£120,000-a-week Everton player wanted by European club

There is still time for some late-summer transfer business to happen, and it looks as though one Everton player could be set to depart in the very near future, following a new update.

Will Everton sell more players?

It was clear at the end of last season that some major surgery was needed at Goodison Park, following another campaign that saw the Blues come perilously close to losing their Premier League status.

Sean Dyche will have wanted to bring in the right players, in terms of individuals he feels are perfect for his system, and the likes of Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma and Beto have all arrived at the club, among others.

It has been a disappointing start to the campaign for the Toffees, though, who have only picked up one solitary point from their opening four league matches, and it could point towards certain individuals still not being good enough to feature at the highest level.

While the summer transfer window has slammed shut in England, and in most countries for that matter, there is still just enough time for business to be completed in certain leagues, including the Turkish Super Lig.

One player who could leave Everton this week is midfielder Andre Gomes, who appears to have no future at the club under Dyche, and may want a new challenge at this point in his career. Now, a big update has emerged regarding his potential exit, with time running out to seal a move elsewhere.

Everton midfielder Andre Gomes.

Will Andre Gomes leave Everton?

According to a new update from journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu on X, Gomes is wanted by Turkish giants Fenerbahce who are in the Europa Conference League and could depart Goodison before their summer transfer window closes on Friday.

"Fenerbahce is interested in Andre Gomes, who plays for Everton."

In truth, this feels like a natural time to bring Gomes' Everton career to an end, with the Portuguese arriving as such an exciting signing from Barcelona back in 2019, when big things were expected of him.

Instead, the 30-year-old has underwhelmed in a Blues shirt overall, scoring just twice in 100 appearances and also registering only seven assists, despite being a midfielder who is thought to be a creative presence.

In fairness to Gomes, he has arguably never been the same since suffering a serious broken leg in a home Premier League clash with Tottenham during the 2019/20 season, following a tackle from Son Heung-min.

It was an incident that left the Spurs man in tears after being shown a red card, such was the severity of the injury, and it has been tough for the Everton midfielder to ever look like a true force since that moment, despite being hailed as "excellent" by Kevin Campbell.

Dyche is now creating his own team, and it seems obvious that Gomes, on £120,000-a-week, isn't a part of it, so rather than stay at Goodison and potentially earn very little playing time, it makes sense for all parties to move him on this summer, allowing him for regular minutes and possibly letting the Blues receive a fee for him, rather than lose him for free when his contract expires next summer.

Starc and Hazlewood strike late as England waste hard work

It was as if this day was a microcosm of England’s batting throughout their whole disappointing Ashes tour as they let a promising position slip

Report by Brydon Coverdale04-Jan-20181:09

A familiar pattern for Stoneman and Vince

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJoe Root fails to convert a fifty into a hundred. Check. Mark Stoneman makes a solid start that does not become an innings of note. Check. James Vince makes a start before throwing his wicket away. Check. Dawid Malan frustrates the Australians with a fighting innings. Check. It was as if this day was a microcosm of England’s batting throughout their whole disappointing tour. At stumps on the first day of the final Test in Sydney, England were 5 for 233, with Malan at the crease on 55.He was yet to be joined by Moeen Ali, for Jonny Bairstow had ended the day – or more accurately, the evening – by edging Josh Hazlewood behind for 5 from what became the final delivery. The second new ball had proven productive for Australia in the 10 deliveries they had with it. In the previous over, Root had clipped off his pads to Mitchell Marsh at square leg to give Mitchell Starc his first wicket of the match. With those two wickets, England’s upper hand disappeared.It was a disastrous finish for England, who had spent much of the day working themselves into a good position as they sought a consolation victory. Morning rain had delayed the toss and the start by 130 minutes, but Root still had no hesitation in choosing to bat. An early lunch meant play turned into a pair of three-hour sessions, and as 7pm approached, Root and Malan had compiled a partnership that was worth 133. Then came Root’s error.It is not quite fair to say this series has been the tale of two captains, yet the scoring chasm between Root and Steven Smith over the past four Tests has been difficult to ignore. Each has passed fifty on four occasions; Root’s highest score is the 83 he made today, while Smith has scored three hundreds, including one double-century. Late on the first day in Sydney, Root went past 50% of Smith’s series tally of 604 runs. That rather summed it up.The toss was one that Smith said he was not unhappy to lose, given the moisture in the surface and cloud overhead, as well as the return to the side of Starc, who had missed the Boxing Day Test due to a bruised heel. It took until the last 10 minutes of the day for Starc to make a breakthrough, but Pat Cummins struck two early blows by removing Stoneman and Vince, both of whom fell after making their way into the 20s.Stoneman pushed a shortish delivery and edged behind for a run-a-ball 24; it was a delivery he might have either left or played with a cross-bat, but the extra bounce made it hard to negotiate while playing straight. It continued a frustrating series for Stoneman, who only once has failed to reach double figures, but on no occasion has progressed past the fifties, with scores of 53, 27, 18, 36, 56, 3, 15 and now 24.Similarly, Vince has been unable to have a significant impact on the series at No.3, after impressing with 83 in the first innings of the campaign at the Gabba. Here, Vince toiled for 54 deliveries for his 25 before impatiently slashing at a short and wide delivery and edging behind off Cummins. Stoneman currently has 232 runs for the series at 29.00; Vince has 224 at 28.00, after scores of 83, 2, 2, 15, 25, 55, 17 and 25.Alastair Cook, fresh from his unbeaten 244 at the MCG, looked in a patient mood at the SCG until on 39 he was lbw to Hazlewood on review. The on-field umpire Joel Wilson had turned down Hazlewood’s appeal, but Australia’s review showed that by a slim margin the ball had pitched in line with the leg stump and was going on to hit. Those three wickets came in the opening three-hour session up until tea, before Root and Malan settled in for their stand.Malan had a few shaky moments. He was dropped at slip off Nathan Lyon on 34, and survived a couple of run-out attempts, but importantly he was still there at the end. Malan’s success has been one of the few highlights of England’s tour, and despite Cook’s unbeaten double-hundred in Melbourne, by stumps on day one in Sydney, Malan was their highest run-getter of the series, with only Smith and David Warner above him from either side.His 160-ball effort included five boundaries, and he must now bat with the lower order to push England to a competitive total. Root had looked the more fluent in their partnership, striking eight boundaries and reaching an 82-ball fifty, but his departure late in the day was a major blow for England. Root’s struggle to convert his half-centuries is becoming a concern – of his past 10 fifty-plus scores, only one – against West Indies in Birmingham – has been turned into triple-figures.Again, Root made a solid contribution for England, but again fell short of a match-defining one. How England bounce back from their late stumbles now looms as the big question.

Newcastle Could Repeat Cabaye Success With "Complete" £43m Titan

Newcastle United may have just added another top young signing, but there is every chance that their summer business is far from concluded…

Who else are Newcastle United signing?

This is a claim that could be disproven by Eddie Howe himself, who noted just before the signing of Lewis Hall: "'I think if we were able to bring a player in, that would be our transfer business concluded unless there were injuries within our own players."

However, their untold riches and presence within European football this year suggest that they will have to continue bolstering their squad, no matter how impressive a start their other new faces have been.

Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes showcased their respective talents in midfield and attack, but the Magpies remain relatively threadbare at the back.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Perhaps the Tyneside outfit could be poised to make one final addition, with OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo representing a fine option for them to sign.

After all, their interest in the Frenchman is longstanding, and his reported €50m (£43m) price tag would represent a relative coup for the quality in depth his presence would provide.

What French players have played for Newcastle?

Newcastle have a lengthy relationship with French players, having enjoyed a steady stream of stars from a truly special part of the footballing world.

David Ginola likely reigns supreme among all who have graced St James' Park, supplemented by the likes of Laurent Robert, Hatem Ben Arfa and more.

However, a close second is Yohan Cabaye, who enjoyed three impressive years as a true favourite of the Toon Army.

A natural leader and metronome in possession, few could dictate a game as supremely as the 37-year-old, who retired from professional football in 2020.

The former LOSC Lille maestro accumulated just 93 appearances for the historic club before departing for Paris Saint-Germain, with his 32 goal contributions during that period an outstanding return for a central midfielder.

His consistently stellar showings were lauded back in 2013, as Alan Pardew noted upon his return to form: "The bottom line is that the player is a true character and has that X-factor. And when you’re at the top of the Premiership you can’t stay there without that and he really provided that for us."

So, to return to a lesser-known French outfit for another star, and the hope will be that Howe can emulate such success with Todibo.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

Given the form the 23-year-old has maintained in recent years, there is precedent to believe he could follow successfully in the footsteps of Cabaye.

Last season saw the former Barcelona ace maintain a 6.94 average rating, buoyed by his 89% pass accuracy, 2.2 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

jean-clair-todibo

For comparison, only Bruno Guimaraes record more tackles last campaign in the Premier League, with just Fabian Schar and Sven Botman posting more clearances too, via Sofascore.

He is already defensively sound but adds an element of creativity due to his proficiency in possession.

When compared to other centre-backs across Europe, Todibo sits in the top 19% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

It is no surprise to see Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig seek to praise him, branding the defender as the "complete package".

Todibo is certainly ready to compete with the aforementioned stoppers already starring under Howe, with the success of Cabaye likely a benchmark he will hope to surpass given the club's fine upward trajectory.

Gunathilaka's six-match suspension revised to three games

The remaining three matches are part of a suspended sentence over a one-year period that could come into force following any further disciplinary breaches by the Sri Lanka batsman

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2017

Associated Press

Danushka Gunathilaka’s suspension for six white-ball matches has been revised to three games, following a meeting of Sri Lanka Cricket’s executive committee in Colombo on Monday. The remaining three matches are part of a suspended sentence over a one-year period, which could come into force in the event of any further disciplinary breaches. He has also been fined 20% of his annual contract fee. The executive committee’s decision came after an appeal on behalf of the player by the Sinhalese Sports Club.The suspension, which was handed out earlier this month, was the reason behind his omission from the squad for the ongoing series against Pakistan. ESPNcricinfo understands Gunathilaka missed a training session, turned up to a match without his gear, and was generally found to have had an indifferent attitude towards training – all during Sri Lanka’s recent home series against India. This was his first serious case of misconduct.The matter was brought to SLC’s notice by Asanka Gurusinha, the cricket manager, and was taken up board’s CEO, Ashley de Silva.Gunathilaka has averaged 42.41 in ODIs this year. He was particularly prolific during the home series against Zimbabwe in June, hitting three half-centuries and a maiden ODI ton in Sri Lanka’s 2-3 loss.

Aston Villa Could Sign £10m-Rated "Animal" In Bad News For Matty Cash

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in making a swoop for Sevilla defender Gonzalo Montiel, as Unai Emery seeks further summer reinforcements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Spaniard alongside Monchi has welcomed the signings of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby to Villa Park, in three moves that pose as significant upgrades to the squad.

The four-time Europa League winner could now delve back into the market to once again steal some talent from LaLiga, just as he did with Torres.

Could Aston Villa sign Gonzalo Montiel?

As reported in Spain (as relayed by Sport Witness), Villa have made ‘simple contacts’ over Argentine full-back Montiel.

The report claims that the 26-year-old is unhappy at Sevilla, making a potential reunion with Monchi a possibility this summer.

After just two years in LaLiga, the right-back could be on the move again, with his value currently sitting close to €12m (£10m), as per FootballTransfers.

How good is Gonzalo Montiel?

Most notable for his World Cup-winning penalty in Qatar back in December, the defender lived out his dream to secure his country the greatest prize of them all at a moment where room for error was incredibly slim.

Aside from his World Cup heroics, the former River Plate full-back has been a solid presence at the back in Spain, making 28 league appearances for Sevilla last season, and becoming an integral member of the squad.

Deployed exclusively on the right side of the defence, the Argentine has been lauded as an “animal” by a figure well known in the Midlands, former boss and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui.

A combative player, Montiel has been identified as a player known to be ‘active in transition’ by scouting site Target Scouting, who pinpointed such attributes when analysing the full-back’s performances at River Plate.

Such claims have been supported by his numbers last season in LaLiga, suggesting that he could be the perfect acquisition for Monchi to chase this summer.

Argentina's GonzaloMontieltouches the trophy during the trophy ceremony

As per FBref, the Argentine averaged 3.37 progressive passes and 2.01 progressive carries per 90 for Sevilla, showcasing his abilities going forward in support of offensive patterns of play.

Lining up as a defender, the former River Plate favourite made his defensive strengths clear through his averages in LaLiga last season, recording an average of 1.54 tackles and 1.12 interceptions per 90.

The potential arrival of Montiel could represent another reshuffle at the back from Emery, in a player whose arrival should be feared by some in his position.

While Matty Cash has been a reasonably solid signing for Villa since arriving at Villa Park from Nottingham Forest back in 2020, the Poland international could see his place taken if the opportunity arises for the Argentine target to occupy the area.

Last campaign, the former Forest defender had his place in the squad covered by veteran Ashley Young whilst he spent time on the sidelines nursing a calf injury.

Young was a valued yet ageing member of the squad in the Midlands for his duties representing the club over the years, but now missing additional game time with a backup of the calibre of Montiel could leave Cash with the problem of being usurped in the pecking order.

While contact is rumoured to have been made, no official bid has been reported yet, however with the start of the 2023/24 season around the corner, Emery should act quickly to get his squad into shape ready for the new calendar.

Leeds Could Sign Rodrigo Heir In "Sensational" £15k-p/w Ace

With promotion expert Daniel Farke now at the helm, Leeds United will no doubt be plotting to secure an instant return back to the Premier League this term, having slipped back into the second tier last term after just three years in the top-flight.

The chances of Farke – who sealed two promotions from the Championship during his time at Norwich City – pulling off that feat have not been aided by the possible mass exodus that the Whites are set to endure, with the likes of Robin Koch and Brenden Aaronson having already moved out on loan.

A far greater blow, however, looks to be the impending exit of last season's top scorer, Rodrigo, with the 32-year-old Spaniard seemingly on his way to Qatar to join Al-Rayyan, after three seasons at Elland Road.

Since signing from Valencia back in the summer of 2020, the experienced marksman has netted 27 times in 95 games in all competitions for the Yorkshire giants, with 15 of those strikes coming last term despite the club's eventual relegation.

With no other Leeds player having even reached double figures for goals in 2022/23, the Brazil-born hitman will leave a notable void in Farke's squad, with it unlikely to prove an easy fix trying to replace his influence in attack.

Leeds United striker Rodrigo.

One name that has been mentioned as a possible centre-forward target of late, however, is Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge – according to The Athletic's Phil Hay – with the 24-year-old also attracting interest from MLS clubs amid his limited game time at the City Ground, after starting just two league games last term.

While the Englishman may not be the most glamourous of signings, his prior experience in the second tier could prove invaluable for Farke and co next season…

How good is Sam Surridge?

It is fair to say that the Slough-born striker endured a frustrating 2022/23 campaign after scoring just one Premier League goal for Steve Cooper's side, albeit with the former Stoke City striker having been a crucial figure in Forest's successful promotion charge in the previous season.

Having signed from the Potters in January 2022, Surridge went on to score seven goals in just 17 Championship appearances in the second of the season, having arguably been "one of the best finishers" in the league, according to Forest legend, Gary Birtles – who also dubbed him "sensational" in front of goal.

That view has been echoed by journalist Lee Clarke, who recently hailed the £15k-per-week ace as something of a "cheat code" due to that sparkling previous form, as he simply "never looked like missing" when played in on goal.

Evidently a player who could fill the goalscoring shoes of Rodrigo, Surridge is also an asset due to his hard-working nature when leading the line, with Birtles describing him as a player who "worries defenders", while also stating:

"His work rate and trying to close defenders down to stop them playing, that lets midfield push up a couple of yards and the defenders even more. That makes life more uncomfortable and problematic for the opposition."

That willing work ethic is seemingly shared by Leeds' departing forward, with the ageing sensation notably ranking in the top 11% among those in his position in Europe's big five leagues for tackles made, showcasing that desire to defend from the front.

That would suggest that if Farke is turn to Surridge to be the main man next season, the 6 foot 3 machine could prove to be the perfect heir to Rodrigo at Elland Road.

Liverpool Could Sign £90m "Warrior" This Summer

Liverpool are reportedly interested in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, as Jurgen Klopp eyes a midfield revamp this summer.

The German is expected to bid farewell to dominating ace Fabinho who is expected to complete a £40m move to Al-Ittihad, leaving a vacancy for a defensive midfielder to bolster the side.

Could Liverpool sign Joao Palhinha?

The Reds were linked to Fulham’s Portuguese monster in January, but failed to make a move for the 28-year-old.

With the timing of Fabinho’s expected departure, links to the midfielder have resurfaced, with the Liverpool Echo naming Palhinha as an option ‘back on the table’ for Liverpool to consider.

There is however a catch, with a separate report revealing that the Cottagers want a fee of £90m for the player following West Ham’s reported interest earlier this window.

How good is Joao Palhinha?

Signed by Fulham for £20m from Sporting Lisbon last summer, the 28-year-old has been integral to Marco Silva’s side’s progression in the league.

Hailed as an “absolute warrior” by editor and writer Hunter Godson, the Portugal international has lived up to his praise since arriving in the Premier League.

A warrior is a fair description for the midfielder, who averaged the highest rate of tackles per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues, recording a monstrous 4.26 per 90 for Fulham, via FBref.

The former Liga Portugal ace, with 21 caps for his country, has displayed just how much of a combative presence he is in the middle of the park, making Liverpool’s speculated interest somewhat unsurprising.

Joao Palhinha

With an average of 1.33 interceptions and 2.06 aerial duels won per 90, Palhinha is a player many would opt against coming up against in the middle of the park for his sweeper-like antics in protecting the backline.

For the Reds, capturing the dominant gem’s signature could signify the start of a new era in midfield at Anfield, with Klopp already signing attacking option Alexis Mac Allister to bolster the centre of play.

Last season, the Argentine netted an impressive ten goals and two assists for Brighton in an individual campaign to remember, in which he added a World Cup-winning medal to his arsenal.

Klopp could unearth a deadly combo in midfield in deployed Palhinha alongside the 24-year-old, who could thrive if given the freedom to showcase his offensive artistry with the assurance of a mammoth protecting him.

Winning the ball is unquestionably the Lisbon-born star's forte, making him an attractive asset to have in the squad behind the fluent attack Klopp is building, starting with Mac Allister.

The attacking midfielder is capable of spawning attacking sequences with his intricate playing style, as captured by his average of 1.47 key passes per 90 last season.

Klopp could get the best out of Mac Allister to the benefit of the club, with the World Cup winner showing just how much of a threat he can be as Brighton’s favoured playmaker last term.

Combining the creative spark of the Argentine with the defensive expertise of Palhinha could form a balanced pivot in the middle of the park, in a dynamic capable of easing the departure of Fabinho.

Southampton Set To Sign Livramento Replacement At St Mary’s

Southampton took their time confirming the appointment of Russell Martin, but the new Saints manager is seemingly wasting no time in compiling a squad capable of earning an instant promotion from the Championship.

According to The Athletic, Russell is set to make Derrick Abu his first signing at St Mary's following the right-back's release from Chelsea last month.

Who is Derrick Abu?

Abu made headlines for non-footballing reasons last year when pursuing a second career as a rapper with the release of his debut single Life's Changing. Under the moniker 'Cho$en', Abu is hopeful he can continue making music and make it big one day.

The 19-year-old still has a shot at making it at the top as a footballer, even if his career took a setback when being released by his boyhood club after more than a decade in West London.

The German-born England U17 international did not make a senior appearance for Chelsea, but he featured eight times in Premier League 2 for the Blues last season and also had a trial with Crystal Palace.

Could Derrick Abu be the next Tino Livramento?

Southampton have clearly seen enough in Abu to take a low-risk punt on a player on as little as £3.4k per month at Chelsea, as per Salary Sport.

The Saints have a good recent record of signing a right-back from Chelsea, with Tino Livramento arriving at St Mary's for a small fee of £5m in August 2021.

Former Swansea manager Russell Martin.

Like Abu, Livramento also spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge without being given a shot at first-team action. However, after impressing for the Saints in his first season, before being restricted to just two outings last season due to injury, the 20-year-old could be on his way back to the Premier League.

Chelsea are one of a handful of big-name sides in the running to sign Livramento, meaning Martin is in need of a new right-back to plug the gap. Besides the fact they are both right-backs with Chelsea roots and a similar age, there are plenty of other similarities between the two players.

For example, Abu – who stands at 5 foot 10, picked up four yellow cards in Premier League 2 last season, matching the number received by Livramento from his 20 appearances in that competition in 2020-21 prior to joining Southampton.

Southampton are hardly signing the youngster based on that disciplinary quirk, of course, but he also shares similarities with Livramento in terms of their attacking nature, with both men just as happy to play as wing-backs.

As pointed out by Daily Echo writer Reece Barrett, Abu is a "brilliant" prospect who shows "lightning-fast acceleration and natural crossing ability". Only two Southampton players crossed the ball more times than Livramento (62) in the 2021-22 Premier League season, so it could be a like-for-like swap in that regard.

Buying a player with no senior experience is always a risk, but if history is anything to go by, Southampton could be about to land themselves another gem at Chelsea's expense. With Championship football on the horizon, there is certainly less pressure than a relegation scrap too.

Wages Revealed As Arsenal Close In On Signing Of 22-y/o

Incoming Arsenal signing Jurrien Timber will be on a wage of £120k-per-week when he completes his move to the Emirates, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed.

What's the latest on Arsenal and Timber?

The Ajax defender looks to be closing in on a move to the Emirates for around £41m, and he will follow Kai Havertz in joining the Gunners this summer.

Mikel Arteta is keen to add quality depth to his squad, and Timber could be the ideal addition to his backline, as the 22-year-old is able to play in a variety of positions.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Bailey revealed that Timber has agreed a long-term contract, with a salary of around £120k per week, to join Arsenal.

"Timber's done, agreed, €47 million (£40m) as a total package. The deal is worth £120k per-week a week, we understand roughly, so not a big deal in Premier League terms at all," he stated.

"So a fantastic piece of business Timber. I think Timber could end up being the best of the three."

How does Timber's salary compare to Arsenal's other options?

The defender will earn the same salary as fellow right-back Ben White, and both players could end up featuring together, with both capable of filling in at centre-back.

He will earn more than backup options Kieran Tierney and Jakub Kiwior as per Capology, and significantly more than starter Gabriel Magalhaes.

jurrien-timber-arsenal-transfer-gossip-ajax-edu-arteta-john-stones

It remains to be seen whether Timber is thrown into the lineup straight away ahead of Ben White, or if the Englishman will keep his place after a stellar season on the right.

Timber's ability on the ball, which sees him ranked in the top 1% of his centre-back peers for passing and ball carries as per FBref, makes him an attractive option to Arteta, who may see him as capable of replicating Oleksander Zinchenko's hybrid defence-midfield role on the right-hand side.

The Dutch international will arrive in what has been an ambitious start to the transfer window for Arsenal, and could help bridge the gap to treble-winners Manchester City.

Arsenal were fantastic for most of last season, leading the league for a long time, but injuries to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu saw their title challenge fall apart, and the presence of Timber in the squad could be a difference maker as the Gunners return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

Chelsea Consider Swoop For “Electric” £40m Sensation

Chelsea have cited Mohammed Kudus as potential replacement for Mason Mount.

What’s the latest on Mohammed Kudus to Chelsea?

According to Simon Phillips (via CaughtOffside), the Blues are said to be following the Ajax star ahead of a summer transfer.

It was previously reported by David Ornstein that the Dutch outfit tend to sell their assets rather than allow them to enter the final 24 months of their deals, and it's expected a fee of around £40m would be enough to secure the 22-year-old.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that the Ghanaian is a “top target” for Brighton & Hove Albion and that concrete talks are yet to commence with the west Londoners.

Could Kudus become Mason Mount’s replacement?

The 21-cap international enjoyed a busy and impressive World Cup – in three appearances for the Black Stars, he scored two goals, averaged 1.3 shots on target per game, managed a 71% dribble success rate and won 59% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

As well as his international exploits, the forward has also enjoyed a fabulous season with his club, having notched 24 goal involvements in 42 appearances in all competitions.

Kudus has been rather unstoppable – he ranks within the best 5% outside of Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for non-penalty goals, successful take-ons, touches in the attacking penalty area and pass completion per 90.

His extraordinary statistics show he is ready to make the step to a more competitive division, but he has already displayed he is capable of competing against more elite opponents, having notched six goal contributions in as many Champions League outings this past term.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has described him as an attacking midfielder with “electric pace, superb ball control” and “creative” off-the-ball movements.

It makes a lot of sense to move for Kudus, particularly when you consider the void which could be left by Mount.

Chelsea have rejected a third bid from Manchester United, who are expected to try again for the former Derby County loanee.

Mason Mount

It’s been confirmed that the 24-year-old will not sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge. The most recent campaign was his most disappointing to date in west London, as he has only scored three times all year and missed 11 top-flight games through injury.

However, he has been crowned the club’s Player of the Season on two occasions and provided the Champions League-winning assist for Kai Havertz in 2021.

Nevertheless, it appears this chapter is closing and Kudus represents a perfect opportunity to move on from this saga and could beautifully flourish in the English capital.

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