Category Uncategorized

Saqib Mahmood thinks that reverse-swing will come into play in England’s home Tests this summer, with the ICC’s saliva ban forcing seamers to find alternatives to conventional swing.Mahmood is in line for a Test debut at some stage this summer, with a packed revised schedule likely to force England to rotate their pace attack, and has been back training at Emirates Old Trafford over the past two weeks.And while he has found it difficult to adjust to not shining the ball as he is used to – “it’s almost second nature” – Mahmood thinks that a combination of hot weather, dry pitches and the ban on saliva could see bowlers use different methods to get the ball moving.ALSO READ: Closed doors could bring opportunities for England’s fringe players – Mo Bobat“It’s not ideal. As bowlers, especially swing bowlers, you lose one of your biggest threats,” Mahmood told ESPNcricinfo. “You want to start practising new skills, but it does take a big weapon away from bowlers and that will favour the batsmen a lot more.”If you’re playing on an abrasive or dry surface, which Old Trafford and Southampton [the venues for the West Indies series] can be, then you might use [reverse-swing] as a tactic. Rather than shining the ball and getting it to swing conventionally, you might scuff up one side on the wicket and try to look after the other to get it smooth and dry to get lateral movement.”The wickets I’ve been training on have been fairly green, but once I get up to 100% fitness, I think I’ll start practising that. That’ll come into play over the next couple of weeks.”Mahmood worked closely with Darren Gough, employed as a bowling consultant by the ECB, on England’s tour of New Zealand this winter, and has a Kookaburra ball at home that Gough gave him which he uses to practise reverse-swing.And while he has rarely tried to hone the skill in England, he expects that it will come into play over the coming weeks.”It’s almost like my point of difference, which is why I have to practise it and try to get it as good as possible. It’s something you want to practise to get good at, both to bowl teams out overseas and potentially, with how things are looking, at home as well this year.”In England, you don’t really practise reverse-swing, and not everyone can do it. Last year, we had one game at Old Trafford at the back end of the season where the ball was reversing in my spell after tea, and while it felt good when I got it right, it took me a while.”That’s what I’ve been practising this winter: trying to get it to feel right from ball one or two of the spell, rather than wasting two or three overs and then getting it right. That’s been the biggest difference.”Mahmood was presented with his ODI cap by Gough after the pair worked closely over the winter•Dan Mullan/Getty Images

While Mahmood’s ability to get the ball reversing is perhaps the main reason that he has many admirers within the England set-up, his pace is also an important factor. He has regularly been clocked at 87-88mph in televised games, and thinks that the ball is coming out faster than usual since his return to training.That increase in speed is little surprise after he decided to set himself physical targets during lockdown, kitting his garage out to turn it into a home gym and “solely focusing on strength” for the first time that he can remember.”I’ve been able to build up pretty quickly. I’ve obviously not hit match intensity yet, but in terms of the feel of my run-up and action, and the rhythm that I’ve been able to get into, I thought it would take me a lot longer.”There was that uncertainty of how long lockdown was going to be, and I wanted to make the most of it. I had everything I needed for leg strength, core stuff, upper-body stuff and I feel the difference in my body now. I don’t know if that’s added any pace, but so far it feels like it is coming out quicker than what it was, which is good.”ALSO READ: Bravo, Hetmyer, Paul turn down call-ups for England seriesTraining remains a strict environment with regards health protocols, and Mahmood is yet to bowl to a batsman since returning, but after the ECB were given the green light to move onto ‘stage two’ training, it has become less of a solitary experience. Mahmood has been able to train at the same time as James Anderson with Glen Chapple, Lancashire’s head coach, on hand for technical advice.But there won’t be too much of an opportunity to settle into a routine. When West Indies arrive in England next week, they are due to spend the first three weeks of their tour at Old Trafford. As a result, Lancashire will move their training base to Chester Boughton Hall, meaning a longer commute for Mahmood.”Old Trafford becomes off-limits for us, and I’ll just have to crack on with it. It’s about building everything up and getting as close to match-ready as possible now. As individuals, it’s a case of not putting too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect and making the most of it.”

Newcastle United are eyeing one of their former players as a potential replacement for Dan Ashworth as sporting director, according to a new claim.

Newcastle eyeing Dan Ashworth replacement

Ashworth has been a hugely influential figure at St James' Park, working so effectively alongside Eddie Howe when it comes to transfers, but he is now set to leave the club sooner rather than later.

He has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle, with a switch to Manchester United looking increasingly likely, although a lot of that may depend on whether the Red Devils are willing to pay £20m in compensation to get their man. If not, they will have to wait until his contract expires in 2026.

With Ashworth soon to depart Newcastle, the hunt is now on to find the perfect successor in terms of someone who can work similarly seamlessly alongside Howe, ensuring that the Magpies continue to move in a positive direction.

Monaco's Paul Mitchell has been mentioned as a potential replacement a number of times, having shone during his time in France, and he also has plenty of experience in English football, having enjoyed a successful stint at Southampton and masterminding signings such as Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama.

Newcastle could hire former player

According to inews, former Newcastle player Hugo Viana is a candidate to be the club's next sporting director after Ashworth, with the Portuguese shining in the role at Sporting CP.

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini is also in the mix to take over from the Englishman, but it is worth stressing that Monaco ace Mitchell is the current first choice.

Viana is a great option in his own right, however, having done such an impressive job at Sporting, playing a big role in their success under Ruben Amorim.

He has been in his current job since 2018, and Amorim has outlined his colleague's expertise in the transfer market, assessing last summer's business back in August:

"We are still below 50 percent, between sales and purchases. Last year, Porro left in the middle of the season, Sarabia, Palhinha, Matheus Nunes also departed and there were more changes than this year. Only Ugarte left from the regular starters, which allowed us to plan better. We went looking for young players who already had some experience to join the first team. Many kids came in and will have their spot. We set targets early and we had good sales.

"We're on the right track. We know it's going to be a tough year, but having a base will make it easier."

Howe must drop Newcastle star to allow 5ft 10 talent to flourish

He’s come under fire from a lot of supporters this campaign.

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 30, 2024

Viana's links with Newcastle would make bringing him in an added bonus, considering he made 61 appearances for the Magpies back in the 2000s, meaning he could adjust even better than others in the role.

رد إيمريك لابورت لاعب النصر السعودي على أنباء ارتباطه بالانتقال إلى ريال مدريد وما إذا كان ذلك يزعجه.

وأشارت تقارير في وقت سابق إلى أن ريال مدريد يتطلع إلى تعزيز صفوفه، ويدرس التعاقد مع لابورت.

وحول ما إذا كان ارتباطه بريال مدريد يزعجه قال في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “لست على علم بالأمر”.

وأضاف: “لقد قرأت نفس الشيء مثلك، لذلك ليس هناك مشكلة، يبدو جيدًا، من الواضح أن فرقًا مثل ريال مدريد لن تُحتقر”.

وتابع بشأن اللعب في الدوري السعودي: “الأمر الذي يهمني هو لعب كرة القدم ومحاولة القيام بذلك على أفضل وجه ممكن، لن أعتمد على ما يعتقده الناس لاتخاذ القرارات في حياتي”.

وأشار: “إذا اتخذت قرارات مهمة في مسيرتي المهنية أو في حياتي الشخصية، فسيكون ذلك لأنني أعتقد أن هذا هو الأفضل بالنسبة لي، من الواضح أنني لن أفعل شيئًا يؤذي نفسي، قد يكون ذلك صحيحًا وقد لا يكون صحيحًا، لكن عليك دائمًا احترامه”.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوائز جلوب سوكر | ثلاثي ريال مدريد يتنافس على أفضل لاعب وسط

وحول كرة القدم السعودية:، أفاد: “إنها ثقافة مختلفة، لكن ما ذهبت إليه هو لعب كرة القدم وليس القيام بأشياء أخرى وحتى الآن لم يسير الأمر بشكل سيئ بالنسبة لي”.

وعن الخبرة في الدوري السعودي، أوضح: “لا يزال هناك الكثير من الأشياء التي يجب تحسينها، لقد راهنوا بشكل كبير على كرة القدم قبل بضع سنوات، سوف ينمو شيئًا فشيئًا أو بسرعة كبيرة، لا أعرف، لكنني رأيت التطور”.

وبشأن العلاقة مع الصحافة، علّق: “نادرًا ما رأيت صحفيين أو صحيفة تدافع عن مصالحي، لقد تم التشكيك في جميع القرارات التي اتخذتها، وكلما أجريت مقابلات شعرت بخيبة أمل لأن العناوين المستخدمة هي التي تنشر لجلب مشاهدات كثيرة”.

وأكد لابورت: “إنها وظيفتك وعليك أن تجعل الناس يتحدثون، وهذا ما أدركته من الداخل، ولم يحدث لي أبدًا، فالأشياء الغريبة لا تظهر في العناوين الرئيسية”.

وحول استمراره في الدوري السعودي، استرسل: “لقد ذكرت ذلك بالفعل أكثر من مرة، فكرتي في العودة موجودة، لدي عائلتي بأكملها في أوروبا، فكرتي في العودة هناك”.

وعن اللعب مرة أخرى في إسبانيا، أردف: “من الواضح أنني في فريق الآن”.

Big picture

You have to hand it to England and South Africa. They may not often be the best two teams in the world, but when they go head-to-head – at whatever stage of their respective team developments – sparks cannot help but fly. The Port Elizabeth Test will be the 50th encounter between these two sides since South Africa’s readmission in 1991, and they go into the match all-square by almost any metric you’d care to analyse.England have won 16 Tests of those previous 49, as have South Africa. England have won four series out of 11, including two at home and two away, as have South Africa. And only twice in all those series has either side emerged victorious by more than a single result: sure enough, it’s one apiece on that front too, with South Africa’s 2-0 win in 2012 matched by England’s 3-1 scoreline five years later.All of which is a roundabout way of saying: presume nothing about the direction of this latest contest. We are locked at one Test all after a gloriously immersive contest at Cape Town a fortnight ago, but the two sides have been teetering on the brink of crisis all season long, and that inherent instability is surely not about to leave the arena as we enter the fraught final exchanges of another absorbing tussle.In any ordinary context, you’d assume that England were now the team in the ascendancy – their 189-run win at Newlands was more comprehensive than it felt in that fraught race against time on the final day, thanks in no small part to the irresistible impact of the newly crowned ICC Player of the Year, Ben Stokes. When he’s on song, as he spent most of 2019 demonstrating, his presence alone can atone for a multitude of shortcomings elsewhere in England’s ranks.Which is just as well, because their stocks have been depleted yet further in the days since England began to meander down the Garden Route and take up residence in the Eastern Cape. The prognosis on James Anderson had looked bleak from the moment he bowled just two overs on the final afternoon at Newlands, but confirmation of a cracked rib robs England of their iconic attack leader for the second time in six months.And Tuesday’s sad news of Jack Leach’s departure from the tour was a reminder of the virulent sickness bug that has stalked the whole squad since the opening days of the tour. Joe Root caused another scare when he missed training earlier in the week, although he seems now to be on the mend, but further accidents and incidents never seem far from the surface. Just ask Rory Burns, whose seemingly innocuous football injury on the eve of the second Test has escalated to surgery and a four-month lay-off.Would England swap their position for that of South Africa, however? The character the hosts showed in surging to victory at Centurion in December gave way to a more flimsy display in the New Year, as if to confirm that the depth of the crisis gripping Cricket South Africa in the build-up to the series was not something that a change of management and a few hearty team bonding sessions could remedy.The most fundamental concern right now swirls around the future of South Africa’s captain, Faf du Plessis. His distracted dismissal at Cape Town, caught on the slog-sweep for 19 when defence was the only objective, capped a grim run of form in which he’s managed 79 runs in his last seven innings, with his most recent century more than 12 months ago. At the age of 35, predictable questions have begun circling, and will surely only get louder if his side cannot get something out of the remaining two Tests of this campaign.Transformation issues invariably complicate the picture for South Africa too. The team’s official vice-captain, Temba Bavuma, remains on the fringes as he works his way back to form after injury, and his absence leaves the team short of meeting their transformation target – calculated on average over a season – of fielding six players of colour of which at least two must be black African.The team’s pragmatic concerns may well hold sway in the short term – a series win over England would be a boost for cricket throughout the country irrespective of the team’s current make-up – but the off-field pressures are real and unavoidable. All of which ensures there’s all to play for in the coming five days. As there always is when these two flawed outfits come up against one another.Faf du Plessis with his team•Getty Images

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa LWLLL
England WLDLW

In the spotlight

Remarkably, it’s been nearly a year since Mark Wood’s last Test appearance. But what an appearance. At St Lucia in the final Test of England’s series defeat in the Caribbean, Wood unleashed his offerings with the fury of a pelota ball – all fizzing angles and searing speed, as he served up a spell of fast bowling as pure and nasty as anything that an England quick has produced since Devon Malcolm wrecked South Africa at The Oval in 1994. He said at the time that he felt he’d arrived as a Test cricketer – but alas, he was unable to prove it further after picking up a side strain during the World Cup final, an injury that ruled him out of the Ashes and left him targeting the back end of this trip for a recall. Happily, Wood is not the sort of chap to dwell on his injury setbacks, and he rarely holds back in anticipation of a relapse. By all accounts, he’s been rapid in the nets in recent days, and looks likely to get his chance ahead of Jofra Archer – who may not yet be back to full match fitness after his elbow injury, and whose recent workload probably warrants caution at any rate before pitching him back into the fray.It looked for a time at Newlands as though Pieter Malan was set to script one of the great Test debut performances. While he was at the crease on the final day, utterly serene in the course of his six-hour rearguard, South Africa looked set to put off an improbable escape. But then Sam Curran snagged his outside edge, and his departure for 84 spelt the beginning of the end. Nevertheless, his instant solidity was a boon for South Africa after losing Aiden Markram to a finger injury, and if he can come close to replicating such composure at Port Elizabeth, he’ll know that Dean Elgar at the other end won’t give his wicket away lightly. Out of adversity, South Africa may just have hit upon a very promising opening partnership.

Team news

Du Plessis’s form aside, there aren’t many areas of particular scrutiny in South Africa’s line-up – certainly the form of Rassie van der Dussen and Pieter Malan, the two newest additions to the batting line-up, has helped to assuage many of the awkward questions about Bavuma’s continued absence. It is in the bowling ranks where the likeliest change will occur, with Dane Paterson hotly tipped to make his Test debut – although how he’ll fit into the side is still somewhat up for debate. The likeliest switch will be for Dwaine Pretorius, to inject a bit of extra bite to a seam attack already featuring Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. If included, Paterson, who is coloured, will also help make up some of South Africa’s transformation target.South Africa (possible): 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Pieter Malan, 3 Zubayr Hamza, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 Vernon Philander, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Dane Paterson, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Anrich NortjeEngland have one enforced change, with Mark Wood likely to edge out Archer and Chris Woakes as Anderson’s replacement in the seam attack. Joe Root stopped short of confirming the team on the eve of the match, but England’s subsequent nets session seemed to imply that Archer is not yet back to match fitness. He was seen deep in conversation with the team doctor and physio.England (probable): 1 Dom Sibley, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Ollie Pope, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Dom Bess, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Stuart Broad

Pitch and conditions

It’s been hot and dry in the Eastern Cape for months – the bathroom plugs at the local hotels have been confiscated to encourage water saving – and as a consequence, there’s the looming prospect of reverse-swing playing a part on what is traditionally one of the slower, lower wickets in the country. The pitch itself looks true, though the abrasive used wicket to the side will be of interest to fielders on both sides – and no doubt to the umpires, as they keep an eye on returns being skimmed into the keeper on the bounce. There was some humidity in the air on match eve, which may encourage traditional new-ball swing, although a westerly wind – which tends to bring more favourable conditions for batting – is forecast over the weekend.

Stats and trivia

• This will be England’s 500th overseas Test match. Of the previous 499, they have won 149 and lost 182, while their record in South Africa is P83 W32 L20.
• England have not played a Test at Port Elizabeth since the opening match of the 2004-05 series – a contest that they won by seven wickets en route to a 2-1 series win. The match was also notable for the debuts of two all-time greats in AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn.
• Ben Stokes is within striking distance of reaching 4000 runs in Tests – he is currently 94 away. Should he get there, he would become the seventh player to reach the 4000 runs and 100 wickets milestone after Garry Sobers, Jacques Kallis, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Carl Hooper and Daniel Vettori.
• Rabada needs five more wickets to become the eighth South African to 200 Test wickets.

Quotes

“Stokesy being named player of the year was very well deserved. For us, he is a guy we need to try and keep quiet because he is that sort of player that takes the game away from you when he gets in, similar to what Quinton de Kock does for us. Players like that are very dangerous. We know with his bowling as well, big tank and he bowls long overs and tries 150 percent, so it’s very well deserved.”
Du Plessis reacts to Stokes being named ICC Player of the Year “You can’t worry too often about whether he’s going to get through a five-day game. If they’ve proven themselves to be fit, if they’ve jumped through every hoop and worked very hard to get back there, you have to give them that opportunity.”
Root drops a strong hint that Wood is set for a recall in spite of his chequered injury history

Jonny Evans has signed a new one-year deal at Manchester United.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Evans returning on one-year deal
• 36-year-old says United will "challenge"
• Defender a key player in 2023-24

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have announced that Evans has signed a new one-year deal at Old Trafford, having emerged as a surprisingly key player for the club last season. The Northern Ireland international is 36 and returned last summer as a stop-gap addition, but he ended up playing 30 games in all competitions.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United were beset by injury problems last season and Evans remained a model professional throughout his first season back at the club, having previously left in 2015. He also won the FA Cup, ensuring that he has now won every domestic trophy available for the club during his career.

• WHAT EVANS SAID

  Evans told the club's official website: “I am delighted to have extended my contract at Manchester United for another season.

  “To play for this great club and feel the support from our incredible fans is always a privilege.

  “Returning to the club last season was an honour; representing the team on the pitch alongside fantastic team-mates under an excellent manager.

  “Winning the FA Cup together was an unforgettable experience; I know we can challenge for more trophies in the season ahead.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  United play their first pre-season friendly on July 15, against Norwegian club Rosenborg. They will also play Rangers, Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool before the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 10.

Alisha Lehmann was spotted enjoying a horse cart ride in Italy with two enormous dogs after completing Juventus transfer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Lehmann flew from the USA to ItalyCompleted her signing with JuventusWas spotted enjoying a serene morning in the countrysideWHAT HAPPENED?

The Swiss international is currently spending her time in the Italian countryside after travelling to Turin to complete her transfer to Juventus from Aston Villa. Lehmann seems to be already enjoying her new surroundings as she was spotted taking an early morning horsecart ride with her mother along with two huge dogs.

@alishalehmann7 InstagramAdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lehmann arrived at Juventus offices on Friday morning to iron out the final details of her contract before the transfer could be made formal. The move will see her reunite with her boyfriend Douglas Luiz who has also signed with the Bianconeri.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lehmann had been spending her holidays in the United States where Luiz is currently plying his trade with the Brazilian national team in the Copa America. She was spotted in a Brazil jersey in the stands when the Selecao took on Colombia in their final group game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

@alishalehmann7 InstagramWHAT NEXT FOR LEHMANN?

Brazil will be back in action against Uruguay in a titanic knockout clash on Saturday evening and it remains to be seen if Lehmann flies across the Atlantic again to support Luiz at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada.

West Indian fast bowler Miguel Cummins has signed a three-year Kolpak deal with Middlesex, ruling him out of contention for his country. Cummins has played 14 Tests and 11 ODIs, with his most recent West Indies appearance coming in the Antigua Test against India in August.The 29-year-old had a brief spell as an overseas player with Middlesex last month, taking eight wickets in three Championship games. He is the latest West Indian to take the Kolpak route into county cricket, following the likes of Fidel Edwards, who plays for Hampshire, and Ravi Rampaul at Derbyshire.Cummins previously played under Middlesex’s coach, Stuart Law, when he was in charge of West Indies between 2017 and 2018. Middlesex, who were champions in 2016, finished eighth in Division Two in Law’s first season in charge.”Stuart Law recommended that we get Miguel over, to have a look at him, on the back of the time he had spent with him whilst coaching the West Indies,” Middlesex’s director of cricket, Angus Fraser, said. “I had watched Miguel on video, but it is often only when you see someone play live that you get a true reflection of their capabilities. I was immediately impressed by Miguel.”He has control, is able to move the ball away from a right-handed batsman and, I believe, the ability to bowl fast, aggressive spells when conditions dictate. During the recent spell he spent with Middlesex he fit in really well and will be a popular member of our squad.”Middlesex will be looking for a new captain next season, after Dawid Malan announced that he was stepping down after two years in the role. Malan scored more than 1000 runs in the Championship, as well as leading Middlesex to the knockout stages in both limited-overs competitions, but saw the team fall well short of a successful promotion bid.”Dawid has thrown his heart and soul into the role of club captain for the past two years, and on behalf of Middlesex Cricket, I would like to thank him for that,” Fraser said. “He has also shown great pride and dignity in the way he has handled a difficult season and he leaves the role knowing he has given it all he can.”As a batsman the captaincy seems to have got the best out of him and he has had an excellent season. He has been our best player in testing batting conditions.”That things have not worked out as we hoped is disappointing for everyone involved and we must take the responsibility for that. Personally, I would like to thank Dawid for his commitment to the role and his desire to take the club forward. We must now turn our attention to finding a suitable replacement to take this great club forward.”

Unlike most sides in the Premier League, Aston Villa are using the January transfer window to strengthen their squad.

Unai Emery is keen to increase his squad selection options ahead of the rest of the season, where his side will be challenging on three fronts for glory.

Kosta Nedeljković has already been announced, but who else could be on their way to Villa Park?

The latest on Villa's pursuit of Morgan Rogers

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider, Villa are confident that they can sign Morgan Rogers before the transfer deadline day on 1st February.

The Midlands club have submitted another bid for the Middlesbrough attacker after having their first two rejected.

Indeed, one source told Football Insider that scouts had been in attendance to watch the attacker in Middlesbrough’s 1-1 draw against Rotherham last weekend. Since then they have decided to ramp up their pursuit of the lively youngster. A deal could be secured before February, with Villa desperate to get their main target.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

By
Charlie Smith

Feb 1, 2024

How Morgan Rogers could supercharge Ollie Watkins

Under Emery, Ollie Watkins has simply been phenomenal, acting as the focal point while also working his socks off for the side.

His hard work has seemingly paid off, with the England forward picking up 14 goals and ten assists in 29 games across all competitions this season.

Even though he is almost at peak performance, for Watkins to really progress to the next level, he needs to form a telepathic relationship with the supporting striker, which is where Rogers comes into the fold.

The Middlesbrough ace only moved to the club in the summer from Man City for as little as around £1m, but he impressed the Villa scouts during their recent clash in the FA Cup. Rogers is a versatile player who has featured mainly in the number 10 role, and in 32 games, he’s scored six and provided nine goals.

Nonetheless, the table below shows Rogers’ statistics from this season and how they compare to their positional peers in the Championship.

As you can see, Rogers is the definition of a creator, and it is no surprise that Michael Carrick has labelled his star forward as “dangerous.”

With Watkins being a striker who loves to play on the shoulder of the defender, the signing of the 21-year-old – who ranks particularly highly for progressive passes in the second tier – would allow the Villa striker to focus on that aspect of the game. Rogers can take on the responsibility of dropping deeper with ease, as shown by his passes into the final third numbers.

Furthermore, the fact that his assists, shot-creating actions, and key passes rank so highly also indicates that he would massively increase the service that Watkins will receive in and around the box, therefore increasing his chance of scoring each game.

Another way in which Rogers could improve Villa’s number 11 is by simply providing a rotation option, as he has played as a centre-forward a few times this season. Emery’s busy schedule over the next few months will inevitably see fatigue and the overplaying of some individuals occur, but giving the Spaniard the choice to rest Watkins and allow him to recharge would only make his performances better.

Overall, Rogers would be the perfect signing to improve Watkins and, most importantly, Villa. Emery must jump at the chance to pick up the attacker.

Despite going 1-0 down within the opening few minutes, Leeds United managed to make it three wins from three in the Championship for January so far with a 2-1 victory over Preston North End at the weekend.

Junior Firpo continued his mini resurgence in the Whites first team against the visitors from Lancashire, the left-back racing onto a Crysencio Summerville pass to then cross perfectly for Daniel James to head home the equaliser at Elland Road.

Even with Firpo now boasting four assists next to his name for the season, Daniel Farke won't hesitate adding in more reinforcements to the sparse left-back area this transfer window.

Leeds could even attempt to replicate the effectiveness of the Joe Rodon loan deal with this potential buy, Farke's men gaining an adaptable and reliable defender for the rest of the jittery Championship campaign if the move happens.

Leeds going after another Premier League defender

It was revealed by Phil Hay last week when writing for the Athletic, that the main priority for the Championship giants in this window is bolstering the full-back spots at Elland Road with a whole plethora of defenders linked with a switch to West Yorkshire as a result, including Ben Davies.

Football journalist Ben Jacobs, when speaking to GIVEMESPORT recently, confirmed that the Whites are looking at a deal to sign the experienced full-back with his versatility at the back a major standout attribute Farke admires – "Versatile players are going to be given preference. Davies, Ben Johnson and Connor Roberts are the names that Leeds are working on at the moment."

Leeds will hope a move for Davies enables the automatic promotion candidates to have another calm and measured head in the group, giving them a defensive option to fall back upon in the pivotal months to follow as the pressure gets more intense at the top of the Championship.

How Davies slots into the Leeds team

Leeds will hope their strong relationship with Tottenham Hotspur – with the north Londoners presumably delighted with how Rodon is progressing away from the club on loan – means that a deal for Davies to relocate up north to join his fellow countryman is also forthcoming.

The Welsh centre-back has been particularly impressive since moving, notably making the most clearances per game (4.1) in the entire squad and the second-most interceptions per match with 2.1. A move for Davies, therefore, could be a repeat of that magic move.

With Junior Firpo guilty of having notable off-days for the Whites, as was showcased throughout a difficult relegation season for the ex-Barcelona man in the Premier League, the Spurs defender can play the role that Sam Byram also fulfils in the squad as a dependable backup to come in if the Leeds number 3 shows signs of faltering.

Yet, there's an argument that Davies could usurp Firpo over time – the Welshman has been in and around Ange Postecoglou's first team in north London this season, making 16 appearances in all competitions.

The 30-year-old defender has averaged an impressive 7.05 Sofascore rating in the Premier League this campaign for Spurs, notably standing out when Tottenham won on their travels away at Nottingham Forest last month.

Accumulating 118 touches across a lively 90 minutes and only misplacing eight of his 102 passes, Davies was also dogged and won ten duels in total at the City Ground to ensure Spurs kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 win.

Minutes played

90

Clearances

6

Tackles

2

Duels won

10/15

Touches

118

Accurate passes

94/102 (94%)

Accurate long balls

7/10

This display in particular saw football pundit Danny Murphy single Davies out for praise on Match of the Day, stating that the 30-year-old is a "very intelligent footballer." Micah Richards is another to single the full-back out for praise, saying his displays of late had been "amazing."

Very rarely dropping a clanger, the safety of having an experienced head in the side could mean Farke feels he can trust Davies over an up-and-down Firpo when wins are a must towards the conclusion of the gruelling second-tier campaign.

Those standout displays this season in the top flight have mainly come from Davies playing in the heart of defence too, where Farke does need more numbers to rely upon with Pascal Struijk still in the treatment room.

Farke will hope Davies excels in his new environment in a similar fashion to Rodon before him, another key component of the Whites squad that can steer the team to an immediate return to the Premier League.

Aston Villa reportedly hold an interest in signing a new midfielder as NSWE look to back Unai Emery at the end of the January transfer window.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

Emery is currently on course to take the club into the Champions League next season after an outstanding first season in charge at Villa Park. The club have made Villa Park a fortress and made history with a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory back in December.

Something that has helped Villa this season were their additions over the summer, however, they have been relatively quiet in the winter window.

Aston Villa summer signings

Fee

Pau Torres (Villarreal)

£33m

Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen)

Undisclosed

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)

Free

Rico Richards (West Bromwich Albion)

Free

Nicolo Zaniolo (Galatasaray)

Loan

All fees according to Sky Sports

Teenage right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic has been the club’s only addition so far in 2024, joining for an undisclosed fee from Red Star Belgrade before heading back to the Serb Superliga club on loan.

Middlesbrough attacker Morgan Rogers has emerged as the top target for the remainder of the window, as per reports, with Villa already having two bids turned down for the Championship star. Should Villa get their man, they would have bolstered their defence and attack, and to cap things off, they also appear to be looking at a new midfielder.

Aston Villa eyeing Florian Neuhaus move

According to German outlet Bild in the last 48 hours, Villa are keen on beating rivals West Ham in the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus, with clubs across Europe also keen on the Germany international.

“Selling Neuhaus is not an issue with Gladbach because his contract has just been extended by four years without an exit clause. But probably a loan. So far there have been loose inquiries from Lazio Rome and Sevilla FC, but the lead to England is more concrete: West Ham United and Aston Villa want to play with Neuhaus for the Champions League places.”

Neuhaus is 26 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder but can also turn out in holding and advanced midfield roles when required. He has spent the entirety of his career so far in Germany and has been on the books of Borussia Monchengladbach since 2017. During that time, Neuhaus spent a season on loan with Fortuna Dusseldorf but has become a regular for his current employers and is now approaching 200 appearances.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig once labelled Neuhaus as the most underrated Bundesliga midfielder under the age of 23, and he was once valued at €38m by Transfermarkt.

He could well be viewed as a replacement for Leander Dendoncker, who is reportedly in talks to join Napoli on loan, and by the looks of things, Villa may have to act fast if they want to win the race for Neuhaus’ services.