penny as he's a free-agent after leaving Bundesliga outfit 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Would Aaron Martin be a good replacement for Renan Lodi?

While defensively, Martin's statistics don't quite compare to Lodi's output this season, his influence offensively far surpasses that of the Brazilian.

Averaging 1.5 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and one clearance per game this season, the Spaniard's numbers didn't quite reach the Atletico loanee in the defensive department. In comparison, the Brazilian dynamo averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per match, so it's clear that bringing Martin in to replace the 25-year-old will see the club take a step back defensively.

With that being said, the 5 foot 11 maestro outshone Lodi offensively, scoring five goals and creating three assists in the Bundesliga this year, while the departing loan star managed just one assist in the Premier League.

Not only that but Martin's average of one key pass a game in comparison to Lodi's 0.5 hints that while replacing the Brazilian with the Spaniard wouldn't benefit them defensively, it would give the side a huge boost offensively, with the free-agent a proven positive influence going forward into the final third.

The pair are fairly similar with their ball-carrying skills, with Lodi averaging 0.6 successful dribbles a game, while Martin averaged 0.4, but the former Mainz man's average WhoScored rating of 6.66 is a significant improvement on the 25-year-old's 6.54 a game, which hints at his positive impact on the pitch.

With Forest's joint top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi scoring eight of his 10 goals this season from inside the six-yard box, the club will need someone to provide him if they're to succeed next season, and with his playmaking ability already apparent, and an average of 1.3 crosses and 1.3 long balls a game this year, Martin, on a free transfer following his departure from Mainz, would be a perfect addition to the side.

Unai Emery kickstarted Aston Villa's summer transfer business over the weekend with a swoop for Youri Tielemans on a free transfer.

The Belgian will officially join the group at the start of next month, upon the expiry of his contract at Leicester City, to bolster the club's options in the middle of the park.

He could be joined by Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is also set to be a free agent at the end of June. talkSPORT have claimed that Villa have held talks with the former England international over a possible move to be their second addition.

The Villans are also reportedly eyeing up West Ham United ace Manuel Lanzini, who is another Premier League player who is on the verge of being available on a free transfer.

How did Manuel Lanzini perform this season?

The Argentine attacking midfielder only played 19 times in the Premier League and the Europa Conference League combined but produced impressive progressing passing numbers that suggest he could be a bargain signing for Villa.

Over the last 365 days, Lanzini ranks in the top 12% or higher of players in his position in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

This means that the West Ham ace has been one of the best midfielders in that group of players at moving his team up the pitch and opening up space to either create a chance or allow one of his teammates to provide the creativity.

The Hammers wizard, who was once hailed as "magical" by West Ham Fan TV co-founder Nicky Hawkins, excels at breaking lines and dribbling past the opposition to make things happen in the final third, suggesting that Lanzini could be an excellent option for Villa when they are trying to break down a low block.

Emery could call upon the 30-year-old in tight matches where his side will need to find ways of progressing the ball up the pitch quickly and effectively, which the Argentine gem is seemingly superb at doing.

Lanzini, who has scored 27 goals in 179 Premier League appearances, is a proven top-flight performer in England and could be a shrewd addition to Villa's squad as they would be getting someone who can hit the ground running and instantly perform.

This is also the case with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has featured in 235 games in the division throughout his career, and Tielemans, who played 151 times in the league during his time with the Foxes.

Such a dynamic and fluid midfield trio would no doubt boost Emery's ranks next term and to get three hugely experienced Premier League players for £0 would be remarkable business.

Indeed, this has the potential to be a masterclass from Emery if he can get these three deals over the line and, hopefully, the Spaniard will be able to do just that in the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer as new manager Ange Postecoglou looks to revitalise the north London outfit.

What's the latest on Jadon Sancho to Tottenham?

According to the Daily Star, Spurs are indeed lining up a £50m bid to sign the England international after falling by the wayside this season, with Sancho failing to live up to expectations at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old signed for the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund for £73m in 2021 after captivating supporters in the German Bundesliga but has not found the same level of prolific success in the Premier League after two campaigns.

The report claims that United manager Erik ten Hag would not let Sancho depart for less than £60m, and it remains to be seen whether he would acquiesce to a move outside of European competition next season.

Should Tottenham sign Jadon Sancho?

Spurs supporters will be desperate to forge a more fruitful seasonal path next year after pipping Arsenal to Champions League qualification last term, now facing a first season without European football since 2009/10.

While the leaky defence will need reinforcing forthwith, Postecoglou will surely be hoping to provide extra firepower across multiple facets, and Sancho could be the perfect addition to the frontline.

Once hailed a "menace" by Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, Sancho plundered 16 goals and 20 assists from just 38 appearances in his final season with the Yellow Wall before returning to his homeland, where he has only scored 12 goals and six assists from 79 outings for United.

The £350k-per-week phenom could emerge as Tottenham's answer to their north London rivals' star boy in Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, with Sancho's countryman boasting a similar profile according to FBref's 'Similar Players' model, and if he can harness his attacking flair he could yet emulate his blistering success in the Premier League.

While the Gunners came up short in their title bid this season, they have still returned to prominence unseen since the days of Arsene Wenger and qualified for next year's Champions League after six seasons away, and Saka has been the nucleus of much of the success.

The 21-year-old scored 14 goals and supplied 11 assists from 38 matches in the top flight this term and has been hailed as "phenomenal" by his manager Mikel Arteta.

He also ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 5% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref, which illustrates his forward-surging presence that Sancho could replicate.

This is evidenced by the "immaculate" Sancho – as dubbed by journalist Rhys Jones – ranking among the top 5% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 8% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Sancho demonstrated his prolific touch before his move to Manchester, and given he boasts a remarkable similarity to Arsenal's prodigy, he could forge a deadly career to get the Lilywhites back to prominence.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.

The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.

Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.

The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).

How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?

Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.

In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.

The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.

Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.

Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.

Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.