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Nottingham Forest striker Kelechi Iheanacho is a 'hit-and-miss' player that could have a similar lack of impact to Emmanuel Dennis at the City Ground, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

How has Kelechi Iheanacho fared at Leicester City?

As per The Guardian, Iheanacho joined Leicester City back in 2017 for a reported fee of £25 million and has gone on to be a useful player during his time at the King Power Stadium, producing some moments of brilliance for the Foxes.

Overall, Iheanacho has netted 55 goals and laid on a further 33 assists in 206 appearances across all competitions for Leicester City, as per Transfermarkt.

Contractually, Iheanacho is tied to Leicester City until next year on terms worth £80,000 per week and could leave the club on a free transfer if his future is not resolved, as per Capology.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has revealed that Nottingham Forest are keen on the Nigeria international this summer and have opened talks over a deal to sign him, stating on Twitter: "EXCL: Championship. Nottingham Forest have opened talks to sign Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester. He’s on top of list. Nottingham want to close the deal in the next days."

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has designs on adding four bodies to his squad over the duration of the window, including a goalkeeper, central defender, left winger and a 'goalscoring forward'.

The outlet also claim that several big names may be on the way out of the City Ground to help reduce the Reds' hefty wage bill, with Jonjo Shelvey, Remo Freuler and Dennis being deemed as 'surplus to requirements' by Nottingham Forest boss Cooper.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Daily Express journalist Taylor has indicated that he isn't convinced that Iheanacho would be a good fit to help Nottingham Forest's goal flow in 2023/24, similar to that of Nigeria counterpart Dennis during his time in the East Midlands.

Taylor stated: “I've tried to do some digging into this one. I do expect Iheanacho to leave the club. I don't know whether that is a legitimate transfer link.

“However, I'm not sure about Iheanacho as a player. I think for Forest, he's a bit of an Emmanuel Dennis. He’s hit-and-miss. Forest probably need a bit more consistency.”

What now for Nottingham Forest?

Nottingham Forest manager Cooper will be keen to get new players in as early as possible to ensure his side are in a strong position to retain their Premier League status for a second successive campaign.

The Reds have been linked with a range of names that could potentially come to the City Ground to help their cause. According to FootballTransfers, Nottingham Forest have made an approach to Atletico Madrid as they explore returning for Renan Lodi on a permanent deal.

Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek is another man that has cropped up on Nottingham Forest's radar this summer and the Reds are believed to be 'monitoring' his situation alongside a host of clubs in England and further afield, as per 90min.

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is available for a cut-price fee of £15 million and Nottingham Forest are said to have registered interest in offering him an escape route from Stamford Bridge; however, they face competition from Fulham, AC Milan and Saudi Arabian clubs, cited by The Guardian.

Glasgow Rangers don’t appear to be completely finished with their transfer business this summer, with a few more players likely to arrive in the coming weeks to bolster Michael Beale’s squad.

That is despite seven signings already, as a total overhaul has been underway at Ibrox since the Premiership season finished in May.

The player trading model also appears to be in full swing at Rangers, with Beale maximising the value of his outgoings. Antonio Colak was signed for £1.8m last summer and has recently departed for a fee of £2.5m, while Fashion Sakala, who cost nothing in 2021, now looks set to leave for £4m, an impressive profit which could benefit the squad.

This should now be reinvested into the team, especially in regard to signing another centre-back as this remains the biggest issue at the club currently, despite the recent signing of Leon Balogun.

Leon King is injured, Ben Davies has attracted interest and although John Souttar ended last season well, he has a long history with injury problems and this could potentially disrupt another campaign, leaving Beale with a need to add someone else to his defence.

Are Rangers still keen on Jonathan Panzo?

According to Football Scotland, Rangers are still keen on signing Panzo this summer, although the finances still have to be ironed out if they are to secure his signature.

It will take a fee of £2.5m to sign the Englishman from Nottingham Forest and if Beale manages to move a few more players out the door in the next week or so, this shouldn’t represent much of a problem.

Could Jonathan Panzo improve Rangers?

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Coventry City from Forest and came so close to leading them back to the Premier League following a 22-year absence, losing in the playoff final to Luton Town.

Across his spell in the second tier, Panzo made 1.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game, and these figures would be good enough to rank him as sixth, first and second across the whole Rangers squad for the same metrics, suggesting he could offer some excellent qualities.

He even impressed compared to positional peers across the next big eight leagues in Europe, ranking in the top 8% for interceptions per 90 (2.01) and the top 15% for tackles per 90 (1.81) and given that he is only 22, there is still plenty of scope for improvement.

The youngster was hailed by Forest U21 coach Dave Rogers previously, who said:

"He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room too."

These are all wonderful traits and something which Beale looks to be building at the club, filling the Ibrox side with young, hungry players who bring a good energy to the team and Panzo would be an excellent choice.

The Gers conceded 37 goals last year, which doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, yet it was six more than the previous campaign and improvements must be made to this key issue which could hamper Beale if it isn’t solved.

Newcastle United are plying some astute work on the transfer front this summer after emphatically returning to Champions League football following a two-decade absence with a fourth-placed Premier League finish.

While the return to European competition has been met with universal praise – and adulation from the Magpies support – manager Eddie Howe and technical director Dan Ashworth have not rested on their laurels and are seemingly making the requisite moves to preserve success.

Sandro Tonali was the first to arrive on Tyneside, completing a £55m transfer from AC Milan earlier this month while sharp-shooting winger Harvey Barnes recently finalised a £38m move from relegated Leicester City.

The club are also in pursuit of Tino Livramento, having seen a £30m offer rejected for the precocious Saints full-back, and with rumours of interest in Juventus' Federico Chiesa also persisting, the Magpies could unveil an imperiously refreshed squad in a matter of weeks.

Are Newcastle signing Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian journalist Marco Guida – speaking to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) – Newcastle are 'seen as an option' for Chiesa this summer, though he would prefer a transfer to Liverpool or Bayern Munich.

Guida said: “The player would be more inclined to sign for a classic top club, such as Liverpool or Bayern Munich.”

He did state, however, that should such parties fail to act, the player could wind up at St. James' Park, with Juventus expected to demand around €50m (£43m) for the flanker.

Is Federico a left or right-wing player?

Chiesa has been lauded as "world-class" by former Italy international Alessandro Pierini for his past performances, having scored 22 goals and served 20 assists from 94 outings for the Old Lady and having played an instrumental role in his nation's Euro 2020 triumph, but saw progress derailed by a detrimental ACL injury last year.

The 25-year-old has missed 62 matches due to injury over the past two seasons but did look to reclaim some of his former verve towards the business end of the recently-concluded Serie A campaign, registering two goals and assists apiece across the final five fixtures.

The "diamond" – as he has been dubbed by talent scout Antonio Mango – is as dynamic as they come and has found success across both attacking wings, also competent in a more central striking role, which could entice Howe into pushing ahead with a transfer, given the increase in football that inevitably comes with European qualification.

With Allan Saint-Maximin nearing a departure from Newcastle and Barnes seen as a more focussed replacement – having scored 13 Premier League goals last term despite the Foxes' relegation – Chiesa could provide another dimension to the attack.

Indeed, the £154k-per-week Italian ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, whereas Barnes stands out with his goalscoring threat – among the top 6% for goals per 90.

Howe's task lies in crafting a state of equilibrium across the alternating sides of the Magpies' frontline, and this could be emphatically achieved with Chiesa's signing.

Given that he can play across both flanks, Chiesa could also provide the club with a different approach when Barnes' method has been negated by the opposing defence.

In essence, the 42-cap Italy "wizard" – as lauded by writer Roger Bennett – would take the ascension to the next level; Newcastle's progress has been remarkable, and the Toon torrent looks set only to gain momentum and the transfer activity suggests the approach is calculated and composed – there is a belief that the cogs will combine to create a lasting machine.

If Chiesa could cast aside the injury woes that have hampered his progress over the past several years, he might just cement a regular starting berth in a Newcastle side destined for a continuing rise to the very top of the game.

An update has emerged on Southampton and their plans to bolster their set of defensive options ahead of the start of the 2023/24 season…

What's the latest Southampton transfer news?

According to Football Insider, the Saints have made contact with Everton to enquire about a possible swoop for central defender Mason Holgate this summer.

The report claims that the Championship side are eyeing up a deal to sign the £72k-per-week enforcer on loan and that Sean Dyche has agreed to allow him to move on.

It states that Premier League side Sheffield United and fellow second tier outfit Leeds United have also contacted the Toffees to explore a move for the 26-year-old ace.

How good is Mason Holgate?

The Everton enforcer is a player with the potential to be an excellent performer for the Saints if Russell Martin can help him to rediscover his best form.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that Holgate is being targeted by Southampton as a possible replacement for Duje Caleta-Car, who is attracting interest from Ligue 1 side Lyon, and his displays at Goodison Park in the past suggest that he has the scope to become a dream heir to the Croatian titan.

The English gem has averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.65 or lower over the last two Premier League seasons but his form throughout the 2019/20 campaign suggests that the quality is there for him to be a superb player.

Holgate averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 that year, which would have placed him third in the Saints team last term, as he made 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game and won 63% of his individual duels at the back, whilst the talented battler did not make a single error leading to a shot or goal for the opposition.

This shows that the ex-West Bromwich Albion loanee does have the ability to deliver consistently brilliant performances at Premier League level, which suggests that the potential is there for him to be an outstanding performer in the Championship.

A drop down to the second tier could help the defender to get back to his best and a loan would mean that Southampton are not burdened with him in the long-term if he fails to recapture his previous form.

Holgate could, therefore, be a dream replacement for Caleta-Car if the former Marseille colossus joins Lyon as his statistics during the 2019/20 season are more impressive than the current St. Mary's defender's from last term.

The 26-year-old warrior averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 across 13 league matches for the club and won 57% of his duels, although he did make one mistake that led to a shot for the other team.

Only four Saints players averaged a higher Sofascore rating and this suggests that the £52k-per-week "leader" – as once hailed by the Liverpool ECHO journalist Sam Carroll – was one of the team's top performers, which is why it is crucial for Martin to bring in a quality replacement for him before the deadline.

Holgate's form for Everton in the past shows that the potential is there for him to be that player, which is why the Southampton head coach could land a dream heir to Caleta-Car at centre-back with this possible swoop for the English talent.

Liverpool are believed to be close to a deal to sign Leicester City teenager Trey Nyoni, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds have been fairly busy so far this summer in the transfer market, with a number of incomings and outgoings at Anfield ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

Jurgen Klopp has had a lot of work to do in midfield, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving the club after their contracts expired at the end of the previous season.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already made big-money moves to Merseyside from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively, however, the Reds have since lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who have both completed moves two Saudi Arabia.

Southampton’s Romeo Lavia appears to be the next key target in midfield. Last week, Liverpool saw an opening £40m bid turned down by the Saints, who are holding out for a fee closer to £50m. Chelsea are also interested in the Belgian, but those at Anfield are preparing an improved offer, and it looks as if another teenage midfield gem in Nyoni is also of interest on Merseyside.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The Secret Scout has recently claimed that Liverpool are on course to win the race to sign Nyoni from Leicester after working on a deal for months, and Romano has shared what he’s heard.

Taking to Twitter, Romano stated that the Reds are close to completing a deal for Nyoni, who would go into the club's academy, with Liverpool also at an advanced stage to sign teenage defender Amara Nallo from West Ham.

“Liverpool are close to complete deal to sign Leicester City 16-year-old English midfielder Trey Nyoni, one more talent for the Academy.

“This follows deal advanced for 2006 born centre back Amara Nallo from West Ham as revealed yesterday.”

Who is Trey Nyoni?

Nyoni is just 16 years of age and holds both citizenship in both England and Zimbabwe, as per Transfermarkt. He made 15 appearances in all competitions for Leicester’s U18 side last season, scoring twice and registering one assist, with Nyoni believed to be one of the best midfielders in his age groups, as per The Secret Scout.

The teenager turned out as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, winger and even as a centre-forward over the last 12 months, showing his versatility at such a young age.

It is good to see that Liverpool are looking to sign a number of exciting teenagers, especially as they released six and sold four this summer. One youngster who has already been brought in is defender Harvey Owen from Wolves, and by the looks of things, Nyoni and Nallo could follow suit over the coming weeks.

Klopp has shown during pre-season with 17-year-old Ben Doak that he is willing to put his trust in youth, with the winger scoring against Leicester recently, so who knows, in time, we could see Nyoni progress into the first-team system at Anfield, should he arrive and continue to develop on Merseyside.

Chelsea's summer move for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo could now collapse, following a "key development" regarding the potential signing of him this summer.

How old is Moises Caicedo?

The 21-year-old has emerged as arguably the Blues' biggest transfer target of the summer window, as their midfield goes through something of a rebuild ahead of the new Premier League season.

N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have both left Stamford Bridge in recent times, while Jorginho joined Arsenal back in January, so new faces are needed to shine in the middle of the park alongside relatively new arrival Enzo Fernandez.

Caicedo enjoyed a fantastic season for Brighton, proving to be one of their most important players and excelling next to Alexis Mac Allister, who has already departed the Seagulls to join Liverpool earlier this summer. The Ecuadorian has seen his current club be extremely stubborn when it comes to accepting an offer from Chelsea, however, demanding huge money for his services, not helped by the amount Arsenal paid for Declan Rice, for example.

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding the Blues' pursuit of the young midfielder – one that could cause plenty of concern among the fanbase.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Chelsea are "not currently in active talks" with Caicedo over a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, having seen a second bid for him turned down. The transfer is "now facing collapse", even though the player himself is "keen" on the move coming to fruition, in what is threatening to become a potentially ugly situation. The report has described it as a "key development".

Missing out on Caicedo now would be such a blow for Chelsea, considering how much they have tried to get him since the end of last season, and he remains a standout option who could help give their midfield such an injection of youth and quality. Graham Potter once said, "it doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level", further outlining his class as a player.

Last season, the Ecuador international averaged 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League, showing what a tenacious presence he is out of possession, but he is also a technically-strong footballer, completing 88.8% of his passes in the competition.

The hope is that there is still time for the situation to change, allowing Brighton to finally accept a bid that suits all parties, but it looks increasingly as though Chelsea could have to look elsewhere for a high-quality midfield addition, which is far from ideal with the beginning of the new season edging closer all the time.

The Blues begin their campaign with a home clash with Liverpool next month, which promises to be an exciting match, and they will be coming up against a Reds side who have already made big midfield changes this summer, bringing in both Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

If Chelsea don't ensure the same has happened by the time the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge, they could find themselves in a sticky situation in Mauricio Pochettino's first game in charge at the club.

Of all the Premier League fixtures that are set to kickstart the new season, few games boast as much history as Newcastle United’s clash with Aston Villa.

Two absolute heavyweights of English football clash in what promises to be one of their most electric curtain-raisers in recent history, making it no surprise that it has been shifted for TV scheduling.

Fans can look forward to a much-anticipated 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday 12th August, knowing how important a win could be in realising the long-term ambitions of these evolving clubs.

Both secured European football against all the odds last term, and with that to contend with as well as a continued challenge in the league, it will be a juggling act for Eddie Howe and Unai Emery.

Although, with a host of new faces only adding to the excitement building around this clash, every facet of this game suggests it will be a thriller. The only hope is that those stars can treat the fans to such a delight after a busy day of fixtures before it.

Ahead of the game, Football FanCast takes a look at the head-to-head records between the teams.

Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has the better head-to-head record?

Despite Aston Villa enjoying a history more laden with silverware, it is actually the Magpies who have enjoyed more success when the two have faced one another.

Their tumultuous history of failed title challenges and relegation has made them a tricky club to contend with, but their unrelenting support has remained throughout. A winless period for the Midlands club in the 2010s, which will be touched upon later, likely helped emphasise this gulf.

As such, they have enjoyed 14 more wins over the Villans, with the spoils having been shared on 39 occasions too.

Newcastle wins: 73 Draws: 40 Aston Villa wins: 58 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has more wins at St James’ Park?

The home advantage that St James' Park offers is showcased dramatically in the data, as Newcastle United have recorded a mammoth 52 victories when welcoming Aston Villa to Tyneside.

Just 14 wins on the road emphasise this dominance, with the fear factor that this football-crazed city brings on full show.

Given that Champions League football is finally set to return to this cathedral of football, that atmosphere is only certain to improve in the coming years.

Newcastle wins: 52 Draws: 19 Aston Villa wins: 14 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has more wins at Villa Park?

Although the disparity is not quite as dramatic when venturing up to Newcastle, Aston Villa unsurprisingly enjoy far greater success when backed by their own home support.

As one of the most iconic grounds in the country, with splendid stain-glassed windows to further showcase its uniqueness, an equally impressive reception comes with playing at this ground.

As such, the home side has triumphed on 25 more occasions, though they will have to battle to retain such a record as the Magpies continue to develop under their new ownership.

Aston Villa wins: 43 Draws: 21 Newcastle wins: 20 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has the better cup record?

As two of the most famous and successful clubs in English football history, it is no surprise that the two have enjoyed some famous cup battles against one another. However, with regard to domestic honours, it is Aston Villa who come out on top.

Their tally of seven FA Cups and five EFL Cups dwarfs that of their opening-day opponents, who despite winning the FA Cup on five occasions, are yet to win the latter. They came close last season, but were thwarted in the final by rivals Manchester United.

This dominance shows up in their head-to-head clashes within cup competitions, with the Villans recording two more victories over the Magpies, having last met in the 3rd round of the FA Cup back in 2000/01.

Newcastle United wins: 2 Draws: 1 Aston Villa wins: 4 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: What were the last 5 meetings?

15th April 2023 – Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle United: As both sides sought to make their unlikely pushes for European football a reality, two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League clashed at Villa Park.

However, stunning the visitors, Emery unleashed a masterclass on Newcastle United as Jacob Ramsey's opener and Ollie Watkins' brace resigned Howe to a crushing defeat. Both sides would still finish in European spots.

29th October 2022 – Newcastle United 4-0 Aston Villa: Having sacked Steven Gerrard after a torrid run of form, caretaker boss Aaron Danks was handed the unenviable task of taking his side to one of the toughest grounds in the country.

The result almost seemed a formality, and although it took 45 minutes for the first goal to come, a further three would follow. Miguel Almiron would continue his fantastic start to the season with another goal.

13th February 2022 – Newcastle United 1-0 Aston Villa: Despite the upturn in form Gerrard’s appointment had initially brought, it proved no match for the similarly impressive job that Howe would complete in securing their survival.

It was Kieran Trippier’s powerful deflected free kick that separated the sides, and despite Ollie Watkins heading home an equaliser, it was ruled out for offside.

21st August 2021 – Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United: With a renewed sense of hope surrounding Villa Park, Danny Ings lit up his new home on what was his first appearance in the stadium. As an innocuous ball floated up in the air, an acrobatic bicycle kick sent fans into raptures. Anwar El Ghazi’s penalty later in the game would seal up the three points.

12th March 2021 – Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa: In what was a largely mundane encounter on Tyneside, the final five minutes saw the clash explode into life.

Ollie Watkins’ header struck Ciaran Clark to hand Aston Villa the lead before Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles rescued a point with a late header of his own. This put the Magpies just two points from the relegation zone, although they would comfortably avoid the drop in the end.

Who has played for Newcastle United and Aston Villa?

James Milner (Newcastle United 2004-2008; Aston Villa 2008-2010): A true staple of modern English football, this 37-year-old workhorse has been all around the block.

Capitalising on Leeds United’s financial troubles, Newcastle first snagged him from his boyhood club. Slowly integrating at first, a loan to Aston Villa helped kickstart his career on Tyneside before he moved to Villa Park permanently.

There, he would win the PFA Young Player of the Year award before a mouth-watering bid from the up-and-coming Manchester City forced another sale.

David Ginola (Newcastle United 1995-1997; Aston Villa 2000-2002): Having shone for Paris Saint-Germain, it was expected that his exit would invoke the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the market.

However, as Kevin Keegan sought to turn Newcastle United into their own powerhouse, he offered a strong financial incentive to tempt the wizard to Tyneside. The Frenchman starred as they failed in their attempt for the title.

Leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, and subsequently winning PFA Player of the Year, he was reluctantly sold to Aston Villa. His time in the Midlands was marred by a dispute with manager John Gregory and a two-match ban he would receive for stamping on an opposition player.

Shay Given (Newcastle United 1997-2009; Aston Villa 2011-2015): Struggling to break through at a title-winning Blackburn Rovers side, Given would move to Newcastle United as part of Kenny Dalglish’s revolution.

Over a decade later, he had made 463 appearances, having challenged for numerous elite honours with little success.

Leaving despite being just 34 games away from breaking the club’s appearance record, a two-year stint at Manchester City saw him eventually join up at Villa Park. He would even enjoy a stint as temporary assistant, whilst starring as his side reached the 2015 FA Cup final.

Nolberto Solano (Newcastle United 1998-2004, 2005-2007; Aston Villa 2004-2005): Moving to Tyneside from Boca Juniors, Nolberto ‘Nobby’ Solano became the first Peruvian player to play in England.

He was a fan favourite around St James’ Park, even describing himself as an “adopted Geordie”. Despite that, he enjoyed a one-year hiatus in the Midlands after his relationship with Bobby Robson had soured, finishing that season as their top scorer.

Despite that, he would relish the opportunity to return to his favoured club in 2005.

What is Newcastle United’s biggest victory over Aston Villa?

22nd August 2010 – Newcastle United 6-0 Aston Villa – In what was just the second game of this Premier League campaign, the Magpies ran riot in front of a thrilled St James' Park.

Joey Barton would hand them an early lead before Andy Carroll stole the show with his stunning hat trick. One BBC report even stated he had performed "reminiscent of former Magpies number nine Alan Shearer in his pomp." He would leave for Liverpool in a £35m move just six months later.

What is Aston Villa’s biggest victory over Newcastle United?

29th November 1902 – Aston Villa 7-0 Newcastle United – In front of just 10,000 fans at Villa Park, this rampant pre-wartime side put the Magpies to the sword with their biggest win in over three years.

Goals were spread out amongst the team, but Joe Bache and George Johnson's braces stood out amongst Bobby Templeton and Alex Leake's strikes.

Aston Villa would finish second this campaign, missing out on the title by just one point.

Key match stats

This will be the 172nd meeting between these two teams. Between 2011 and 2019, Aston Villa failed to register a single victory against Newcastle United, home or away. Whilst the highest-scoring match in Premier League history is Portsmouth’s 7-4 win over Reading, a Division One clash back in 1928 saw these sides play out a 7-5 thriller in which Aston Villa came out on top. Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Classic meetings

30th September 1996 – Newcastle United 4-3 Aston Villa (Premier League): Just one year after Kevin Keegan’s infamous “I would love it if we beat them” rant, the Magpies were once again pushing for the title.

However, a stubborn visiting Villa side would pose an early threat to that, as Dwight Yorke’s hat-trick forced them to their limits.

A Les Ferdinand brace and goals from Alan Shearer and Steve Howey saw them edge this contest, but again fall short of Manchester United in the race for the league.

28th August 2004 – Aston Villa 4-2 Newcastle United (Premier League): During a campaign in which both sides finished comfortably in mid-table, these two heavyweights put on quite the show at Villa Park as goals were exchanged freely.

When Olof Mellberg had the hosts in front after four minutes, the visitors likely expected the worst. However, Patrick Kluivert and Andy O’Brien were on hand to have the Magpies ahead at the break.

A second-half collapse saw the game shift once again, as Carlton Cole, Gareth Barry and Juan Pablo Angel all scored for Villa to compound a crushing victory.

West Ham United are set to display some real ambition before transfer deadline day as journalist Dean Jones shares what he's heard on their plans.

Who will West Ham sign?

Earlier this week, Mexico international midfielder Edson Alvarez put pen to paper on a move to the London Stadium from Ajax, ending West Ham's long wait for a first summer signing.

The 25-year-old could even feature against Bournemouth this afternoon as manager David Moyes gears up for an opening weekend clash on the south coast.

Alvarez, who will wear the number 19 shirt, could well be joined by the likes of Southampton star James Ward-Prowse and Man United defender Harry Maguire fairly shortly.

That has even been backed by Moyes himself, who also says that treble-winning Man City have made an offer for midfielder Lucas Paqueta, but it's nowhere near West Ham's valuation of the Brazil international.

"We've had an offer from Manchester City [for Paqueta] but at the moment it's not anywhere near meeting our valuation," Moyes said on Friday.

"James Ward-Prowse is having a medical just now. We've agreed a fee but it's not right I speak about him as he's not yet our player.

"We've had a bid accepted from Manchester United [for Maguire], but while he's not our player I'm not in a position to discuss him really."

Despite the long wait, it appears West Ham are at long last getting players through the door, coming after they sold both Declan Rice and Gianluca Scamacca.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, says the Irons could be set for a "massive month" and could even make as many as five new signings before deadline day.

He also hints that Chelsea midfielder Trevoh Chalobah may be one of the names to come in and bolster Moyes' options.

"At a time when Chelsea are offloading players they don’t think are quite good enough, it feels like a good opportunity West Ham could take advantage of," said Jones.

"I think he could actually survive at Chelsea, just about, but I also think he has bigger aspirations than that, and I’ve heard he has been open to listening to new opportunities.

"We’re looking at a massive month ahead for the Hammers, they will sign five players and have to find a way to make this all add up so they have a much stronger squad.

"As part of that they are looking for perfect partnerships all over the pitch and if Chalobah was to come in I think he would complement someone like Kurt Zouma."

How good is Trevoh Chalobah?

Reports suggest that Chelsea and manager Mauricio Pochettino are willing to part ways with Chalobah this summer.

The 24-year-old featured fairly regularly for Chelsea last season, making a total of 25 league appearances whilst averaging a noteworthy 88.5% passing accuracy in the middle of the park.

Chalobah's top flight experience will be a big draw for manager Moyes, who could be looking to shore up his midfield even further if Paqueta does depart for City.

Indeed, the stage is set for what may well be a pivotal final few weeks of the window for West Ham.

Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke has been a long-time transfer target for West Ham this summer and a significant update has now emerged.

How old is Dominic Solanke?

The former Liverpool striker is still only 25 years of age and has matured into an important player for Bournemouth, helping them get back into the Premier League after scoring 29 goals in the Championship in 2021/22.

Last season, Solanke did a solid job back in the top flight, netting six times and registering seven assists, and he has also bagged one of each in his first two league outings of the current campaign, with his goal coming against West Ham.

The Englishman has been continually linked with a summer move to the Hammers, as they eye up attacking additions, having replaced Declan Rice with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in midfield, and there should still be money left over for further reinforcements higher up the pitch.

Now, a new claim has emerged that suggests the east Londoners are pushing hard to secure the signing of one of their primary summer transfer targets.

Will West Ham sign Dominic Solanke?

According to Football Insider, West Ham have now submitted an offer for Solanke, as they look to seal a significant piece of transfer business:

"West Ham have submitted a formal bid for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, sources have told Football Insider. The offer is believed to be around the £35-40m mark with the London club waiting on a response from their Premier League counterparts.

"Bournemouth also have concrete interest in Solanke from another top-flight English club in the market for a centre-forward. It leaves the future of the England international, 25, up in the air in the final ten days of the summer transfer window."

This is an exciting update from a West Ham perspective, with Solanke now a proven Premier League striker who has the attributes to be a real handful leading the line. In many ways, he is like a younger version of Michail Antonio, possessing his physical power and pace, as well as an eye for goal that has become more ruthless as he has matured as a footballer.

At 25, there is still so much time for the ex-Liverpool man to further improve as a player, perfecting his all-round game, and he could be the ideal competition or replacement for Antonio, allowing David Moyes to rotate his squad more effectively across three different competitions.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Former managers clearly think highly of Solanke as a player, with Gary O'Neil lauding his importance to the cause for Bournemouth last season, saying:

"Dom works his socks off for me and you can see he comes off and we’ve not created loads of chances for him and he’s put in a load of work. People that maybe don’t know, could underestimate how big Dom is for this group. Absolutely massive. I couldn’t ask for a better number nine to go and face the challenges that we’re faced with."

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp described him as "fantastic" during their time together at Liverpool, so West Ham could have a gem on their hands if they can get a deal over the line.

Aston Villa have strengthened their squad with some impressive signings this summer, but another defensive addition could still arrive, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Will Aston Villa make more signings?

A productive summer in the transfer market was needed at Villa Park, in order to kick on from last season, where so much progress was made under Unai Emery. Almost from nowhere, he made his side one of the most formidable outside the traditional 'big six', qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League in the process.

Big things are expected this time around, following the additions of players such as Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby, and while the 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United on the opening weekend was a shock to the system, last Sunday's 4-0 win at home to Everton steadied the ship, suggesting that another good campaign lies ahead.

While Villa fans will likely feel very content with the transfer business their club has conducted since the end of last season, there is still time to bring in more new faces, should Emery feel like it is needed between now and next Friday's cutoff.

Left-back is one area that may well be strengthened, with Lucas Digne's future at the club unclear, and it looks as though a Premier League player could be a potential target.

Will Aston Villa sign Nuno Tavares?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano talked up the idea of Villa sealing the signing of Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares before the end of the current transfer window:

"Tavares was very close to joining Nottingham Forest, but then they had problems in the negotiation, so the deal collapsed between the clubs Arsenal in Nottingham Forest last week. My expectation is for Aston Villa to consider Tavares also this week."

Tavares could be an interesting signing by Villa this summer, with the 23-year-old struggling to enjoy playing time for Arsenal, given the strength of the defensive options at Mikel Arteta's disposal, and going on loan to Marseille last season.

He still has two years remaining on his current Gunners deal, so they aren't necessarily in a huge rush to sell him, but it doesn't appear as though he has any future at the Emirates.

Granted, some Villans supporters could question if Tavares is a good enough option to bring in, in terms of signing an outcast from one of the Premier League's top sides, but he is still a young player and Arteta himself has lauded him as "very gifted" in the past and now appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation following a loan spell in France.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Therefore, Tavares could be a good option for Emery and be someone desperate to kick on in their career and thrive under a fresh challenge.

The Portuguese has Premier League experience, making 22 appearances in it to date, and his best years could be ahead of him, which may well be spent at Villa, playing a part in their continued resurgence with Emery at the helm, making this one to keep an eye on.