All posts by z3u9t.icu

Last weekend, Sunderland secured their first three points of the Championship season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rotherham United, with summer signing Jobe Bellingham scoring both goals.

However, with Ross Stewart’s shocking injury record, the Black Cats are still on the hunt for more forward options, and have set their sights on a coveted Premier League youngster…

What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?

According to the Sunderland Echo, the Wearside giants are in the race to sign Fulham striker Jay Stansfield.

Championship clubs Millwall and QPR are also interested in a loan move for the striker, who has a year left on his contract at Craven Cottage, which includes the option of a further 12 months.

When asked about Stansfield ahead of his side’s defeat against Brentford on Saturday, the 20-year-old wasn’t named in the squad, Fulham manager Marco Silva said:

“He is a fantastic boy and we all love him at this football club.

“He wants to play football every single weekend. We are going to make a decision for him, but it depends on our market as well and our squad.

“We don’t want to put him at just any club. He needs to go to a club that plays a certain way.”

Tony Mowbray has also commented on the situation, adding: “I think we’ve got two or three names that we’re juggling. I shouldn’t talk about Jay because nothing is done yet, but he’s one of those we’ve had conversations about.”

Would Jay Stansfield be a good signing for Sunderland?

Stansfield has been at Fulham since 2019 and possesses an incredible scoring record for the U18 and U21 sides, having registered 45 goal contributions in 49 appearances.

Kevin McDonald, who occasionally coached the English youngster during this time, described him as “technically gifted” and a “lovely finisher.”

As a result, Stansfield secured a loan move to Exeter for the 2022/23 season. In 29 starts, he netted nine times and crafted eight assists – a solid return to round off his first move away from West London.

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell enjoyed his time with Stansfield, hailing the prodigy as “sensational” and possessing “fantastic energy and quality.”

After an eye-catching campaign in League One, Stansfield looks ready to make the next step in his glimmering career, with a Championship loan beckoning.

If he makes the move to the Stadium of Light, then he could be partnered in attack with the even more spritely Bellingham, whose Sunderland’s career exploded last weekend.

The playmaker found the net twice, propelling his team to a first victory of the campaign. Bellingham’s teammate Dan Neil was full of praise for the playmaker and said:

“He's an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well."

Therefore, it is an exciting new era for Sunderland, whose exceptional young core would hugely benefit from the arrival of a dynamic, hungry, and prolific striker such as Stansfield.

After narrowly missing out on promotion last term, Bellingham will be entrusted to spearhead another encouraging campaign, and if awarded with the presence of Stansfield, then the club has an even better chance of making their long-awaited return to the top-flight.

Aston Villa have enjoyed a decent start to their 2023/24 campaign, despite suffering a 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United in their opening Premier League tie.

Unai Emery has assembled a side which could threaten the top six if they repeat their performances from last season, while following in the footsteps of West Ham United by perhaps claiming the Europa Conference League.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

An away tie against Liverpool awaits the Midlands outfit this afternoon and considering the Anfield side aren’t at their flamboyant best, Emery’s men could claim a positive result.

Who has performed well for Aston Villa this season?

New signing Moussa Diaby has been particularly impressive in the Premier League so far, achieving a solid Sofascore rating of 7.63 across three matches while he is ranked first across the squad for goals and assists (three), shots on target per game (1.7) and big chances created (three), indicating that he is beginning to justify the club record £51.9m fee they splashed out on him.

Ollie Watkins is another who has begun the season brightly, scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 win over Hibs in the first leg at Easter Road, and although he is yet to net in the league, the striker ranks third for shots per game (2.7) and first for key passes per game (2.3), proving that he is doing everything to get off the mark while creating chances for others.

Could Emery give youngster Jhon Duran a chance against Jurgen Klopp’s men this afternoon and give Watkins a rest following his recent exertions?

Will Jhon Duran start for Aston Villa vs Liverpool?

Villa signed the Colombian striker for a fee in the region of £18m in January from Chicago Fire as Emery looked to assert his own authority on the squad by adding some young talent to their ranks.

He secured the move after scoring eight goals and grabbing five assists in the MLS, and although he failed to score for Villa during the second half of the 2022/23 season, he still showed glimpses of his vast talent.

So far this term, the teenage sensation has scored once in the Premier League while succeeding with 100% of his attempted dribbles and 100% of his ground duels, albeit he has only averaged 13 minutes during his two matches thus far.

Still only 19, the forward has already made five appearances for Colombia, scoring once, and he could certainly give Emery something different whilst leading the line against Liverpool.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the youngster as “powerful” and an “aerial threat” while also stating that he is a “counter-attacking weapon” and this could give Emery the licence to unleash him in the starting XI.

Virgil Van Dijk is suspended for the tie and this could leave the Reds exposed slightly at the back. With Duran’s pace being a key weapon, the teen gem could dismantle them if given the chance.

It represents a huge opportunity for Villa to stake a claim as a team that will challenge for the top six this term and starting the Colombian could put a spanner in the works for Klopp.

Nottingham Forest have enjoyed an impressive start to the season, sitting in 9th place on six points from the first four games and being only merely beaten in visits to Arsenal and Manchester United.

Another busy summer saw the Reds make 13 new signings, including seven on deadline day, where they announced the signing of Ivorian midfielder, Ibrahim Sangare for £30 million – a new club record.

Perhaps a more underrated piece of business, however, was the signing of Anthony Elanga, who joined from Manchester United for a fee of around £15m.

What did Rio Ferdinand say about Antony Elanga?

Speaking on his YouTube channel FIVE, Ferdinand was full of praise for the former United dynamo.

He said:

“[Chelsea] got smoked by Elanga, one of the players [United] let go.

“Elanga has looked red-hot by the way, did you see what he did to Mudryk?

"He’s done well man, every game he’s had an impact since he’s been at Forest. He came on against [Arsenal] and set up the goal, then he scored against Chelsea and got the winner.

"This kid looks electric.”

Seemingly disagreeing with United’s decision to let the winger leave the club, Ferdinand has no doubt about Elanga’s “application and desire” to succeed in his new endeavours.

How did Elanga sign for Forest?

The Swedish whiz made his first-team debut for Manchester United in May 2021 and would score his first senior goal less than two weeks later against Wolves in the Premier League.

Elanga became a regular for United under Ralf Rangnick for the second half of the 2021/22 season, making 27 appearances and scoring three goals, including an unforgettable equaliser against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League knockout stages.

When Erik Ten Hag took over ahead of the 2022/23 season, Elanga lost his position in the starting eleven and made only five league starts over the season.

With his place in the national team at risk, the 21-year-old decided he needed to leave for a club that could offer him more game time, with the Daily Mail reporting in May that over 12 clubs around Europe were interested.

Eventually, Nottingham Forest announced the signing of Elanga in July, becoming their second signing of the summer.

How has Elanga performed for Forest so far?

Without having started in the league yet, the 21-year-old dynamo's impact has been instant.

He got his first assist after only two minutes of coming off the bench against Arsenal on the opening day.

This past weekend when Forest faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Elanga was introduced ahead of the second half with the scores level.

Within three minutes, he found space in behind the defence and placed the ball past Robert Sanchez, which would be the winning goal in a huge 1-0 win.

Just as Ferdinand said, he gave Mudryk – who cost a whopping £89m – a torrid afternoon in west London, as seen by the following clip that shows the Ukraine star getting beaten all ends up by an exceptional piece of skill.

Meanwhile, as per Sofascore, the Sweden international registered the second-highest rating in the match (7.7), having contributed three shots on target, three successful dribbles and a total of four duels won in just 45 minutes on the pitch.

Tricky Trees boss Steve Cooper will be looking for more of the same after the international break when his Forest outfit return to action with a clash to basement boys Burnley at the City Ground on September 18th.

Everton have had a testing couple of years in the Premier League, however, the Blues live to fight another day in the top flight after consecutive relegation worries.

Despite having numerous scares that have threatened their 69-year stay in the top tier of English football, Sean Dyche’s side have begun the 2023/24 campaign in a similar fashion to the form displayed over the last two years.

Without a win in four, the Toffees are once again treading on thin ice early into the campaign, with there being plenty of time to pick up form as the season develops.

Five strong summer arrivals bolstered the team in preparation for the challenges ahead, with the squad more than capable of producing an improved level of form once they get firing.

There is plenty of talent on show at Goodison Park, with young stars, new signings and reliable figures joining forces to overcome the challenges surrounding the club, with not many players as integral to the side as one name in particular; Abdoulaye Doucoure.

How much did Everton sign Abdoulaye Doucoure for?

When Everton needed a shining light on the final day of last season, upstepped the ever-reliable Doucoure to earn the Toffees the three points needed to keep them in the Premier League.

Signed by Everton from Watford back in 2020, the £20m fee paid for the midfielder was arguably rescinded the day that he saved the Blues from the drop, with relegation costing around £50m in a best-case scenario. However, his influence stems far deeper than the spectacular strike.

What does Doucoure offer to Everton?

Deployable in both advanced and deeper areas in the centre of the pitch, the Mali international has already opened his scoring tally for this term, netting against Sheffield United to mark the Blues’ first goal of the season.

With 129 Premier League appearances under his belt already at the point of signing for the Merseyside club, Doucoure’s ability was showcased to England during his time at Watford, where his strengths in the middle of the park shone brightly.

Described by a Football Recruitment Analyst as being the “most important” player at Goodison when Rafael Benitez was in charge of the squad, the 30-year-old’s status in the side hasn’t dropped despite Everton’s struggles.

Last season, the orchestrating midfielder was the club’s third-highest goalscorer in the Premier League, scoring five in 25 appearances as well as providing two assists in the process.

Over the past year, Doucoure’s scoring record sees him ranked within the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 0.31 non-penalty goals per 90 to showcase the versatility of his game, via FBref.

Averaging 1.82 tackles and 1.53 blocks per 90 last season in the Premier League, the Malian ace displayed his strengths in the defensive duties of his game too, communicating the rounded attributes to his game and how integral he is to Everton.

Displaying performances this campaign that sees him average a Sofascore match rating of 7.05 suggest that the ageing talent is maintaining his reliable level of form this season too, reinforcing the impact he has when on the pitch for the Blues.

Taking into consideration the money spent in today's game, a £20m expense for the midfielder was one of the better pieces of business pulled off by the Toffees over the years, particularly when you consider the money he's made by keeping them in the division.

A big-name attacker is seemingly open to the idea of signing for Tottenham Hotspur, with there being a willingness on his side to make the move to north London behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham targeting new forward for Ange this summer

Spurs secured a dramatic, deadline-busting deal for Bayern Munich sensation Mathys Tel near the very end of the winter transfer window – which includes an option to buy the Frenchman for around £45 million – but it is far from a foregone conclusion that he’ll stay beyond this season.

Tottenham make out-of-window offer to sign £144k-per-week ex-Chelsea star

The Lilywhites are moving ahead of this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 18, 2025

The Lilywhites keeping hold of Tel will depend on the teenager’s final decision, even if he has already agreed terms on a six-year contract if he is to remain (The Athletic), so it is perhaps wise for Spurs to identify attacking alternatives ahead of next campaign.

Tottenham are among the clubs displaying interest in Lille star Jonathan David, who has been a consistently prolific marksman in France and is set to be available on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires.

However, given the Canada international will be one of the bargains of the summer window, following a record of 104 goals across 218 appearances for Lille in all competitions, the competition for his signature will be fierce.

It is already believed that Barcelona are out in pole position to sign David from Lille, with the 25-year-old making no secret of the fact he’s a boyhood fan of the La Liga heavyweights.

Ipswich Town (away)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

“(Barcelona) was always the team I grew up supporting,” he told The Athletic. “When you grow up supporting a team, it’s your dream to play for them.”

Bearing this in mind, Spurs do have other options, albeit potentially much more expensive. Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer and England legend Harry Kane has been linked with a sensational return to N17, with The Telegraph reporting that they have a first-option agreement in potential talks for the £400,000-per-week Bayern Munich superstar.

However, there is no fixed fee in this arrangement, meaning they’d have to negotiate a price or trigger his release clause (The Telegraph). They’d also have to convince Kane himself, but reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has some encouraging news on that front.

Harry Kane privately refusing to rule out returning to Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs says that Kane is privately refusing to rule out re-joining Tottenham, in what could be a boost for Ange Postecoglou.

“I think if Kane returns to the Premier League, there is a willingness to go back to Spurs. That’s not been ruled out by the player,” said Jacobs.

“We have to wait and see if there’s an appetite for Tottenham to do that deal, especially with Dominic Solanke.”

The 31-year-old may be approaching his twilight years, but Kane’s exceptional goalscoring record has not faltered in the slightest. This season, the prolific marksman boasts 29 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, adding to his total Bayern tally of 73 strikes in 76 outings.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman and head coach Tony Mowbray have built up a squad that is full of talented young prospects on Wearside.

The Black Cats have placed a clear focus on bringing in players who have the potential to develop and increase in value over the last few years.

They have tried to snap up young talents with upside in the hope that they will be able to improve under the manager and coaching staff's work on the training pitch and in matches in order to sell them on for a significant profit further down the line.

This was on full display over the summer transfer window as the club sold Ross Stewart to Championship rivals Southampton for a reported £12m package, which includes £8m up front.

Appearances

13

Goals

Ten

Assists

Three

Sofascore rating

7.40

They had signed him from Scottish side Ross County for a reported fee of £300k in January of 2021 and this means that his value soared by a whopping 3,900% in less than three years at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland will now be looking at their current crop of players to see who the next major sale could be and one player who is quickly moving up on the list is central midfielder Pierre Ekwah.

How much was Ekwah worth at West Ham?

The French prospect arrived from West Ham United during the January transfer window and FootballTransfers placed an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €65k (£52k) on his head at the time of the move.

Ekwah, who had joined the Hammers from Chelsea in 2021, caught the eye with his performances for the Premier League side at youth level and convinced the Black Cats that he was ready to make the step up to first-team level.

The midfield maestro racked up 39 appearances for West Ham's U21 team throughout his time at the London Stadium and was able to showcase his ability in and out of possession.

He produced nine goals and three assists in those matches and plundered an impressive five goals in 11 Premier League 2 outings during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign before his move to the Stadium of Light.

This showed that the central midfielder had the potential to offer an attacking threat from a midfield position as he has a knack for bursting forward to chip in with goal contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Ekwah also displayed his quality against senior opposition in three EFL Trophy appearances for West Ham in the first half of last season.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across three matches in the competition and contributed with two tackles and interceptions and two key passes per game, to go along with a duel success rate of 54%.

This showed, albeit in a small sample size, that the French talent could hold his own, physically, against professional players, and had the ability to provide quality on the ball by creating chances for his teammates.

How many appearances has Ekwah made for Sunderland?

The 21-year-old dynamo has made 25 first-team appearances for Sunderland since he made the move from West Ham earlier this year and has established himself as a regular for Mowbray as it stands.

However, it has not been an easy ride for the French talent throughout the year as he did not hit the ground running during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

It was his first experience of regular league football and Ekwah's performances lacked consistency. He averaged an unimpressive Sofascore rating of 6.57 across 14 Championship matches, five of which came as starts.

22 of his teammates averaged higher Sofascore ratings throughout the season and this suggests that he was considerably far away from being one of Mowbray's best performers last term.

However, the Sunderland head coach placed his faith in Ekwah at the start of the 2023/24 campaign and it is currently paying off for the former Blackburn boss.

The France U20 international, who was hailed as "vital" to the side by journalist Josh Bunting, has averaged a terrific Sofascore rating of 7.27 across six starts in the Championship, which is the fifth-best score within the squad.

This shows that he has gone from being one of the least impressive performers on Wearside to the point where the talented Frenchman is now one of the leading lights for the Black Cats as it stands.

Ekwah, who scored two goals in the 5-0 win over Southampton earlier this month, has caught the eye with his reliable passing and strong defensive play. He has completed 90% of his attempted passes and made three tackles and interceptions per game, as per Sofascore, which is the second-most of any player within the squad.

How much is Ekwah worth now?

At the time of writing (28/09/2023), FootballTransfers has the central midfielder's xTV at €3.4m (£2.9m) and this shows that his market value has rocketed up over the course of the year.

His xTV has increased by a staggering 5,032% from the initial €65k (£56.5k) that he was valued at when Sunderland swooped to sign him from West Ham at the start of the year.

Therefore, Mowbray has struck gold with the impressive youngster as he has developed into an impressive Championship midfield option for the head coach and his market value has reflected that.

The Black Cats boss has been able to turn Ekwah from an unproven U21 performer for the Hammers into a key cog in his first-team set-up at the Stadium of Light in less than a year, which is a credit to his coaching and management skills alongside the player's adaptability and willingness to learn.

Hopefully, he can continue to go from strength to strength and increase his xTV even further over the coming months and years. If his performances continue to catch the eye in the Championship then he could end up being the next Stewart to rake in a huge profit for the club if he attracts attention from elsewhere.

However, Sunderland may prefer him to be part of a promotion-winning side so that they can afford to keep hold of their top talents and then progress to the next level in the Premier League.

West Ham United will continue their Europa League campaign against Freiburg in Germany tonight, having defeated Serbian outfit Backa Topola at the London Stadium in their group stage opener.

David Moyes' side are fresh from claiming the Europa Conference League trophy with victory over Fiorentina in June, now targetting silver-laden once again and certainly boasting a squad strong enough to do so, having made a wealth of exciting additions to combat the £105m sale of Declan Rice.

Player

Price

Mohammed Kudus

£38m

James Ward-Prowse

£30m

Edson Alvarez

£35m

Konstantinos Mavropanos

£19m

Sean Moore

N/A

They've started the current campaign well both domestically and in Europe, but would really put themselves in the driving seat with a win against the Bundesliga outfit.

What's the latest West Ham team news?

The Hammers will have to contend with the absence of Michail Antonio, who has not travelled to Germany along with Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell.

That aside, Moyes has a pretty fresh squad to consider for selection, having dispatched Sheffield United 2-0 with relative ease in the Premier League at the weekend.

That being said, rotation might be made as the relentless fixture list keeps on churning, and with a forthcoming tie against high-flying Newcastle United, making some changes might be a prudent move.

Why should West Ham start Pablo Fornals?

At the Stade Europa-Park, Moyes would be wise to hand Pablo Fornals only his third start across all competitions this season, less integral than he formerly has been since his £24m move from Villarreal in 2019.

The 27-year-old Spaniard has completed 188 appearances for the Hammers and played a big part in winning the Conference League last season, once praised as "unbelievable" by journalist Karl Matchett.

A dynamic and creative midfielder, Fornals can play both down the left channel and in a more central position, and given that he is currently out of contract at the end of the season, he will be desperate to take his chances to impress.

He already did so in the first Europa League match against TSC, completing 81% of his passes, making one key pass, and taking 48 touches from his attacking midfield role.

Further upfield, some might expect Danny Ings to lead the line with Antonio sidelined, but the veteran striker has not been at the races so far this season and hasn't scored across seven appearances.

As such, Mohammed Kudus' energy and threat could be well-equipped to deal with a Freiburg defence that has kept clean sheets across the past two outings.

Kudus has scored five goals and supplied one assist this season, but only one of those goals has come during his time as an Iron, bagging a hat-trick for Ajax in their Europa League qualifier in August.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old maverick ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for goals scored, the top 1% for pass completion and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, illustrating his threat and crispness, as well as his knack at driving forward as a box-crashing star.

The £65k-per-week Fornals could be integral in providing Kudus with apt supplementation, with the six-cap international ranking among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 17% for passes attempted per 90.

Such reliable support is just what Kudus needs to harness his qualities in the final third, and while Freiburg will not roll over for West Ham, such a partnership could be exactly what is needed to make it back-to-back victories on the continental scene.

Two years ago on from last Saturday, Saudi Arabian consortium PIF officially completed their takeover of Newcastle United from former owner Mike Ashley.

The Magpies have been on a stunning journey on the pitch since that deal was ratified as the club's new owners have provided financial backing and ambition.

Eddie Howe was quickly brought in to replace Steve Bruce in the dugout and the former Bournemouth boss has already led the side to a League Cup final and a fourth-place Premier League finish, with the latter securing Champions League football for the 2023/24 campaign.

Alexander Isak

£60.6m

Sandro Tonali

£55.4m

Anthony Gordon

£39.5m

Harvey Barnes

£38m

Bruno Guimaraes

£36.4m

The English head coach, as shown by the table above, has been backed in the transfer market by PIF throughout his time at St. James' Park to date.

He has been able to bring in a number of big-money signings to bolster his squad but one of his best pieces of business has been one of the least flashy additions of his tenure – Dan Burn.

How much did Newcastle pay for Dan Burn?

The Magpies boss reportedly spent a fee of £13m to sign the towering central defender from Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sky Sports claimed that Newcastle had two undisclosed bids rejected by the Seagulls before they were finally able to secure a deal for his services during the January transfer window at the start of 2022.

At the time of the move, FootballTransfers placed his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €6.4m (£5.5m) after his performances for Brighton over the previous two-and-a-half years.

He joined them from Wigan in 2019 and went on to play 85 matches in all competitions for the club, in which time the giant defender scored two goals.

Burn started 33 Premier League games during his first campaign with the Seagulls and showcased his aerial quality as he won 73% of his battles in the air throughout the season.

He followed that up with 40 top-flight appearances for the club over the subsequent 18 months, which then led to his transfer to Newcastle at the start of last year.

This meant that the Magpies were signing a player who had played 73 Premier League matches in under three years before his move to St. James' Park. Therefore, they were not taking a big gamble with a player from a foreign or lower league.

Burn was a reliable and ready performer who had already proven himself to be a capable defender at the top level, which made him a sensible addition by Howe and his staff.

Whilst big-money, flashy, signings can get supporters excited and get the media talking about the club's ambition, you need proven quality and players who can do a job week-in-week-out to supplement the star quality and that is exactly what Burn provided – a solid base from which his exciting teammates could build from.

How many appearances has Burn made for Newcastle?

Burn has made 70 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions to date, with his latest coming against West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.

He came in for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and played a big role in their success in avoiding relegation down to the Championship.

The 6 foot 7 colossus started 16 Premier League matches and averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.98, which was the fifth-highest score within the squad. This shows that he was able to hit the ground running at St. James' Park as the ex-Brighton star became one of Howe's most consistent performers as a left-back and centre-back when needed.

Former West Ham forward Frank McAvennie was blown away by Burn's performances during his first few months on Tyneside. He claimed that the £13m fee Newcastle paid for him was an absolute "steal" and said that the supporters love him for the "ridiculous impact" he made at the back for the Magpies.

The 31-year-old ace followed that up with 35 Premier League starts for Newcastle during the 2022/23 campaign as Howe's side finished fourth and secured Champions League football.

He won 70% of his aerial duels as the English titan consistently dominated opposition players in the air to prevent teams from causing too many problems from set-pieces and crossing situations.

How much is Dan Burn worth now?

At the time of writing (09/10/2023), FootballTransfers has his xTV at €15.7m (£13.6m) and this means that his value has soared by 145% from the €6.6m that he was valued at when Newcastle signed him from Brighton at the start of last year.

This shows that Howe struck gold with the signing of Burn as his market value has rocketed up over the last 18 months since his switch to Tyneside from the Seagulls.

The Magpies star, who was a season-ticket holder at the club in his younger days, has proven himself to be a dependable and reliable performer at left-back for the head coach.

And he is not showing any signs of letting up this season, despite the signing of Lewis Hall potentially providing him with competition for his place, as Burn has been an excellent player for the club over the last few months.

The 31-year-old ace has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across eight Premier League starts for the Magpies this term and has won 63% of his aerial battles, along with 51% of his duels in total.

There was also a fantastic moment for Burn recently as he scored his first ever Champions League goal in the 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at St. James' Park earlier this month.

The towering English brute won all four of his aerial duels against the French champions and made four clearances and one block on a historic night for Howe's men, to go along with his headed goal, as per Sofascore.

Hopefully, Burn will continue to be a superb option for Howe and help Newcastle to progress further, in the Premier League and Champions League, this season.

It would be terrific to see a local lad win a major piece of silverware for the Magpies but it remains to be seen how likely that is with Manchester City's dominance of football at the moment.

In recent terms, Wolves have endured something of a midfield exodus.

Ruben Neves was picked off by Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal for £47m in June 2023. Just the season prior, young star Morgan Gibbs-White was bought by Nottingham Forest for a club record £25m plus add-ons. Even the steadily consistent Belgium international Leander Dendoncker moved on, as Aston Villa signed him for £13m, in 2022 too.

The current lineup do have the likes of Pablo Sarabia, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Tommy Doyle (on loan from Manchester City) in the midfield ranks. However, with the club semi-stagnant in 14th and four points above the drop zone, it's safe to say that some fresh inspiration would be more than welcome.

In terms of passes, Cundle attempts 49.83 of them per match, and this translates to not only being in the top 14% percentile – yet it adds further likeliness for assists. An assist total of 0.24 sits the Wolves loanee in the top 23% bracket when compared to other similar prospects.

However, pass completion is where Cundle stands alone in the top 1% bracket – with a superb 87.1% completion rate per 90. These 4.79 passes per 90 being progressive hints to Cundle's potential to really push on any attack.

Whether it be Championship new-boys or Premier League Wolves, Cundle has this great dexterity that if given the chance to blossom: could project him onto our nation's wider footballing consciousness.

Just ask the aforementioned Gibbs-White, who like his fellow midfielder benefitted greatly from the type of education Cundle is now receiving in the EFL. Such a loan could well see him prosper at first-team level next term under Gary O'Neil, or fetch a big fee for the club.

Manchester United have endured a poor start to the 2023/24 campaign and one of their key men has now been slammed by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor for his performances.

Man Utd injury updates

Injury problems have dogged the Red Devils this campaign and Erik ten Hag has undoubtedly been restricted in his ability to field a full-strength lineup at times this campaign, which has come to the detriment of his side's form both domestically and in the Champions League.

Manchester United's list of injuries has provided a reality check with regards to their squad depth, as Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed out on derby day against Manchester City, where the Red Devils tumbled to defeat against a far superior opponent.

Raphael Varane could only make the bench for the tie, while Brazil international Casemiro lost his battle with fitness for the tie and subsequently didn't feature due to an ankle injury picked up on international duty with his native country.

At the time, Brazil boss Diniz didn't seem to be too fazed by the severity of Casemiro's injury, which has since ruled him out for several of Manchester United's fixtures, as he said: "As there was a stop (in play), I decided to make the three substitutions. We had a lot of control when they came on. Casemiro asked to come off due to a blow to his ankle."

Nevertheless, Casemiro hasn't enjoyed the best of times in a Manchester United jersey this term, recording an average match rating of just 6.79/10 for his performances in the Premier League, as per WhoScored. Now, Casemiro has been made to feel the wrath of pundit Agbonlahor, who has delivered a brutally honest verdict on his recent run of form.

Gabby Agbonlahor slams Casemiro

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, Agbonlahor indicated that Casemiro should've never been brought to Old Trafford in the first place. The 37-year-old stated:

"I don’t think his bad form is a blip. The Premier League can catch up on players very quickly. It’s just like Fabinho. He can’t run any more, and he got found out. Clubs will target you. If you’ve got legs, you’re going to have a field day against Casemiro. He’s getting targeted. His legs have gone, he’s giving the ball away, he can’t get back, he’s getting spun."

Casemiro stats for Man Utd (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

62

Goals

11

Assists

7

"Real Madrid don’t sell players they want. It’s not his fault. It’s the fault of whoever paid big money to bring him in on a four-year contract. They couldn’t believe it when the bid came in. He’s had an amazing career, but the Premier League catches up with you."

Regardless of criticism towards Casemiro and other under-fire Manchester United players, Red Devils boss Ten Hag will be desperate to welcome the Brazilian back into the fold before too long as he aims to turn around his side's fortunes, especially following the 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City on Sunday.