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Aston Villa have now been provided with an update regarding Philippe Coutinho's future, with two clubs battling it out for the attacking midfielder…

Is Philippe Coutinho leaving Aston Villa?

Coutinho's time at Villa Park is all but over, with Unai Emery recently revealing he is willing to sanction the attacking midfielder's departure, saying: "He is close to leaving, but we are waiting to see if the deal is complete or not. Philippe is a very good person and always we have to respect him as a person, firstly.

"Secondly, as a player, he has played at a very high level. He has not been consistent because of injuries and we decided with him, speaking and agreeing with him to try that if something is good for him, and good for the club, and for the squad, we can let him leave."

In the same report, it is detailed the Brazilian was close to completing a move to Al Duhail, of the Qatar Stars League, with the key terms of the deal being agreed – but there has now been an indication that another team could attempt a late hijack.

According to a report from Turkish outlet Fanatik, Besiktas have now stepped up their attempts to sign the 31-year-old, who they have wanted to sign since the beginning of the summer transfer window, though it will not be easy.

Although the Villa ace would be keen on a move to Besiktas, the Turkish Super Lig side will have to do battle with Al Duhail, who are able to offer him more money, which could end up being a decisive factor.

However, one advantage the Black Eagles may have in the race for the midfielder's signature is the offer of European football, with Besiktas in the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

The Turkish club are now in the process of convincing the former Barcelona man to make the move, but they have submitted a lower offer than Al Duhail, so it remains to be seen whether he is tempted.

How good is Philippe Coutinho?

There is no denying the Besiktas target is a top-quality player on his day, having been lauded as "fantastic" by members of the media, and he has put in some impressive performances in a Villa shirt, particularly when he first moved to the club.

Back in February 2022, the one-time £146m player weighed in with a goal and two assists in the Villans' 3-3 draw against Leeds United, before going on to pick up another two goal contributions in a 4-0 victory against Southampton.

However, that was a long time ago now, and the Rio de Janeiro-born attacker flattered to deceive last season, recording just one goal and zero assists in a total of 20 Premier League games, so it is without doubt time he moved on.

After losing on the opening day, Villa have won their last four games on the spin in all competitions, with Emery's side showing they are more than capable of playing well without Coutinho, who will be hoping to reignite his career if he moves to Besiktas.

The international break came at a good time for Rangers, truth be told. The Gers had just lost the first Old Firm derby of the season, as Celtic extended the gap over Michael Beale's side to four points despite playing just four games in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.

That defeat, combined with the thrashing at the hands of PSV Einhoven to end their Champions League dreams, has led to questions over Beale's future, and has put the need for good news high up on the priority list. And that's exactly what some recent contract news has given those at Ibrox.

After a rising star for the future put pen to paper on a new deal at the club, a number of media outlets covering Rangers reacted with delight.

What's the latest Rangers news?

Rangers will be hoping that the international break has handed Beale and his side a chance to regroup, before they go again in their return fixture against St Johnstone, who have already taken a point away from Celtic this season.

The Gers will at least be boosted by the recent news that 16-year-old Bailey Rice has signed a new deal until May 2026, despite receiving interest from many clubs, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Reacting to the news, one writer for This is Ibrox took to Twitter to say: "Fantastic to see Bailey Rice sign a longer deal. Has all the attributes to make an impact in a Rangers first team."

Meanwhile, the teenager also received plenty of praise from Four Lads Had A Dream, who responded, saying, "very good news" before the Rangers Rabble Podcast also spoke highly of the news, Tweeting: "Best deal that's been done this year."

With that said, it's clear that Rice is a highly-rated prospect at Rangers, and one that could play a key part in the club's future. The fact that he has been handed so much praise at just 16-years-old suggests that those at Ibrox have a potential gem on their hands.

Who is Bailey Rice?

It's no surprise that Rice is spoken so highly of by those who follow Rangers so closely. The 16-year-old made his senior debut last season, coming from the bench in the Gers' 3-0 victory against Livingston, to become the youngest ever player to play for the club. Making history like that, the midfielder more than deserved a new deal.

Speaking about Rice after handing him his record debut, Beale said, via The Daily Record: "He is only 16 and not often a young boy plays for Scotland in Spain on the Friday afternoon and then comes back to make his debut for Rangers on the Saturday. What a weekend for that young man. It is a pleasing moment for everyone who has worked with him and his family."

Everything is pointing towards a player with the potential to star for Rangers, and, as things stand, Rice has the world at his feet. It will certainly be interesting to see if Beale opts to hand the young midfielder even more opportunities to impress in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Chelsea have been tipped to win the race for one of the top-flight's most exciting talents by Owen Hargreaves.

The former England midfielder has praised Brighton and Hove Albion gem Evan Ferguson after a scintillating performance against Newcastle United on Saturday, in which he scored his first senior hat-trick in a 3-1 win over their league rivals.

Ferguson has understandably made headlines after his most recent performance, with fans and pundits around the country in awe at his maturity at such a young age and has now been backed to seal a switch to Stamford Bridge in the future.

What did Hargreaves say about Ferguson?

Hargreaves appeared on 'The Kelly & Wrighty Show' alongside Arsenal legend Ian Wright to discuss the game, where they had plenty of praise for the Irishman.

On the striker's performance, he said:

“That was against the best defence in the Premier League last season. Dan Burn looked very worried about Ferguson.”

His admirations continued, saying:

“I like the fact that all three goals were different. The first one was an easy one, he was in the right spot. The second was a great goal.

“He’s a bit of an old school centre-forward, he’s got that physical profile.”

The one-time Manchester United midfielder then suggested Chelsea as a likely destination for the emerging sensation – “Probably Chelsea," he said when asked about the Irishman's future, adding: "because they buy all of Brighton’s players”.

Who is Evan Ferguson?

The 18-year-old joined the Seagulls academy in January 2021 from Irish side Bohemians, despite interest from Liverpool.

Since making his first-team debut for Brighton in August 2021, aged just 16, he has played 33 times in all competitions scoring 14 goals, 4 of which have come in the opening four games of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

After an FA Cup quarter-final brace in March, the clinical striker earned the plaudits of BBC's Danny Murphy who labelled Ferguson a “superstar”, while Gary Lineker took to Twitter to write: “I see a real centre forward before my eyes.”

Ferguson is the latest of Brighton’s incredible talents that we have seen burst onto the scene in the Premier League in recent years, joining names such as Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister.

As with the previous players, the Irishman hasn’t been spared from links to some of the biggest clubs in the league, with Sky Sports reporting (via GOAL) in August that he was Tottenham’s ‘dream’ replacement for Harry Kane.

Arsenal are also thought to be plotting a £100m move for the Seagulls star next summer, per FootballTransfers.

Meanwhile, it was no secret that Chelsea were trying to bring in another frontman before the transfer window slammed shut last weekend.

With Nicolas Jackson yet to hit the ground running – having scored just once in four starts – and Christopher Nkunku's injury troubles, Chelsea could continue their search for a centre-forward next summer and with Ferguson’s strong progress so far, it would be unsurprising to see Chelsea go after the Brighton man.

The two sides have done business on numerous occasions in recent years, with owner Todd Boehly spending big on the likes of Caicedo and Marc Cucurella to name a few, while Tariq Lamptey and Billy Gilmour have gone in the other direction.

Hargreaves was merely speculating on where Ferguson may end up in the future but given the evidence above, he could well be the latest figure to swap the south coast for west London in the near future.

Pairing together Chelsea's recent ethos of spend first, worry later under Todd Boehly and a history of loaning out a whopping 41 players at one time back in 2019 – it comes as no surprise that sometimes talent can slip through the Blues' net.

However, it's more unbearable than ever when said talent sits right under a club's nose. Today's agonising focus is a prime example in the face of the west London club's recent stagnation.

How much have Chelsea spent?

Well, if you got lost in the constant stream of moves to Stamford Bridge (we don't blame you), Chelsea spent £345.9m this summer alone. The eight moves that followed last season's especially insatiable expenditure saw Todd Boehly's total as owner now approach the billion pound mark.

One flagship capture, of course, was that of Brighton's 21-year-old Moises Caicedo. After gaining attention in a progressive Roberto Di Zerbi side as a hardworking midfield warrior, the Ecuadorian sparked a dramatic bidding war between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Eventually, he chose Stamford Bridge as his new home and penned a jaw-dropping eight-year contract with the option for an additional year, in a move that totalled £115m.

The size of the fee was emphasised further by Caicedo's boyhood club Independiente del Valle. After smartly inserting a sell-on clause, they are set to receive around £22m for a player they let go to Brighton for just £4m.

Unfortunately, Caicedo's impact has been a little underwhelming so far with just two starts to his name. What they could do for another of the summer's big money movers in Declan Rice…

Why did Declan Rice leave Chelsea?

Back in 2013, Chelsea painstakingly released a 14-year-old Declan Rice. England's centurion and Arsenal's new fan favourite started his footballing life at Cobham back in 2006.

Rice was so naturally adept that, despite never playing organised football as a child, he was still good enough for Chelsea's academy. He played alongside fellow midfielder Mason Mount, and began an infamous friendship with the now-Manchester United man.

Where Mount was the youthful poster boy, Rice was released in 2013 and perhaps, as the player claims, it was down to his slender height at the time. In disbelief at Chelsea's blasé nature (Rice is still uncertain as to why), West Ham emphatically signed the youngster.

With new opportunities, a welcome growth spurt, and success in the Hammers' development sides – Rice took just two years to break into the first team.

Just how good is Declan Rice now?

West Ham steadily showed prying Premier League eyes Declan Rice's capabilities. From 2015 until his move to Arsenal this summer in a £100m transfer, Rice amassed over 200 league appearances for West Ham and capped his final emotional term with victory in UEFA's Europa Conference League.

Rice's final season illustrated his level as Opta statisticians included him in their team of the season. Featuring as the sole West Ham representative, Rice won possession more than anyone else (334 times), and made the most interceptions (63).

Meanwhile, he ranked ahead of Caicedo in some key midfield metrics, sitting second for ball carries (702), ball carry distance (7,136m) and ball carry progress distance (3,827m) behind only Rodri when it came to positional peers. It's safe to say that letting him go was a big mistake from Chelsea's point of view.

Rice also covered extensive distance. His third-highest rank of 412km is nearly the equivalent of running 10 marathons. It's clear why some journalists, including the Telegraph's Sam Dean, have been quick to label the midfielder a "monster."

Evidently, letting a player go for free and seeing him become a world-beater will be a bitter pill to swallow. With Chelsea's recent spending spree, it would be quick (and probably harsh) to say that they haven't learned from their mistakes either. In one regard, that statement rings true with numerous talents having been overlooked by a club and owner who likes the flash of new toys.

Yet, with the Americanised notion of vast multi-year contracts, Boehly looks to be instilling the best young talent for a long time to come – creating a new-money developmental side of the game not quite seen before.

Sir Alex Ferguson didn't often get it wrong in the transfer market when in charge of his great Manchester United sides.

This is a manager who signed Wayne Rooney, nurtured the development of Cristiano Ronaldo, poached Robin van Persie from his great rival Arsene Wenger, acquired Rio Ferdinand from fellow rivals in Leeds United and brought Ole Gunnar Solskajer, the scorer of a Champions League final winner, to great fame.

There are, of course, plenty of other names. But for every Ronaldo and Rooney, there is a Bebe, a Phil Jones of the world to plague Fergie's success in the transfer market.

The Scot is renowned as one of the best, if not the best manager the game has seen, but that doesn't mean he didn't get a few things wrong.

After all, the great tactician once suggested that Jones could become the greatest player in the Old Trafford club's history. That was a prophecy that never came true. Indeed, Jones is now 31 and without a club having endured injury hell in Manchester.

That said, he is perhaps not the biggest example of lost potential. Step forward a certain Juan Sebastian Veron.

How much did Man United sign Veron for?

Back in 2001, United went to great lengths to welcome the Argentine to the club. Indeed, they would eventually part ways with £28m to secure his services.

That was a British transfer record at the time, a record that has now soared to Moises Caicedo's £115m in today's market. How times change, but keep that in mind for later.

Learning his trade in Argentina as a young star, it was in Italy where Veron really rose to prominence. Enjoying time with Sampdoria, Parma and then Lazio, the box-to-box midfielder who seemingly had it all in his locker, registered 25 goals and 43 assists at those clubs before moving to United.

It was clear, therefore, what Ferguson thought he was getting. A playmaker who could boost their hopes of winning the Champions League after three successive league titles.

Not just a player capable of influencing play in the final third, United signed the midfielder due to his ability to make an impact defensively. Indeed, as per Sofascore's historic World Cup statistics, Veron made four key passes per game during the 1998 edition, while also making three interceptions and 2.2 tackles per game.

To put those numbers into modern-day context, Bruno Fernandes tops the charts at United for key passes per match this season with 3.2. Casemiro, meanwhile, leads the way for average tackles with 2.7 and Aaron Wan-Bissaka holds the title of most interceptions with 1.4, as per Sofascore.

When considering his multi-faceted style of play, it's hard to believe he underwhelmed at United, but that's exactly what happened.

How many games did Veron play for Man United?

During his stint under Fergie, Veron played 82 times, scoring 11 goals and registering 15 assists. For a midfielder, contributing a goal once every three games isn't an awful number.

You would, however, expect more for the price tag. Paul Pogba, for context, bagged 39 goals and supplied 51 assists in 226 games after returning to United, contributing to a goal once every 2.5 games.

So, why was he thought of so poorly? Well, these words from Sir Alex will help you to understand.

"Juan Veron was capable of exceptional football and was talented. But, at times, he found the Premiership a bit difficult," Ferguson stated. "He was a European player and that was where we got our best form from him."

That was seen in the stats too, with the Argentina international having a hand in 14 goals during 22 Champions League outings, to just 11 involvements in 51 Premier League appearances.

Not moving abroad, and instead heading to Chelsea for £15m perhaps wasn't the best idea, therefore. After scoring just once in west London, a loan move to Inter followed and then he headed back to his homeland with Estudiantes.

What are the best quotes about Veron?

When Veron arrived at Man United's training base, a session that was currently in progress ground to a halt.

As Mike Phelan recalls: "He turned up at Carrington when we were doing a training session. He walked across and the training session stopped. All the players were like, ‘Wow, it’s Veron!’ — Scholes, Giggs, Keane, the lot. They all shook his hand. He made such an impact.”

Unfortunately, that impact was seldom replicated on the pitch, as Paul Scholes once remembered. Detailing why Veron didn't succeed in England, he believed it was due to a lack of their understanding together in the middle of the park:

"Yeah, me and Veron were a disaster," Scholes told Gary Neville. "I think me and Anderson did it once – just, no, it's not working, is it? Just two lads who don't care about defending – don't know the [DM] position that well. But it worked better with a Michael [Carrick] or a Roy [Keane] or a Nicky [Butt], who were brilliant playing a position they knew."

Such an eventuality was frustrating for a player who held so much talent in his locker. Ferguson may well have grown tired of Veron's tendency to fluctuate, but he still holds fond memories.

"He hit a pass for Beckham with the outside of his foot, and no back-lift, and it bent away round the defence. Beckham ran onto it and lobbed the goalkeeper. In moments, he might be sublime," Ferguson remembers.

How much would Veron be worth in today's market?

The inflation of transfer fees in football throughout the years has been rather ridiculous. Only this summer we saw the British transfer record that Veron once held broken twice.

First Declan Rice joined Arsenal for £105m, before Caicedo headed to the Argentine's former employers Chelsea for £10m more.

So, if the United flop was on the move now, how much would he cost? Well, the Transfer Index at Totally Money suggest he would be worth a staggering £86m if the same transfer happened from Lazio to Old Trafford.

They took the 100 most expensive transfers each season in Europe’s big five leagues – England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France – since the dawn of the Premier League in 1992 and armed with that data, produced the TotallyMoney Transfer Index to calculate football's unique inflation.

£158m

£129m

£122m

£121m

£119m

£118m

£88m

£87m

If you're wondering what the stars of today cost, then it hasn't changed a great deal. A further flop in Harry Maguire hasn't seen his transfer value impacted by inflation.

A staggering £80m signing from Leicester City, his career at United has been a tumultuous affair. That said, considering in today's money he only cost £6m less than Veron, he has been a more successful signing.

A club captain, the defender has appeared 176 times, suggesting that for longevity alone, it was a more prudent deal than Veron at the time, who would leave after just two seasons, now to be mentioned among the biggest flops we have seen in England.

Liverpool return to Europa League action to take on Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield tonight, after seeing their unbeaten start to the season cruelly ended with defeat in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs capitalised on two contentious Liverpool red cards in London on Saturday evening to leapfrog them in the league table, while also benefitting from a high-profile officiating calamity as Luis Diaz's superb goal was incorrectly chalked out for offside.

Regardless, Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the gallant performance of his squad, who look miles above the woeful squad of last season that languished to a fifth-placed finish and squandered the prospect of playing in the Champions League this season.

It stung alright, but the loss must now be used as a launchpad to secure success, continuing to challenge for the title and advance through the domestic and continental competitions the Reds are involved in. In the Europa League, the German manager has a glorious opportunity to win the elusive piece of silverware that has evaded him during his Merseyside reign.

Before this season, Liverpool had last played in Europe's second-most continental competition in 2016/17, impressing and reaching the final but losing to Sevilla, who claimed the trophy for the third season in succession.

Victory is to be expected against USG, though they do currently top the Belgian Pro League after nine matches and boast enough firepower to inflict damage on a Liverpool defence that has only kept one clean sheet from nine matches this term.

What's the latest Liverpool team news?

Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are both eligible to play tonight as their respective bans do not spill into continental competition, but Cody Gakpo will be sidelined after injuring his knee against Spurs last weekend.

Thiago Alcantara is still yet to make his maiden appearance of the campaign as he continues to rehabilitate from injury, and Thursday's match comes too soon for his availability; likewise, his compatriot Stefan Bajcetic is a fitness doubt.

However, Trent Alexander-Arnold could be poised to make his first start for Liverpool since captaining his side to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa over one month ago, having recovered from a hamstring problem to feature from the bench on Saturday.

As far as squad selection goes, Klopp will probably be inclined to make widespread changes as he did for the win over LASK in Austria two weeks ago, with a daunting Premier League clash away to Brighton & Hove Albion awaiting at the weekend.

Will Darwin Nunez start against Union Saint-Gilloise?

One player who is likely to start both upcoming clashes this week is Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, with the Anfield side's club-record signing not featuring at the weekend due to complications from the double red cards.

He has been in fine fettle this season though, scoring four goals and supplying two assists from eight matches across all competitions – starting just three times.

Darwin Nunez Strengths & Weaknesses (via WhoScored)

Strengths

Weaknesses

Finishing

Offside awareness

Headed attempts

Crossing

Key passes

Defensive contribution

Praised for his "razor-sharp" performances by Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury, the 24-year-old is making improvements from last season, where his wayward finishing and questionable decision-making left him a schismatic figure at the club, undeniably talented but indisputably unrefined.

With Gakpo, who was firing himself into form, now out for the count, Nunez is presented with a fine chance to exhibit his skills and provide the firepower to align with Klopp's ambitious goals: pushing for titles across all fronts.

As per FBref, the £140k-per-week machine ranks among the top 11% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

It's impressive stuff for a player who has been so polarising over the past year, and there is every possibility that he will continue to make progress in his game and cement himself as one of the most formidable forces in European football.

Against USG, he can indeed implement such attributes to wreak havoc, and must do so to pump confidence back into a side seeking a route back to winning ways.

Should Liverpool unleash Diogo Jota tonight?

While Nunez will surely start, another man who could and must play a starring role is Jota, whose quickfire yellow cards at the weekend caused Liverpool further agony as they lost a second man against a fluid and fast-rising Lilywhites side.

It was a poor, poor decision, and whatever the noise surrounding his controversial first booking, he should never have lunged in moments later at a time Klopp called for composure.

While he will be unavailable against the Seagulls, he can play tonight and could provide the dynamism and incisiveness to boost Liverpool's chances and restore his own confidence.

The £140k-per-week Portugal phenom has popped up with some big goals already this term, scoring three times and being praised for his "quality" finishing by The Athletic's James Pearce.

Jota is also heralded as a "pressing monster" across his club's frontline – as has been said by assistant coach Pep Lijnders – and offers a kind of multi-functional prowess that most forwards can only dream of.

He ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for goals and the top 1% for assists per 90, which say everything about his destructive capabilities as the Liverpool spearhead, and at a time where the Reds need to shake off the injuries suffered last time out, he will offer security in the offensive flow.

Klopp must provide Jota with the chance to redeem himself after his troubles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the weekend, and while the Reds will be confident of victory, deploying such a talented sharpshooting maverick will only enhance their chances considerably.

It is believed by respected transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano that one Chelsea player is "now" certain to leave in the January transfer window.

Chelsea form under Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino's arrival at Stamford Bridge didn't exactly bring a wave of excellent results at first. Instead, the Blues suffered a really slow start to the new Premier League season; going from late August to early October without even scoring a single top flight goal. The Blues, though, have turned this around somewhat lately with three wins from their last three in all competitions.

Precious victories over Fulham, Brighton and Burnley on the trot have given Pochettino something to build upon in west London, with their 4-1 hammering of Vincent Kompany's Clarets in particular showcasing the devastatating talent at Chelsea's disposal.

“Always when you concede first and you need to break down the opponent always you feel proud when you achieve that,” Pochettino said after their Burnley 1-4 Chelsea.

“The team were playing well and with the chances conceded in a situation that was completely unfair, but the team were really good, solid, the whole team. We want to improve players and try to recover the players that were injured,” Pochettino said when asked what he wanted to take from the next fortnight. The next two weeks we’re going to spend working on the training ground with a different mood from the last months.

“After two victories it is much better but I think we will keep pushing, working hard to be better in the next months.”

Who could leave Chelsea?

While Chelsea look to back on a consistent run of winning form, certain players like left-back Marc Cucurella and midfielder Trevoh Chalobah have been linked with moves away from the club in January. The latter was central to another recent report by Fabrizio Romano that he's eyeing an exit this winter, and according to the same source, it is "now" believed that Chalobah is "90%" likely to go.

"I can confirm now that my information is that he will leave Chelsea in January," wrote Romano in a Chalobah transfer update.

"You may remember that Chelsea were prepared to let him go to Nottingham Forest in the final hours of the transfer window, only for the player to say no. Bayern Munich were also interested in Chalobah and their interest remains, while there are now other clubs as well. Chalobah loves Chelsea but he wants to play, so he is prepared to go. A January exit now looks 90% guaranteed."

The versatile ace, who's been unable to contribute this season due to injury, has been praised by former Chelsea coaches like Graham Potter, who once said this on Chalobah.

"Very professional, very determined. He’s an impressive character, very focused on his football," said Potter last year to the Chelsea website.

"He’s a bit of a soldier. He’s played in all the games, we’re having some problems in terms of availability for players, but he’s stood up, stood in and he’s performing at a really good level."

Aston Villa have seen a huge wave of progression crash over Villa Park since the arrival of Unai Emery in October 2022, with the Spaniard being the catalyst for change in the Midlands.

The former Arsenal boss inherited his squad from Steven Gerrard following the Englishman’s dismissal, as the Villans sat in 16th place with little direction to progress, fate that changed almost overnight when Emery arrived.

The four-time Europa League winner ended his first campaign in seventh, handing his new club a place in the Europa Conference League and miraculously improving their form, with only Arsenal and Manchester City winning more points in 2023 so far.

Premier League points won in 2023

Rank

Club

Points

1

Manchester City

71

2

Arsenal

61

3

Aston Villa

59

4

Liverpool

56

5

Manchester United

55

Via Transfermarkt

After orchestrating a successful summer of business boosted Emery’s plans for further success, as he welcomed five new faces to Villa Park, it is suggested that the Spaniard could already be weighing up his options for additional change ahead.

As the January transfer window fast approaches, clubs will be alert to the situations of potential targets, and for Villa, one name could finally make his way to the Midlands after months of speculation regarding a possible move.

Could Aston Villa sign Dani Ceballos?

Real Madrid midfielder and former player of Emery at Arsenal, Dani Ceballos, has once again been linked with a potential move to Villa.

Following the 2022 January transfer window, Spanish publication Marca claimed that the 27-year-old had been approached and had rejected a move to Villa Park in the bid to push for a place in the squad with Los Blancos.

There was further speculation in the summer regarding Villa’s hopes to capture the Spaniard’s signature, with SPORT reporting that the Midlands club were preparing to make an offer in the region of €15m (£13m) for the playmaker.

Nothing came from the rumours, as Ceballos penned a new deal with the Galacticos in June, however news in Spain has once again reported the narrative of a potential return to England for the out of favour midfielder.

DefensaCentral reported after the close of the transfer window that the Spaniard remains the ‘goal and desire’ for Villa, with the valuation for the 27-year-old having the possibility to reach €18m (£15.5m).

The report also adds that Emery’s side could even double the midfielder’s wages in order to convince him to join the club, with interest spanning almost a year between club and player, making his movements something to keep an eye on in January.

How much is Dani Ceballos worth?

While his quality is unquestionable, Ceballos has found it difficult to secure regular game time at Madrid among the abundance of generational talent Los Blancos have in midfield.

The summer capture of Jude Bellingham only made matters harder for the Utrera-born gem, who in his six-year association with Real Madrid, has secured only 38 La Liga starts.

As a result, the 27-year-old has seen his expected transfer value (xTV) fluctuate throughout the course of the footballing calendar. As relayed by Football Transfers, the former Arsenal midfielder has seen his xTV dip as low as €5m (£4.3m) this year due to lack of game time and injury.

Currently, as per CIES Football Observatory, the Spaniard is valued at €30m (£26m), making a potential move in the region of £15m, a coup for Villa.

While his value is more than affordable, Ceballos’ wage would make him the highest-earner currently in Emery’s squad, with him picking up a healthy £173k-per-week from Los Blancos.

How good is Dani Ceballos?

When you’re competing for a starting place against the likes of Bellingham, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga, form can be irrelevant as world-class quality prevails.

Ceballos was forced to endeavour on consecutive loan spells in order to grasp consistent minutes, with his two seasons at Arsenal giving him room to flourish and gain experience in playing in England.

In north London, Emery was the figure that lured the Spaniard to the Premier League, where he made 77 appearances for the Gunners over the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.

Leaving England as an FA Cup winner and an appreciated player at the Emirates, Ceballos could arrive at Villa well-equipped for the challenges that come with playing in the Premier League.

Away from England, the Real Betis academy graduate has taken advantage of his minutes on the field over the past year, cementing himself as one of the top talents in Europe’s top five leagues based on his averages per 90.

As per FBref, the Real Madrid outsider averaged 87.51 passes, 11.25 progressive passes and 2.44 successful take-ons per 90 over the last 365 days, decimals that place him within the top 1% of midfielders in Europe to reinforce his quality.

Being a good player is one thing, but having the ability to fit into a new squad is another, however there are signs that Ceballos could fit perfectly into Emery’s vision at Villa Park.

Where could Dani Ceballos fit in at Villa?

In the summer, Emery completed the signing of free-agent Youri Tielemans, who left Leicester City at the expiration of his contract, freeing him of the prospect of playing in the Championship with the Foxes.

While everything was poised for the Belgian to thrive at Villa, things haven’t worked as expected for the midfielder, with Football Insider suggesting that the 26-year-old already wants out of the club due to a disagreement with Emery.

It’s no secret that Tielemans is unhappy at Villa, as the former Leicester star spoke publicly about his lack of game time at the club while on international duty, telling the media that the situation is “not pleasant”.

If rumours are to be believed, Emery could ease the potential premature exit of the Belgian by signing Ceballos, who could be the perfect figure to replace the disgruntled midfielder.

Dani Ceballos' Premier League averages per game

2019/20

2020/21

Pass completion %

88%

87%

Key passes

1.2

1.1

Successful dribbles %

75%

68%

Interceptions

1.3

1.4

Tackles

1.9

1.5

Figures via Sofascore

Once lauded as having an “incredible amount of quality” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Arsenal loanee performed well over his two campaigns in England, as highlighted in the table above.

The midfielder, who is best equipped as a deep-lying playmaker, portrayed that he has the ability to juggle both defensive and offensive tasks in the engine room in an environment as high-pressured as the English top flight.

When comparing the averages of Ceballos in the Premier League with those of Tielemans from the 2022/23 campaign, numbers suggest that the Spaniard could be almost a straight-swap for the 26-year-old, and in some elements, a better match.

As per Sofascore, at Leicester last season, Tielemans averaged 0.9 interceptions and 1.0 key passes per game in the league, recording a passing accuracy rate of 82%, with all decimals shy of those recorded by the Real Madrid gem while at Arsenal.

Whether or not Villa opt to let go of their summer acquisition so promptly remains speculation, however regardless of his stance in January, signing Ceballos could be a smart move for Emery to add to his depth.

For a slim price, the Spaniard could rekindle his relationship with his former player, in a move that could benefit the Villans given the rumours regarding Tielemans’ future.

Manchester United could soon dip into the free agent market to sign a "complete" player to cover for one Red Devils regular, according to reports.

Man Utd transfer update

Erik ten Hag and those at Old Trafford were busy over the summer, bringing in a number of players on permanent and loan deals. However, the club also used the free agent market by bringing in Jonny Evans after he left Leicester City. The centre-back has already made three Premier League starts due to injury issues at the back, providing an assist for Bruno Fernandes’ winner against Burnley.

There were also a number of players who left Man United over the summer, with the club bringing in fees for the likes of Dean Henderson, Anthony Elanga and Fred. However, some saw their Old Trafford contracts expire such as Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and David de Gea. The Spaniard was replaced by Andre Onana over the summer but is yet to find a new club, and by the looks of things, a return to the Red Devils could now be on the cards.

The Sun provided a David de Gea transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming Man Utd are planning an astonishing bid to bring the ‘keeper back on free transfer three months after releasing the star. The report claims the club are worried they don’t have the strength in depth when Onana heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations in the New Year and are looking at a reunion with De Gea.

David de Gea in Manchester

De Gea has recently been spotted in Manchester with Bruno Fernandes, whereas the pair also joined Tom Heaton, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof for a coffee following the 2-1 win over Sheffield United. The former goalkeeper was hailed by Ten Hag earlier this year, with the manager calling De Gea the “complete goalkeeper”.

“David is a really multi-functional and complete goalkeeper. We are very happy with him.’’

David de Gea stats at Man Utd

Appearances – 545

Clean sheets – 190

Goals conceded – 590

Honours – 8

Heaton and new signing Altay Bayindir will be the only senior options to Ten Hag when Onana leaves for AFCON in the New Year, so it could make sense for a reunion with De Gea, although questions may well be asked as to why he was let go in the first place if a deal materialises.

De Gea, as we know, would offer plenty of experience at the highest level if he returns, and by the looks of things, a deal could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, providing the 32-year-old remains without a club.

Halfway-line goals are a rarity in football. Not many players possess the vision, technique and execution to pull off such an audacious strike.

But every now and then, someone across the globe pops up with a moment of magic from long range, catching a goalkeeper unawares with a mischievous effort.

That has led Football FanCast to take a trip down memory lane and revisit what we consider to be the top 10 best goals scored from inside the opposite half. We’ll be ranking the strikes on the difficulty of execution, from ‘easiest’ to hardest.

Without further ado, here’s our selections:

11 Xabi Alonso v Newcastle

21st September 2006: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United

Xabi Alonso netted a wondergoal from inside his own half as the Reds eased past Glenn Roeder’s Newcastle United side in the 2006/07 campaign.

Alonso’s effort was struck from a colossal 70 yards out, and it’s not the only time the Spaniard has scored from his own half, having netted a similar strike a season earlier against Luton Town in the third round of the FA Cup.

Though, we’ve been harsh adjudicators and left that goal out of our list.

Champions League

2005, 2014

UEFA Super Cup

2006, 2014

FA Cup

2006

Community Shield

2006, 2007

European Championship

2008, 2012

World Cup

2010

Copa del Rey

2011, 2014

LaLiga

2012

Supercopa de España

2013

Bundesliga

2015, 2016, 2017

DFB-Pokal

2016

DFL-Supercup

2017

10 Maynor Figueroa v Stoke City

12th December 2009: Stoke City 2-2 Wigan Athletic

Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa put the visiting Latics back in front after striking a quickly taken free kick from inside his own half, catching out Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

The effort wasn’t hit with much height, but rather a driven effort, leaving Sorensen with little chance to get back in time to make a stop.

Even more spectacularly, the long-distance strike found the top corner, making it that bit more pleasing to the eyes of football purists.

The goal came ahead of the January transfer window, with Manchester United and Sunderland both said to be interested in acquiring his services.

Though, the Honduras international remained at the Latics and was later awarded Goal of the Season by the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.

Every MOTD Goal of the Season since 2000

Honduras

181

5

3

0

Wigan Athletic

87

5

2

1

Houston Dynamo

63

2

3

0

Hull City

43

0

1

0

Colorado Rapids

10

1

0

0

9 Wayne Rooney v West Ham United

22nd March 2014: West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United

Spoiler alert, Wayne Rooney features twice on our list, which is quite incredible. The Manchester United forward was at the double against West Ham back in 2014, with his first strike, although from slightly inside the opponents’ half, particularly memorable.

Rooney used his physicality to roll Hammers defender James Tomkins before unleashing a sensational half-volley which looped over Adrián and bounced in.

David Beckham was in attendance at the ground and was seen applauding Rooney’s astounding strike, which was similar to his own marvellous effort against Wimbledon in 1996.

Read more: 10 memorable David Beckham moments

“Everybody probably flashbacked to Beckham’s goal and there was a bit of similarity in it tonight. I was saying to Wayne, ‘it bounced before it went in and we were worried the bounce was going to go over the bar’. He’s a top player and he’s scored a great goal,” David Moyes said post-match.

Premier League

29

17

12

Champions League

9

2

8

EFL Cup

2

0

2

8 Charlie Adam v Chelsea

4th April 2015: Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City.

Stoke City’s Charlie Adam levelled against the soon-to-be Premier League champions Chelsea just before the break with a 65-yarder, lobbing a true world-class goalkeeper in Thibaut Courtois.

“I never knew I had that much power, to beat a quality goalkeeper like that is something special. One that I will always remember. It was one of them that sat up nicely and I saw the goalie off his line. I was lucky enough that it went in.

“Once in a lifetime this can happen to you, it’s great on an individual level – a great way to get my 50th goal in English football – but the team lost and that is the disappointing thing,” Adam said.

Chelsea boss José Mourinho was full of praise for the strike, despite being on the receiving end of it: “It was a fantastic goal, every player in the world would like to score a goal like that. Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi to all these brilliant players. Not all of them did score that goal in their careers.

“Charlie Adam has condition for a 50-metre shot, so normally he would anticipate the moment we lost the ball, but it’s a great goal.”

Adam’s technique should be marvelled at for years to come, as the former Liverpool midfielder demonstrated a masterclass in long-distance shooting. He even managed to swerve the ball, making matters more complicated for Courtois. Simply brilliant.

Team

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Trophies

Scotland

26

0

7

0

Stoke City

179

22

17

0

Blackpool

98

35

22

0

Rangers

81

15

11

1

Dundee FC

65

12

19

0

Liverpool

37

2

9

1

Reading

27

2

4

0

St Mirren

2

0

0

0

7 Harry Kane v Darmstadt 98

28th October 2023: Bayern Munich 8-0 Darmstadt 98

Harry Kane settled in quickly to his new Bayern Munich surroundings, having completed a £100m move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023

The England skipper netted 44 times in 45 outings in his debut campaign, whilst laying on 12 assists, though, one goal stood out more than any other.

As Bayern notably secured a thumping 8-0 victory against Darmstadt 98, Kane continued his prolific goalscoring fortunes – netting a hat-trick.

The 30-year-old’s second goal saw him lob the backtracking Marcel Schuhen from inside his own half, Beckham-style. The superbly executed strike didn’t even bounce, as it soared straight into the centre of the goal.

Bundesliga

32

36

8

Champions League

12

8

4

DFL-Supercup

1

0

0

6 David Beckham v Wimbledon

17th August 1996: Wimbledon 0-3 Manchester United

Perhaps the most iconic halfway-line goal, certainly in Premier League history…

David Beckham’s spectacular effort against Wimbledon catapulted his profile to superstardom. It had fans in complete amazement and Becks recalled Sir Alex Ferguson shielding him from the public spotlight following the game – aware that the flock of media attention could affect him.

“I went up to the boss. I thought he was going to say, ‘Great goal’ and put his arms around me. He said, ‘Straight on the bus — and don’t talk to anyone.’ But that was his way of protecting me. He didn’t want me speaking to any media because he knew what that goal was going to do.”

England

115

17

42

0

Manchester United

394

85

120

14

Real Madrid

159

20

52

2

Los Angeles Galaxy

124

20

42

2

AC Milan

33

2

9

0

Paris Saint-Germain

14

0

2

1

5 Ismaïla Sarr v West Bromwich Albion

8th August 2022: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Watford

Ismaïla Sarr broke the deadlock in quite brilliant fashion, executing a beautifully struck chip from inside his own half to put the visitors ahead at The Hawthorns.

His initial touch is worth noting, too, as he brought down a looping ball elegantly before pivoting and pulling off the extraordinary – a strike that was later crowned EFL Goal of the Season.

Though, the Senegal international would’ve left the field disappointed by his performance, despite scoring perhaps the best goal of his career.

With the score one apiece, Sarr stepped up to take a penalty in the 73rd minute but saw his effort saved by David Button. A contrasting day of emotions for the former Stade Rennais winger.

4 Nayim v Arsenal

10th May 1995: Real Zaragoza 2-1 Arsenal

The Parc des Princes staged the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, as Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza met reigning champions Arsenal.

The cagey affair burst into life when Juan Esnáider’s volley beat David Seaman in the 67th minute before John Hartson found the leveller just eight minutes later.

As the encounter ticked into the final minute of extra-time and with penalties looming, Nayim produced a moment of genius, looping a 45-yard volley over Seaman’s head to win the cup in quite extraordinary fashion.

“I had played against Arsenal for five years with Tottenham and remembered they always played with a high defensive line, with the goalkeeper acting like a sweeper, so before the game, I told my team-mates and our coach that we should try and shoot from the halfway line,” Nayim said.

“I was going to pass to a team-mate but I looked up and I saw Seaman coming out so I just kicked it. I was very lucky. It’s my first goal against Arsenal after playing against them half a dozen times. For me, it’s something special as a former Tottenham player.”

Supercopa de España

1986

Copa del Rey

1988, 1994

FA Cup

1991

Community Shield

1991

UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup

1995

3 Wayne Rooney v West Ham United

29th November 2017: Everton 4-1 West Ham United

Wayne Rooney completed a hat-trick with a remarkable first-time effort from 59 yards out, as Everton cruised past the visiting Hammers back in 2017.

The strike perfectly soared over two leaping West Ham defenders and shot-stopper Joe Hart – who could only watch on helplessly.

It just edged his previous goal in our rankings due to the distance from where it was hit and the difficulty of taking it on first-time. Most players would’ve either hesitated and taken a touch or shanked it – which is completely understandable, by the way.

The difficulty rating is off the charts…

2 Kemar Roofe v Standard Liège

22nd October 2020: Standard Liège 0-2 Rangers

Not only did Kemar Roofe find the net from inside his own half, which is remarkable in itself, but he also used nimble footwork to skip past two players to make room for the shot which sealed a Europa League victory for Rangers in 2020.

The Gers forward struck from 54.6 yards out, lobbing it over backtracking ‘keeper Arnaud Bodart, who ended up being nowhere near it, in all honesty.

Roofe’s marvellous effort broke the record for the longest-distance goal ever scored in the UEFA Europa League.

Genius innovation from the former Leeds United forward.

Premiership

24

14

4

Europa League

7

2

0

SFA Cup

3

2

0

Europa League Qualifying

1

0

0

League Cup

1

0

0