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Fulham have made an approach over a move for Atalanta forward Duvan Zapata after a transfer elsewhere fell through.

Are Fulham signing a striker?

Marco Silva’s side have endured a mixed start to the new Premier League season after a 1-0 opening weekend win over Everton was followed by a 3-0 home defeat to Brentford.

The Cottagers have been without star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after his £50m move to Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal, with the forward netting a header on his debut.

Fulham, as a result, appear to be on the hunt to replace Mitrovic before the September 1 deadline despite bringing in Raul Jimenez from Wolves and have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.

However, the USA international appears to be edging closer to a move to AS Monaco. Another player who had been linked was Juventus’ Moise Kean, however, Silva has squashed that rumour while also laying out his concerns late in the window.

“No, Moise Kean is not a solution for us. I don’t like to talk about players that are not our players. Moise Kean is a player from Juventus. But I can confirm he is not the player we are looking for.”

“With more time it would be less difficult. Right now, at this moment in the mark, it is really difficult. This is the problem when you leave things for the last week of the market. We are not in the best position.”

The club’s search for a striker now appears to have led to interest in Zapata.

According to The Daily Mail, Fulham have been in contact over a transfer for Zapata by approaching Atalanta. The report states that the striker was set to make the move to AS Roma on loan but expressed doubts and the deal fell through at the 11th hour.

It is believed that Zapata is leaning towards staying at Atalanta, however, Fulham appear to be keen and have made their first move.

Who is Duvan Zapata?

Zapata is an out-and-out centre-forward who has plied the majority of his club career in Italy. The 32-year-old has turned out for Napoli, Udinese, Sampdoria and Atalanta over the last 10 years, making 283 appearances in Serie A, scoring 108 goals.

A Colombia international, Zapata is known for his physicality, with former teammate Papu Gomez describing the forward as a “beast” who is “like a train”.

“Zapata's shorts look like underwear, he is so big.

“Sometimes I don't even want to get close to him in a match because he's a beast and it hurts. When he is feeling good he's like a train – you throw the ball forward and 'ciao!'”

A proven and experienced goalscorer in Italy, a move for Zapata could be one to keep an eye on in the final days of the window, but with time ticking, you’d expect Fulham will be in contact with a number of targets over potential moves to Craven Cottage.

Liverpool missed out on both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea this month, but now look poised to attempt a hijack of their own to complete the midfield rebuild.

What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Liverpool?

According to Sky Sports, the Reds are said to be 'in talks' with Fiorentina for midfield star Sofyan Amrabat, looking to bypass the interest of Premier League rivals Manchester United, who have held talks with the Moroccan maestro ahead of a possible transfer.

Jurgen Klopp's side are closing on a surprising deal to sign Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, but after a mass exodus at Anfield this summer another signature would go down a treat.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

And Amrabat, who is valued at a ballpark £30m, could be the perfect fit to complete a midfield rebuild that has also welcomed the exciting acquisitions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but now more defensive aces are required.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Once hailed as "phenomenal" by The Star's Joe Crann, the 26-year-old pass specialist caught the eye at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, completing 85% of his passes, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.4 clearances per game as his nation sensationally came fourth.

Lauded as the "best central midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese, Amrabat would be a credit to Liverpool's team and would inject robustness and intensity into the centre, utilising his passing prowess to revitalise the midfield.

Indeed, the £32k-per-week gem ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 11% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Given his "extraordinary" skills – as praised by Spain boss Luis Enrique – Amrabat could be the perfect heir to Liverpool maestro Thiago Alcantara, especially considering the 32-year-old Spaniard has entered the final year of his contract with the Anfield side.

Thiago has made 97 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Bayern Munich for £20m in 2020, scoring three goals and supplying six assists, though he has been sidelined for 45 matches across the past two campaigns and will not have many fans expecting a seamless ride this term – on the injury front, that is.

Amrabat, comparatively, has missed ten games during the same period, far more reliable to string together lasting periods of fitness and form, heralded as a "monster" by WhoScored's Ben McAleer.

To his credit, Thiago is one of the most technically brilliant, seamlessly slick and elegantly graceful midfielders of the modern age, having been praised as "sensational" by Klopp.

The £200k-per-week star ranks among the top 4% of midfielders for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, but also ranks among the top 5% for tackles and the top 11% for interceptions per 90, highlighting his defensive work rate.

Amrabat showcased his tenacity in the tackle during his international escapades in Qatar, and by blending the facets of his skill set together he has every chance to be a successful heir to such a renowned phenom in Thiago.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to strengthen the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, the Whites are set to land Tottenham Hotspur central defender Joe Rodon on a season-long loan.

The reporter has stated that the west Yorkshire outfit have agreed on a deal with the Premier League side to secure the Wales international's services on a temporary basis.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

"Tottenham have agreed a deal for Wales centre-back Joe Rodon to join Leeds on a season-long loan. Formalities of deal to follow in coming days," he tweeted.

If the deal gets complete this week, it could see him available for the trip to face Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

How good is Joe Rodon?

The 25-year-old titan is a proven Championship performer who also has top-level experience and would come in as a far better option than Robin Koch, who has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the season, for Daniel Farke.

Rodon spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Rennes in France and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 16 Ligue 1 outings as he won 61% of his duels and completed 90% of his attempted passes.

Koch, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 over 36 Premier League matches for Leeds, which placed him 17th within the squad. The Germany international came out on top in 57% of his duels and finished the season with a pass completion rate of just 77%.

Both players were plying their trade in major European leagues and Rodon stood out above the former Freiburg man with his average performance level, quality in possession, and his strength in physical contests.

The Tottenham outcast's score for Rennes was also higher than any Whites defender managed last term as Max Wober led the way with a rating of 6.84, which means that the possible new signing could be the best central defensive option for the head coach this season.

This suggests that the 6 foot 4 colossus would be better for Leeds than Koch was for the club last term due to his ability on and off the ball at the heart of the defence.

Rodon would also come in with Championship experience from his time with Swansea earlier in his career.

During the 2019/20 campaign, the £24k-per-week gem averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 21 appearances.

No Leeds player with at least five appearances averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.98 for the club last term and this suggests that the Spurs talent has the potential to be an outstanding performer for Farke.

Rodon, who was once hailed as "perfect" by ex-manager Jose Mourinho, would come in as a defender who can hit the ground running as he already knows the country and league, rather than coming in from a foreign club with no experience of English football.

This could allow him to make an immediate impact on the pitch as a way better option than Koch, and potentially the rest of Farke's centre-backs, which is why this signing could improve the squad and, therefore, the club's chances of earning promotion straight back to the Premier League over the next nine months.

The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulling their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours

Umar Farooq14-Sep-20171:47

‘We cannot force countries to tour’ – Richardson

The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulfilling a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours. The matter was initially meant to be resolved through a “good faith negotiation”, but has dragged on with the boards not finding common ground. The PCB has also weighed up all legal options by hiring a UK-based law firm to take the matter to court if it cannot be settled in the corridors of the ICC.”This process which is under the aegis of the ICC has now reached its final point,” the PCB chairman Najam Sethi said, sitting beside the ICC CEO David Richardson on the sidelines of the second T20I between Pakistan and the World XI. “We’ve had our last meetings with India and the last one was under the chairmanship of [former BCCI president and current ICC chairman Shashank] Manohar. That process is over and the next stage will begin. We are in active consultation with our lawyers and I and others are recording our statements with our lawyers.”Within a month or two months at most, we will go back to the ICC – we have in fact written a letter already asking for the nomination of a three-member board that will look at all these issues. We have nominated one member already. This process is active and we intend to pursue it to its logical outcome.”According to the ICC’s terms of reference, both boards have to get into discussions to resolve a dispute amicably. A failure to find a solution within two months, however, would result in the matter being referred to the ICC dispute resolution panel, which will form a three-member board to hear the case. The decision of will be binding on all parties and cannot be appealed.The PCB and BCCI had signed an MoU in 2014 to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series were to be hosted by Pakistan and the six series contained up to 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20Is. The cycle was scheduled to start with Pakistan hosting two Tests and five ODIs at a mutually acceptable venue. But the MoU included the understanding that all series are subject to government approval and India’s, reportedly, is not keen to give the BCCI a go-ahead amid strained relations between the two countries.Both sides continue to play each other in multi-team events but have not played a full series since the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Pakistan visited India for a limited-overs series in December 2012, which was seen as a stepping stone to reviving cricketing ties between the countries, but there have been no bilateral meetings since amid further border tensions.The leadership of both boards, mediated by the ICC director Giles Clarke, made an attempt to arrange a series in December 2015 with Sri Lanka as a possible venue. But the BCCI remained unresponsive to the PCB and the series was scrapped without official confirmation from India. Pakistan, meanwhile, are set to skip their tour of India next year, with the PCB firm that the cycle of bilateral tours has to begin with them as hosts.Richardson said the ICC would play a facilitating role in trying to resolve the dispute.”As you know when it comes to ICC events there is no question – if India are drawn against Pakistan, they will play,” he said. “On the question of bilateral series between the countries, all bilateral series are agreed upon a bilateral basis. I understand that at the moment diplomatic relations between the two are not as rosy as they could be. For now anyway it seems the BCCI, without the positive affirmation from their government, don’t believe it is the time to play against Pakistan.”I know the PCB has been talking to the BCCI for a number of years to arrange tours with India, in Pakistan or neutral venues. The PCB have filed a complaint under the ICC dispute resolution process which is a mechanism we have to deal with any disputes between member countries. That process is a work in progress. At the moment ICC’s role in this is to facilitate in any dispute – we don’t like our members fighting with each other, being in dispute. We have a process to deal with it and we need to let it take its course.”Pakistan have been playing their home matches at neutral venues, mostly in the UAE, since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first international team to tour Pakistan since the attack. Now, players from seven major Test nations, along with the ICC, have joined hands to form a World XI team for the cause of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. India is the only major country apart from Zimbabwe to not feature in the World XI team brought together and coached by Andy Flower.Richardson acknowledged the difficulties of including Indian players in the World XI.”You cannot ignore the political situation that is between India and Pakistan at the moment and the difficulties that might exist,” he said. “India is about to tour Australia and this tour was sandwiched between a very busy FTP [Future Tours Programme]. One of the reasons why many South Africans are in this team is because they haven’t been playing recently. In India’s case they genuinely are a very busy country. From a political point of view, obviously, if an Indian player would have been a part of this tour you can imagine the level of focus he would have attracted and the pressures it would have brought from the security point of view. I think Andy Flower and the PCB have taken a practical approach.”

Daniel Farke has inherited a hugely difficult task at Leeds United as he attempts to lead the club to an instant return to the Premier League.

His job has been made harder due to Rodrigo’s recent departure to Qatari side Al Rayyan. The Spaniard was Leeds’ top scorer last season with 15 goals in all competitions, with Luis Sinisterra in second on just seven.

The German coach has lost one of the club’s most influential and important players, as he must pinpoint a new, consistent source of goals for the upcoming season.

One player who can fill Rodrigo’s void is Emmanuel Dennis, who is on the lookout for a new club.

What’s the latest on Emmanuel Dennis to Leeds United?

Last month, it was reported by The Athletic that Dennis is very likely to leave Nottingham Forest this summer, with his representatives having already started the process of holding exploratory talks with interested parties.

It is understood that the 25-year-old is keen to remain in Europe and will resist any lucrative approaches from Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, it seems that Forest may have already recruited his replacement, as they’re on the verge of sealing a £15m deal for Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga.

This may prompt Dennis to push harder for an exit – and he could do wonders at Elland Road.

Would Emmanuel Dennis be a good signing for Leeds United?

Last summer, the Nigerian secured a move to the east Midlands from Watford, but it didn't materialise as expected.

He only managed six Premier League starts and scored just twice, failing to play any notable part in Forest avoiding relegation in their first season back in the top flight for over two decades.

The forward will be more fondly remembered for his final season with the Hornets. He was unable to prevent the club from going down, but he performed admirably in a dismally below-average side.

During the 2021/22 campaign, he was Watford’s top scorer with ten goals as well as their best creator with six assists. Elsewhere, he averaged the highest rating (6.89), and recorded the most dribbles per game in the squad, as per WhoScored.

His string of impressive performances led to glowing praise from former manager Claudio Ranieri, who said: “[Dennis] is a very talented player. He’s fast, has good skill, always runs straight to the goal – I love these kinds of players.”

Having shown he can produce in the top flight, Farke should accelerate the club’s attempts to sign Dennis and give him the chance to mirror the empathic impact that Jermaine Beckford had during a glittering four-year spell in Yorkshire.

In 152 appearances between 2006 and 2010, the striker netted 85 times as he became a nightmare to contain during Leeds' time out of the top tier.

In 2010, the Jamaican memorably scored the only goal of the game in Leeds’ third-round FA Cup win over Manchester United to consign the Red Devils to their first defeat to lower-league opposition in the competition since 1984.

It is this prowess at the lower level, regardless of the opposition, that Dennis should look to emulate.

And given his aforementioned exploits in the Premier League, there is every chance he can indeed evoke the memories of Beckford's Elland Road career by excelling with Leeds in the Championship before spearheading their attack in the Premier League a year from now.

Therefore, if Leeds move for Dennis, it could see Farke instantly replace Rodrigo, whilst also potentially unearthing a Beckford-esque figure up top.

Chelsea has kickstarted their multi-club project by purchasing a majority stake in Strasbourg.

Todd Boehly said this move is a method to make sure “we can show pathways for our young superstars to get onto the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time”.

As well as the Blues’ gloriously talented academy, the purchase of another club can act as another developmental agency, where products can be guaranteed regular game-time away from the English capital.

This practice follows the vastly successful model that has been deployed by Manchester City’s parent company, the City Football Group, and Brighton, who also own Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise, where the wonderful Kaoru Mitoma enjoyed a successful loan spell.

With Chelsea now able to use the same tactic, one of the first beneficiaries could be Elye Wahi.

What’s the latest on Elye Wahi to Chelsea?

According to RMC Sport, Chelsea is set to make an offer of around €32m (£28m) including bonuses for the Montepellier livewire.

If successful, the 2021 Champions League winners would send the 20-year-old to Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in Wahi but are yet to initiate any formal contact.

Mauricio Pochettino already possesses Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and Armando Broja so trying to squeeze Wahi into a squad that isn’t playing European football would be illogical.

Another year of regular minutes in a league to which he is accustomed is a logical plan and could Chelsea in a devilish position next summer.

Is Elye Wahi a good signing for Chelsea?

The Frenchman has just enjoyed the most productive year of his career to date, netting 19 times in 33 Ligue 1 outings at a rate of 0.68 goals per 90.

His impressive campaign included a spell-binding performance against Lyon back in May. In a 5-4 loss, the forward netted four goals from 1.31 xG (expected goals).

This commendable goal-scoring record places the youngster within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals per 90, and he has forged an esteemed reputation throughout his homeland.

Ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo has described Wahi as “powerful” and “athletic”, with a “range of dribbling skills.”

This summer, it seems that Chelsea is making a habit of targeting Ligue 1’s most talented prodigies, with the English Giant also chasing Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.

The playmaker could cost the Blues around £34m, but he’s already been earmarked as one of the world’s most exciting assets.

Since he made his debut, the dazzling technician has consistently broken records.

In the last few years, he has become: the youngest scorer in Lyon history (aged 16 years and 140 days versus Bourg-en-Bresse Peronnas in the Coupe de France in 2020), the youngest player to play in a Champions League semi-final (aged 17 years and 3 days in the 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in 2020), and the second-youngest Ligue 1 scorer for Lyon (aged 17 years and 258 days against Monaco in May 2021).

However, last term was his most productive and influential as he notched ten goal involvements in 21 Ligue 1 starts.

As well as this ruthless efficiency, he was just one of nine players and the only U23, to record more than 100 progressive passes and 100 progressive carries.

As Chelsea pursues its relentless quest to source the globe’s best young players, Wahi and Cherki would be a phenomenal way to continue this trend.

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened "direct talks" with Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Which defender are Tottenham signing?

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has given an overview of Tottenham's potential defensive targets this summer, naming the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Edmond Tapsoba and Van de Ven as options for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Progress has also been made in Spurs' pursuit of Clement Lenglet, with an agreement in principle being reached over a three-year contract, meaning the last remaining hurdle is agreeing a fee with Barcelona, and a €10m (£8.6m) deal is being discussed.

Gleison Bremer has been named as another target for the Lilywhites, however Juventus' €50m (£43m) asking price is scaring off potential suitors from the Premier League, meaning the Brazilian is likely to remain in Turin for the time being.

In a new update on Twitter, Romano has now confirmed that Tottenham have opened "direct talks" with Wolfsburg over Van de Ven, and the 22-year-old is amongst the club's "top targets".

Such is Spurs' interest in the defender, they are set to submit a "verbal proposal" soon, with the player himself said to be "keen on the move".

Tapsoba remains on the Lilywhites' list of potential targets, however a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen star would be more expensive.

Is Micky van de Ven signing for Tottenham?

If Tottenham are to win the race for the centre-back, they will have to fend off competition from elsewhere, with Liverpool also being named as potential suitors, and Football Insider report the Reds have identified him as a key target.

It is no wonder some of the Premier League's top clubs are queuing up for the Wolfsburg ace, as he has a range of important defensive qualities, with football scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a "tenacious tackler" and "dominant in the air."

Not only that, the former Volendam man is also assured in possession of the ball, ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, indicating a willingness to drive the ball forward.

Van de Ven is still very young, and he only made his breakthrough in one of Europe's 'big five' leagues in the Bundesliga last season, but he is showing all the hallmarks of a quality centre-back, and it is exciting news that Tottenham have stepped up their interest.

Four players from the Zimbabwe squad currently playing the ODI series against Afghanistan – Ryan Burl, Tarisai Musakanda, Carl Mumba and Richard Ngarava – have been picked in the Zimbabwe Academy side that will tour England this summer.

Zimbabwe Academy squad

Ryan Burl, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Taffy Mupariwa (wk), Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Tarisai Musukanda, Tylor Trenoweth, William Mashinge, Faraz Akram, Carl Mumba, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Nyamayaro, Mkhului Nyathi, Richard Ngarava, Kuziva Ziwira, Thamsanqa Nunu, Brandon Mavuta

The tour will be overseen by Zimbabwe Cricket’s selection convener Tatenda Taibu and coach Stuart Matsikenyeri, and Taibu hoped the challenging games on tour would help the players grow further in the future.While left-handed batsman Burl – who has an average of above 40 in both first class and List A cricket – and left-arm pacer Ngarava made their ODI debut in the first match against Afghanistan on Thursday, Carl Mumba and Tarisai Musakanda have been part of the international set-up since Sri Lanka’s tour of Zimbabwe in October 2016. Mumba is the most experienced of the four, having played two Tests and one ODI, taking 8 wickets in his short international career.ZC have not appointed a captain in the 16-member squad, and the responsibility will be shared between players during the tour to allow the selectors to gauge potential leaders. Fixtures against second XIs from Northamptonshire and Worcestershire have already been confirmed while the team is also expected to play against a few ECB Premier League representative sides.”Getting the squad down to just 16 players was an incredibly hard task and there are several players who were very unlucky not to make the cut,” Taibu said. “We have selected a strong group of players, with an excellent mix of youth and relative experience.”These 16 players have demonstrated their cricketing ability but also show potential to become great ambassadors for Zimbabwe cricket in the future. The aim of the tour, which will include some challenging matches, is to help them realise these ambitions.”

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in signing Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham?

Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the defender is an active target for the club this summer.

“This list includes Edmond Tapsoba, a player always appreciated by Arsenal but not a priority this summer because I’m told he’s too expensive.

“Keep an eye on Tottenham for Tapsoba because he’s one of the players they’re following since a long time. Both Arsenal and Tottenham sent their scouts to follow Tapsoba. Tottenham are very strong on him, from what I’m told.”

It has previously been reported this summer that a bid in the region of £61m would be required to tempt the Bundesliga side into parting ways with the talented enforcer, although it remains to be seen whether or not Spurs would be willing to meet those demands.

Ange Postecoglou has made one addition to his squad since joining from Scottish giants Celtic – Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus – and Tapsoba appears to be on the Australian's wishlist to join the Sweden international.

How did Tapsoba perform last season?

The Burkina Faso international, who was once dubbed a "monster" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, did not enjoy his best campaign in the Bundesliga in 2022/23.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 33 appearances for Leverkusen and that was lower than the average rating the enforcer managed in both 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Tapsoba averaged a score of 7.17 and 7.00 in the previous two seasons respectively and this suggests that his performances have been on the decline over the last couple of years, which is a potential red flag for Spurs.

The 6 foot 4 colossus has remained an imposing figure at the back throughout that time, though, as he has won at least 59% of his duels in the Bundesliga since the start of the 21/22 campaign. This shows that the right-footed gem is a dominant defender who is able to win the majority of his contests against opposition forwards.

His ability on the ball could also be attractive to Spurs. Over the last 365 days, Tapsoba ranks in the top 8% or higher of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European Competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, which shows that he excels at breaking lines and driving forward with the ball to set his team on the attack.

For context, Cristian Romero does not rank higher than the top 25% in either statistic and this indicates that the Leverkusen man mountain could be an upgrade for Spurs in terms of what they do in possession of the ball.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is in the running to land the PFA Manager of the Year for his work in the Premier League in the current campaign.

The English manager is one point away, which he could secure against Leicester this evening, from securing Champions League football for next season, after arriving at the club when they were sitting 19th in the table last term.

He has done a remarkable job at St. James' Park and has proven himself to be a terrific coach as the 45-year-old has been able to develop some of the players he inherited – including midfielder Joe Willock.

The former Arsenal ace made the joint-most number of appearances (26) in a position as a number ten during his time at The Emirates but has grown into being an excellent central midfielder for the Toon Army.

Willock has started 31 matches in the Premier League this season and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88. He has contributed with three goals and six assists to go along with 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match.

The 23-year-old has become a mainstay in the team as a number eight and has proven his worth by making an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Howe could now repeat the masterclass he played with Willock – turning him into a reliable central midfielder – by swooping to sign Jesper Lindstrom this summer.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

The 23-year-old is a reported transfer target for the Magpies who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and he could cost the club up to €40m (£35m).

Lindstrom, who writer Josh Holland dubbed a "star", has predominantly been deployed as an attacking midfielder this season but has played as a number eight and in a holding role previously in his career and this suggests that the ace could follow in Willock's footsteps in England.

The Danish international has the attacking qualities to provide quality in the final third from a midfield position and has shown an appetite to defend that could allow him to transition into a deeper role.

In the Bundesliga this season, the Frankfurt maestro – who journalist Jacque Talbot hailed as "unique" – has scored seven goals and provided four assists, having scored five and assisted five last term. This shows that the youngster has the ability to be a game-changer with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Lindstrom also made 1.8 tackles and interceptions per game in the German top-flight in 2021/22 and ranks in the top 15% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for blocks made per 90, which shows that the 6-foot gem is willing to put hard work in defensively for his side.

Therefore, the Denmark international could be Howe's next coaching project as the English boss could use the Willock blueprint to turn him into a box-to-box midfielder who can make vital contributions – goals and assists at one end, whilst also being able to cut out opposition attacks, with tackles, interceptions, and blocks.