Glasgow Rangers placed a clear emphasis on recruiting young and exciting players who have room to develop and grow over the years to come.
To create space for new players to come in, the likes of Connor Goldson, Scott Wright, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram, among others, were allowed to move on.
This allowed head of recruitment Nils Koppen to swoop to sign Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, Vaclav Cerny, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Nedim Bajrami, Jefte, Liam Kelly, Robin Propper, and Connor Barron for Philippe Clement.
Vaclav Cerny
Eight of those players are aged 25 or younger and five of them are aged 21 or younger, which speaks to the style of recruitment the club have gone for.
Having a steady stream of impressive academy talents would be helpful for a model that is based around developing and selling talent, but that is something Rangers have struggled with.
Ross McCausland emerged in the first-team last season but has yet to nail down a regular starting spot and there are only two active former Rangers academy players – Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour – who are valued at more than £10m by Transfermarkt.
One of the most valuable players to have played in the Gers youth set-up, though, is a star they fumbled by allowing him to leave for nothing – Greg Taylor.
Rangers fumbled Greg Taylor
The now-Scotland international began his career with St Andrews, playing there for 18 months, before moving to join Rangers at the age of nine in 2006.
He then spent the next six years playing in the academy for the Light Blues, developing and honing his skills, before being told that he was no longer wanted in the summer of 2014.
Taylor later explained that the Scottish giants allowed him to move on for nothing because he was deemed to be "too small and too slight" to make it at first-team level.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor
The talented left-back admitted that the rejection by Rangers provided him with the motivation he needed to kick on and make sure that he proved those coaches wrong, which is exactly what the Scottish star has gone on to do.
Kilmarnock took advantage of his release from Ibrox and snapped him up for their youth team, before Taylor went on to emerge as a first-team option for them.
The left-footed ace racked up 131 appearances in all competitions for Kilmarnock, in which time he scored one goal and provided ten assists, before being sold to Celtic in the summer of 2019.
Greg Taylor's current market value
At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt currently values Taylor at a price of €7.5m (£6.3m) and that makes him the third-most expensive former Rangers academy player currently playing.
Yet, despite all of his success since being in the youth set-up at Ibrox, the Light Blues did not get a single penny for him as they allowed him to walk away for nothing to join Kilmarnock back in 2014, just over a decade ago.
Since his move to Parkhead in 2019, Taylor has amassed 178 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops and contributed with eight goals and 27 assists.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
The Scotland international has won the Scottish Premiership title four times, the SFA Cup three times, and the League Cup twice during his spell in Glasgow to date.
However, he did not manage at least 30 league appearances in a single season until the 2022/23 campaign, with his best form in a Celtic shirt coming in the last two seasons.
Greg Taylor
22/23 Premiership
23/24 Premiership
Appearances
31
35
Goals
3
3
Assists
4
4
Big chances created
2
11
Clean sheets
12
11
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Taylor has chipped in with six goals and 13 'big chances' created in the last Premiership seasons under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou.
The Scottish dynamo, who claimed in 2022 that he had improved "insane amounts" at Celtic, has proven himself to be an attack-minded left-back who can push forward to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
His fantastic form in the Premiership for the Hoops is why his market value is so high, and why it is currently higher than Clement's current first-choice left-back – when fit – Ridvan Yilmaz.
How much Ridvan Yilmaz is worth
At the time of writing (08/09/2024), Transfermarkt places the Turkey international's current market value at €5m (£4.2m), which is less than Taylor's €7.5m.
Rangers paid an initial fee of £3.4m, in a deal that could rise to £5m, to sign the talented full-back from Besiktas in the summer of 2022 in an attempt to replace Calvin Bassey, who had been sold to Ajax.
This shows that he is worth less than Taylor, who Rangers once allowed to walk out of the door for nothing, but is that reflected in their performances on the pitch?
23/24 Premiership
Ridvan Yilmaz
Greg Taylor
Appearances
26
35
Goals
1
3
Assists
1
4
Big chances created
6
11
Clean sheets
6
11
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish star outperformed Yilmaz as an attacking threat for his side, with more goals, assists, and 'big chances' created.
He was also part of a defence that kept more clean sheets, which speaks to his defensive ability, and this suggests that their respective valuations are fair, in the sense that the Celtic ace is more valuable.
Yilmaz, at the age of 23, does have more time to develop and improve over the years to come, but Taylor is the better player at Premiership level in the here and now.
It is now down to the Turkey international, who has missed the last four matches with a hamstring injury, to hit his stride in a Gers shirt and overtake the Hoops man.
Clement must ditch Rangers star who earns more than Dessers
The Light Blues ace is willing to move on from Ibrox this month, amid interest in his services.
ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2024
If he can do that, whilst increasing his value by putting in fantastic displays on the pitch, then Rangers can forget about their blunder with the Scotland international.
Sri Lanka’s batting let them down once more after their bowlers did well to restrict India
Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Jul-2021
Bhuvneshwar Kumar came back after his first spell to pick wickets•SLC
As has been the case right through the tour, Sri Lanka were decent with the ball, containing India to 164 for 5, but their batting let them down once more. Between the end of the 5th and 16th over, Sri Lanka scored only 69 runs, and lost five wickets. Essentially, with the likes of debutant Varun Chakravarthy impressing, and Yuzvendra Chahal delivering another outstanding spell, Sri Lanka lacked the firepower to mount a serious challenge.Suryakumar Yadav makes it look easy Already one of India’s best batters in the ODIs, Suryakumar Yadav played the defining innings in the first T20I, producing the game’s only half-century – with 50 off 34. Where others struggled for timing on this surface, Yadav’s batting was effortless. He hit his seventh ball for four, whipping his wrists to loft it through wide long-on. Later in that Wanindu Hasaranga over, he cracked a short ball past backward point for four. He read slower balls and shoveled them over his shoulder for four, sent overpitched deliveries scorching through cover, and for his last two boundaries, slog swept Isuru Udana over cow corner, and launched Hasaranga back over his head to complete his fifty. He holed out next ball, in the 16th over, but had given India’s innings its backbone.Sri Lanka tight in the closing overs At 101 for 2 at the end of the 12th over, and two set batters (Shikhar Dhawan on 41 off 29 and Yadav on 30 off 22) at the crease, a total of around 180 beckoned. But none of the last eight overs yielded more than a single boundary. And none went for more than 10. The last two overs, bowled by Dushmantha Chameera and Chamika Karunaratne were especially good – Chameera having Hardik Pandya caught behind and giving away only eight in the penultimate over, before Karunaratne conceded nine in the 20th. Although a target of 165 was always going to test Sri Lanka, it didn’t seem out of reach. Chameera, who took 2 for 24, and Hasaranga, who took 2 for 28, were the hosts’ standout bowlers.Sri Lanka’s middle order struggle around debutant Asalanka At the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka had been reasonably well-placed, at 46 for 1. But then came two quick wickets – Dhananjaya de Silva bowled by Chahal for 9, before Avishka Fernando holed out against Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 26. And then, Sri Lanka largely plodded through the middle overs, Charith Asalanka the only exception. Ashen Bandara soaked up 19 balls for his 9. Next man in, Dasun Shanaka hit only one boundary in his 14-ball 16.Although Asalanka was excellent, hitting three sixes and three fours in his 44 off 26 balls, he could not make up enough ground to account for team-mates who could not score anywhere near as quickly as the target required. Asalanka was eventually caught at deep midwicket in the 16th over, trying desperately for another six.Bhuvneshwar Kumar cleans up the tail Kumar wasn’t far from having a wicket first ball, when Fernando’s outside edge flew over Prithvi Shaw at slip. He would later get Fernando out in the eighth over, caught at deep square leg, but it was in the closing overs that Kumar was most penetrative, sealing the match for India. He took three of the last four wickets, getting the dangerous Karunaratne to play back on to his stumps, before dismissing Udana and Chameera in the space of three balls in the 19th over. He finished with the game’s best figures of 4 for 22, having been more economical than any of his compatriots, save Chahal, who took 1 for 19 from his four overs.
Aston Villa reportedly have their eyes on a free transfer in 2025, however, Newcastle United are in talks to seal a deal of their own.
Aston Villa transfer rumours
NSWE and Monchi were extremely productive over the summer, signing eight players in the transfer window. Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Jaden Philogene, and Ross Barkley all sealed permanent moves to Villa Park and have featured under Unai Emery during the current Premier League campaign.
Meanwhile, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea joined in a deal that saw Douglas Luiz head to Juventus, however, the pair have been sent out on loan to Bologna and Valencia respectively. Meanwhile, Lewis Dobbin also joined and left on loan, whereas Cameron Archer was brought back to the club from Sheffield United, only to then be sold to Southampton.
Aston Villa eyeing move to sign 6 ft 1 colossus who Leon Bailey knows well
Three more clubs are keen, though.
1 ByCharlie Smith Sep 26, 2024
It was a busy few months in the Midlands, and earlier this month, Monchi admitted that Villa shouldn’t be scared to sell as well as buy if they want to compete at the very top. “If we want to be in the top we need to sell, 100 per cent. Because of our revenue – we cannot raise more revenue because of our stadium. We need to consider the profit as revenue.
“We need to consider in future that to sell a player is revenue. Because we cannot have more revenue. When Damian worked in Valencia and I worked in Sevilla it was OK to increase the level by selling players. The most important thing in my opinion is not selling players – the most important thing is to buy good [players].
“We were not afraid to sell players but we had to do it within a plan. In my opinion we need to sell players because City sell players, Arsenal sell players, Real Madrid and Barcelona sell players. We are not afraid to sell players – the most important thing is to have, one – a buyer, and two – buy a player to replace this one.”
Despite potentially needing to sell in 2025, there have been rumours of further incomings. Recently, defender Richard King has been linked with a Villa Park move, whereas Besiktas winger Semih Kilicsoy and Brazil U20 international striker Rayan Rocha are also on the radar.
Another mooted target has been Lille striker Jonathan David. Reports earlier this month said that Villa were one of the sides in the running to sign the Canada international, and a further update has now emerged.
Aston Villa in contact over Jonathan David move
According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle United are in talks with David over a potential pre-contract agreement in January.
However, the Magpies aren’t the only Premier League side David’s representatives are talking to, with the report adding that Aston Villa, alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United have also been in contact, asking to be kept informed of the situation.
Lille's Jonathan David
The possibility of signing the “mind-blowing” striker appears to have alerted a lot of English suitors, so Villa may have to act fast if they are to win the race for the 24-year-old.
Integrantes da diretoria do Corinthians concederam entrevista coletiva para falar sobre o momento do clube no mercado da bola e a procura por jogadores para a próxima temporada. Um dos nomes cogitados foi do atacante uruguaio Cavani, que está no Manchester United-ING.
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Roberto de Andrade, diretor de futebol do Alvinegro, negou contato com representantes do jogador e colocou cautela nas buscas por um novo camisa nove, posição considerada carente no elenco.
-A realidade é assim, o Corinthians busca um camisa nove, todo mundo sabe disso. Esses nomes que você colocou não foram colocados por nós, são grandes atletas no mundo que nós não tivemos nenhum contato, nem com o Cavani, que é o mais falado, muito menos com o Suárez.A gente ouviu nos últimos dias que ele queria contrato de três anos, isso não existe porque nós não tivemos nenhum contato com eles, não sei nem de onde surgiu isso. Mas a gente não descarta ninguém, porque tudo é possível, se amanhã haverá uma conversa que pode ser que aconteça, nós estamos aqui para conversar. O máximo que pode acontecer é saber que nós não temos condições. – disse Roberto.
> Olheiro LANCE!: Listamos 10 artilheiros da temporada que estão ficando sem contrato
VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO PAULISTA 2022!
No entanto, apesar de negar uma negociação com atacantes badalados, o diretor relembrou o caso do meia William, que estava no Arsenal e tinha mercado na Europa, mas acabou acertando com o Alvinegro.
– Agente não pode subestimar o Corinthians. Quando saiu a conversa do Willian, todo mundo falava também ‘é impossível trazer um jogador com o que ele ganhava na Europa’, e as coisas acabaram dando certo. São grandes nomes, são jogadores que a gente fica monitorando – finalizou.
A ideia da diretoria corintiana é trazer um camisa 9 quer arrase quarteirão, apresentando um projeto que não onere os cofres da instituição. Para isso, os dois trunfos seriam: o não aproveitamento de Cavani no United, na tentativa de convencer o atleta e o seu estafe buscarem a rescisão amigável com o clube inglês, assim como foi feito para a contratação de Willian, que estava no Arsenal, no meio do ano, e o interesse que o atacante tem de voltar ao futebol sul-americano.
Na última temporada, Cavani disputou 39 dos 61 jogos do United na última temporada, tendo marcado 17 gols, terceiro no ranking de artilharia dos Red Devils, e dado cinco assistências. Já neste ano, o uruguaio foi às redes uma vez em oito partidas.
يستعد عشاق ومتابعو الكرة المصرية لمشاهدة مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك، التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري، غدًا السبت.
وتقام مباراة الأهلي والزمالك على أرضية استاد القاهرة، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الـ15 من الدوري المصري.
وتمثل مباراة القمة أهمية خاصة للفريقين بسبب الشعبية الجارفة لهما داخل مصر وفي الوطن العربي وقارة إفريقيا.
ويرغب الأهلي في استغلال الصحوة الفنية للفريق والنتائج الإيجابية التي حققها خلال الفترة الماضية والحفاظ على سلسلة انتصاراته من أجل مواصلة الضغط خلف بيراميدز متصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري.
طالع.. قائمة الأهلي لمباراة الزمالك في الدوري المصري.. موقف أشرف بن شرقي
وقد يفكر مارسيل كولر المدير الفني للأهلي في الدفع بـ أشرف بن شرقي “الصفقة الجديدة” أمام الزمالك بعد الانتقال للقلعة الحمراء خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الماضية.
كما يعول الأهلي على قدرات إمام عاشور الفنية والاستفادة من تألقه والحفاظ على سجله التهديفي مع الأهلي خلال الفترة الماضية.
وفي المقابل، يأمل الزمالك تحت قيادة مدربه الجديد جوزيه بيسيرو في الفوز على الأهلي أو الخروج بالتعادل كنوع من كسب ثقة الجمهور في بداية المسيرة مع المدرب البرتغالي.
وركز الجهاز الفني للزمالك خلال مران الفريق الختامي على تنفيذ بعض الجوانب الفنية والخططية، مع توجيه اللاعبين وتعليمهم بعض التكتيكات المطلوبة، قبل إجراء تقسيمة فنية في منتصف الملعب.
وعقب انتهاء التدريبات، عاد الزمالك إلى القاهرة للدخول في معسكر مغلق بأحد الفنادق القريبة من استاد القاهرة الدولي، استعدادًا لمباراة القمة.
ويحتل الزمالك المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 27 نقطة، إذ فاز في 8 مباريات وتعادل في 3 وخسر في 3 مواجهات.
ويتواجد الأهلي -حامل لقب البطولة- في وصافة ترتيب الدوري هذا الموسم، برصيد 29 نقطة مطاردًا بيراميدز صاحب الصدارة بفارق نقطة واحدة.
He suffered a quadriceps tear during a run of five T20 games in the space of eight days
Matt Roller01-Aug-2021Ollie Pope remains a fitness doubt for England’s first Test against India at Trent Bridge, which starts on Thursday, and has suggested that Surrey’s relentless Vitality Blast schedule was to blame for his injury.Pope suffered a grade three quadriceps tear during a run of five T20 games in the space of eight days during Surrey’s T20 Blast group stage run-in, immediately after a period of self-isolation after he was a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.The injury ruled him out of their last two Blast games, two County Championship fixtures – meaning he has not played a first-class game since the second Test against New Zealand in early June – and the early stages of the Hundred, and a decision is yet to be made about his availability for the first India Test.Related
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“I’ve been hitting a lot of balls just trying to get as much running as I can done as possible and I guess in a day or two a decision will be made,” Pope said on Sunday. “I’m hopeful, but I guess it’s up to physios and management to manage the risk of it.”At the time it was a grade three tear, but I think it looked worse on the scan because I played a couple of T20s on it – after I’d done it – so the swelling was worse than a grade three. Then it’s just about how I’m sprinting – I’m feeling it a little bit but nothing major. It’s just trying to make sure if I did play this one there’s not going to be issues for the next four if selected.”Pope is used to spending long periods out injured following lengthy lay-offs with two shoulder injuries over the last two years, and admitted that it was “frustrating” to have missed so much cricket.”I think the shoulder ones are even more frustrating because there’s not a lot you can do: you give 100% in the field and suddenly you’re left with two shoulder operations,” he said. “I guess this is a more short-term one. It is frustrating, especially when you’re missing games because I just want to play the whole time.”With the schedule, I think we played five T20s in seven [eight] days after I had to do 10 days sitting on the couch isolating as a close contact. Going from 10 days on a couch to five games in seven days is always going to provide a little risk. It is frustrating but hopefully I’ll sort this quad out and that’s the end of it.”As English cricket, the county set-up plays a lot more cricket than any other. I was speaking with Kyle Jamieson, the New Zealander, and they don’t play anywhere near as many games there, especially in that little T20 period. It is a lot of cricket but if it is possible, you’ve just got to try and manage it as best you can.”Ollie Pope: ‘I’ve been hitting a lot of balls just trying to get as much running as I can done as possible’•Getty Images
Pope made a brilliant 135 not out against South Africa in January 2020 to reinforce his status as English cricket’s most promising young batter, but has struggled for runs in Test cricket since, averaging 25.17 with only two fifties since the start of last summer. His county form has remained impressive, with 555 Championship runs at 61.66 this season, but his technique – and in particular his off-stump guard – have come under scrutiny from analysts and pundits.”You’ve got to get used to it,” he said. “When I was first playing, you looked at how I got out and people would say I should stand a little further across and it would help me leave that fifth-stump ball. Then you stand a little further across and get hit on the pad once and suddenly you’re standing too far across.”It’s an interesting one. You’ve got to be pretty stubborn as a cricketer in this environment. You’ve got to work out what’s best for you against these specific bowlers in these conditions and work with your coaches and who knows you best rather than guys who have seen you bat on TV two or three times.”With that technique that I use, I think I average 60-odd for Surrey this year batting like that against international bowlers, so there’s obviously some sort of use behind it as well. Everyone has got their opinions which is absolutely fine, but you’ve got to know your game better than everyone else.”As long as your balance is good, if you can cover that off stump with your eyes level, it helps you leave that fifth-stump ball. Especially in England where the ball does swing and nip around, you need to do what you can to cover one side of the bat. Hence why a lot of the best players of the world, when they come over, that’s where they stand in Test cricket.”Pope admitted that the absence of Ben Stokes – who is spending an indefinite period of time away from the game to focus on his mental wellbeing – represented “a blow” for England, but said that the team supported his decision to miss the India series.”Stokesy is one of, if not the, best allrounder in the world so you’re always going to miss him if he’s not playing,” he said. “But we’re well behind him with that decision and I wish him to be the best he can as soon as he can.”We, as a nation, and the world, look at Stokesy as a real macho fighter character – and he is. But this is a reminder and shows how mentally straining cricket and sport at the highest level can be, and the situation of being in a bubble away from the family does make that tougher.”We all support him 100 percent and would love to get him back as soon as we can, but I think mental health is much more important than a game.”
وجه جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، فينيسيوس جونيور، رسالة هامة بشأن مستقبله مع الملكي في ظل الشائعات حول رحيله في الصيف المقبل.
وينتهي عقد فينيسيوس مع ريال مدريد في 30 يونيو 2027، لكن هناك أندية سعودية ترغب في التعاقد معه وعلى رأسها الهلال وأهلي جدة.
ويريد الدوري السعودي جلب فينيسيوس من أجل زيادة شعبية المسابقة والتأكيد على رغبتها في مناطحة الكبار في أوروبا خلال السنوات المقبلة.
اقرأ أيضًا.. أنشيلوتي يعلق على العنصرية ضد أسينسيو أمام سوسيداد وطبيعة إصابة سيبايوس
وقال فينيسيوس عبر قناة ريال مدريد الرسمية بعد ارتدائه شارة القيادة خلال مباراة ريال سوسيداد في نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا يوم أمس، الأربعاء: “لحظة خاصة ومميزة جدًا بالنسبة لي”.
وتابع: “لأنني تمكنت من اللعب هنا مع ريال مدريد لفترة طويلة، ولا زلت في عمر الرابعة والعشرين، لكنني ارتديت شارة القيادة وهو أمر خاص لي ولعائلتي، بعد كل ما ممرنا به للوصول إلى هنا”.
وأضاف: “شعور مختلف، لأنك لا تتخيل أبدًا ما سيحدث لك، سعيد لأنني تمكنت من ارتداء الشارة في نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا لأفضل نادٍ في العالم”.
واختتم: “ما أعيشه مع ريال مدريد، لم أحلم به أبدًا، في المباراة القادمة سأصل إلى 300 مباراة، لكنني أريد بالفعل أن أجعلها 400 و500 وكتابة التاريخ مع هذا النادي”.
Tradicional premiação desenvolvida pelo jornal El País, o ‘Rei da América” abriu espaço pela primeira vez para o futebol feminino, com troféu ‘Rainha da América’, que foi vencido pela lateral do Corinthians, Tamires.
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Em votação feita por jornalistas, a corintiana desbancou a meia-atacante colombianaCatalina Usme, do América de Cali. A votação foi apertada, com 30 votos de Tamires contra 29 da concorrente. O pódio foi completado por outra jogadora do Timão, a atacante Gabi Zanotti.
Tamires foi capitã do Corinthians nas três conquistas da temporada, os campeonatos Paulista, Brasileiro e a Copa Libertadores. Além disso, a atleta esteve presente na delegação que representou o Brasil no torneio de futebol feminino nos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio, no Japão. Além de destaque no Timão, a lateral tem mais de 100 jogos com a camisa da Seleção Brasileira.
Defendendo o Time do Povo desde 2019, a lateral tem 89 partidas com a camisa corintiana, 18 gols marcados e 15 assistências. A jogadora já passou pelo futebol da Dinamarca e Estados Unidos. No Brasil, além das Brabas, jogou pelo Juventus, Santos, Ferroviária, Atlético-MG e Centro Olímpico.
Há uma semana, Tamires renovou o seu contrato com o Corinthians para mais uma temporada.
Aston Villa will be hoping to build on their momentous win over Bayern Munich as they take on a Manchester United team short on confidence in the Premier League tomorrow.
Given the differing moods between the two teams, Unai Emery has the perfect chance to inflict even more damage on Erik ten Hag just prior to yet another international break.
Given the exertions in midweek, could Emery make some changes to his starting XI for the clash against the Old Trafford side? The Herculean performance certainly took it out on most of the players, and this could see Jhon Duran come into the starting XI.
Jhon Duran was the hero against Bayern Munich
The Colombian had scored four goals in the Premier League before the clash against the German giants, with all of them coming from the bench.
Ollie Watkins was the man tasked with leading the charge against Vincent Kompany’s men. The tie was finely poised when he was subbed off for Duran with 20 minutes to go. It didn’t take long for the youngster to make an impact, running onto a wonderful through-ball by Pau Torres and scoring a stunning goal to give Villa the lead.
It was an advantage that they held on to, repeating their victory over the club they had defeated in the 1982 European Cup final.
Jhon Duran’s statistics for Villa this season
The centre-forward has played a part in every one of the club’s games this season, yet has started just once – in the EFL Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers.
In the process, he has scored six times, including that winner against Bayern, and Emery keeping him at the club is beginning to look like an impressive feat considering there was plenty of interest shown in him during the summer.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran
His impact from the bench means Emery has a player who is capable of winning a game on his own with a moment of magic. This is perhaps why he hasn’t started as many games as he would like, as Watkins doesn’t quite offer that spark when coming on for the final 20 minutes of a game.
If the Colombian keeps this sort of form up, the rumours will continue in January surrounding his future, no doubt about that. Could he go searching for more regular game time elsewhere, or is he happy with the current situation at Villa?
Things could have been different back in January 2023, as Emery wanted a Premier League gem who had just started making waves for his current club, yet he signed Duran instead.
Aston Villa wanted to sign Anthony Gordon in 2023
The Spaniard had taken over just a few months prior, but he had clearly established which areas of the team needed improving during the January transfer window.
Alex Moreno was signed from Real Betis to give some cover at left-back, while Duran arrived from Chicago Fire in a deal worth around £18m, and he was certainly one for the future.
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon
The former Arsenal manager had also earmarked Gordon as a transfer target during that window, as the Englishman had shown plenty of promise during his spell with the Toffees.
According to Birmingham Mail, Villa were keen on bringing the Everton starlet to the Midlands in a bid to bolster their attacking department.
Now, the winger is reportedly valued at £100m by Newcastle United, but in 2023, he was just beginning to show the type of quality which would see him eventually valued this highly.
Anthony Gordon’s Premier League stats in 2024/25
Goals
2
Assists
0
Big chances created
1
Key passes per game
2.3
Shots per game
1.2
Total duels won per game
5.8
via Sofascore
In the end, the Magpies convinced Gordon that the north-east was the best place to develop, which meant Villa had to settle for Duran during that transfer window.
Although the South American has impressed this term, might Gordon have been a better signing? He would have commanded a place in the starting XI, after all.
Anthony Gordon’s Newcastle statistics
The winger has gone from strength to strength since making the move to St James Park nearly two years ago. Last year, U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed the Englishman was a “consistent menace” and it was hard to disagree given his form.
He may have scored just once during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign as the Toon secured fourth spot in the league, but he sprung into life last season.
Across 48 matches in all competitions, the 23-year-old scored 12 goals while registering 11 assists for the club, showcasing the qualities which would eventually lead to Gareth Southgate calling him up to the England squad for Euro 2024.
It wasn’t just his threat in front of goal that was impressive, as the winger managed to create 16 big chances in the Premier League, while he averaged 1.6 key passes and 1.5 successful dribbles per game.
Among his peers in the top flight, Gordon also ranked in the top 3% for goal-creating actions per 90 (0.90) and in the top 19% for crosses delivered into the opposition penalty area, demonstrating how effective he was at creating chances for his teammates.
Anthony Gordon scores for Newcastle
Adding a player of this quality to the Villa side would have certainly bolstered Emery’s starting XI, without a shadow of a doubt.
He had to settle for Duran in that transfer window, however. While the youngster is emerging as a sublime talent due to his impact off the bench, it might not be long before frustration sets in and he seeks a move away.
It is likely that the boat has been missed on potentially signing Gordon in the future, especially as clubs such as Liverpool have taken an interest in recent months.
Emery’s transfer record has been excellent so far during his Villa reign, but is missing out on Gordon one of his biggest mistakes?
Given the situation the club are in, probably not, but the Spaniard would surely love having Gordon as an option in his team.
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