He said team officials had failed to mediate a simmering dispute between him and other senior players that boiled during the recent ICC World T20 Sub Regional Americas Qualifier

Peter Della Penna06-Oct-2018Former USA captain Ibrahim Khaleel has laid stinging criticism on the USA team management after being dropped from the squad on Tuesday. He said officials had failed to mediate a simmering dispute between him and other senior players that boiled over while the team was in North Carolina during their recent championship run at the ICC World T20 Sub Regional Americas Qualifier.”I was probably blindsided,” Khaleel told ESPNcricinfo, reacting to his sacking which was communicated to him in a video conference on Monday by USA head coach Pubudu Dassanayake and USA Cricket project officer Wade Edwards. “I told them you should have given me the opportunity to sit with the players when you knew there was something going on. I should at least have that option of talking to players one-on-one, face-to-face.”This is not like a school team or a club team where you just sit in a different room and [I] sit in a different room. There’s always conflict and misunderstanding in teams. It was yours and Wade’s responsibility to call me and talk to me and figure this thing out or call the players also. Whoever has spoken to you about x, y and z things, you should have called them and be a mediator to solve this thing. That’s how a professional team behaves, to me at least. If they think this is professional to them, then I’m okay with it.”According to Khaleel, he was told by Dassanayake and Edwards that the main reason he was dropped – not just from the captaincy but entirely from the squad – was because of “personal issues with players”. It contradicted a USA Cricket press release that stated Khaleel was left out due to performance.When asked if he felt he merited a spot in the team based on his batting, Khaleel said his scoring output was “average” and that it had come up during his video conference with Dassanayake and Edwards, but that it was not the primary factor in his removal.Khaleel claimed he first sensed trouble after the team’s dramatic two-wicket win over Canada on September 25. While the team was celebrating after Steven Taylor hit 22 runs off the final over to clinch victory, Khaleel said the mood around the squad was different by the time everyone got back to the hotel.”Nobody told me anything but I could sense something was wrong,” Khaleel said. “I told coach I think there’s something going on but it’s better if you check and he said we’ll talk about it after the tournament.”Khaleel also said he was informed by officials this week that his decision to under bowl certain players caused him to lose support within the team, though he refused to name anyone when asked who had raised complaints against him.”In Canada vs USA, [Canada spinner] Saad [Bin Zafar] also didn’t get bowling,” Khaleel said. “He only bowled one over the whole match. It doesn’t mean Saad is a bad bowler. I probably feel because of that, things got aggravated.”As a captain, you have to take some hard decisions on the ground. You cannot be biased to anybody. So I did whatever was best for the team in my knowledge and if something wrong was happening on the field then we wouldn’t have been No. 1.”Khaleel was rested from the XI a day later when USA beat Belize to clinch first place, but said he was called to a meeting with Dassanayake, Edwards and team manager Kerk Higgins later at the team hotel, where he was first told of concerns raised by other senior players.”They said, ‘Somebody has to go because we cannot move forward like this,'” according to Khaleel. “‘This thing cannot go on like this if your captaincy is not effective on the ground.'”Just because a few players don’t bind into roles, how will that effect things on the ground? If you think this was happening for a long time, even if there were misunderstandings or conflict, we still got results.”ESPNcricinfo made multiple attempts to speak with Dassanayake, Edwards and chairman of selectors Ricardo Powell regarding Khaleel’s sacking but USA Cricket did not make anyone available for comment.

The India captain said that the runs and records have been a byproduct of focusing on the team

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-20183:22

Can Kohli beat Tendulkar’s 18K runs?

After smashing Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, Virat Kohli has said that his method remains the same: work hard for every run and never take things for granted.”Even after playing for 10 years, I don’t feel like I’m entitled for anything here,” Kohli told . “You still have to work hard for every run you score at the international level while playing for your country because they’re many people who want this very badly and when you’re in that position yourself, you should have that same hunger and passion. You should never take things for granted, never take it easy at any stage.”Captaining India is a tough task, especially as the No.1 batsman in the world – as Tendulkar found out – but to have simultaneously scaled unprecedented heights as a batsman is a tribute to Kohli’s mental resolve as well as physical fitness. Additionally, despite the constant glare of the spotlight, Kohli’s focus has rarely deviated, highlighted by the 20 ODI hundreds in successful chases.1:58

Simmons: Kohli has taken over from where Sachin left off

“I’ve been able to push my physical abilities and my mental abilities on just focusing on what the team needs, and in that process more runs have been scored than maybe I would have otherwise if I was thinking about my own batting or anything like that,” he said. “So I’ve just focused on the situation, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to help the team by contributing with the bat. My duty is to score runs and having done that for a long period now, everything has collected together for this moment but the intention always should be every game, every situation to look for what the team needs and just score as many runs as possible.”But above all, his greatest source of joy remains more homespun in nature – to have been able to play the game this long, with a few years left in the tank.”To understand you’ve come so far in your career playing for 10 years is something quite special to me because I love the sport so much and you want to play it more and more, and that for me is the most important thing, so I’m just happy that I’m able to play for this long and hopefully many more years to come,” he said. “I never thought I could achieve this feat or I would get to this stage. I always thought I just want to play for India, I never thought that this day would arrive and it just tells me that if you’re focused on the process and the right things then these things become irrelevant after a while.”

Aston Villa have seen their outlook transformed by Unai Emery, who arrived in October 2022 following the dismissal of Steven Gerrard.

The Spaniard quickly changed the spirit within the squad he inherited from the Englishman, inspiring an overall higher level of individual performance and more positive approach to play that inspired the start of something special at Villa Park.

The former Arsenal boss has taken pleasure in handing some of Gerrard’s struggling stars a new lease of life, with his utilisation of John McGinn and Tyrone Mings adding to the list of areas that Emery has improved since arriving in the Midlands.

Despite guiding Villa to a seventh-place finish and a spot in the Europa Conference League, Emery has been unable to assist every player with an improved level of performance, as highlighted by one of Gerrard’s signings prior to his sacking.

How much did Aston Villa pay for Leander Dendoncker?

In the summer of 2022, Villa signed midfielder Leander Dendoncker from West Midlands rivals Wolves for a fee of £13m.

The Belgian had secured 159 appearances for the Old Gold, scoring 12 goals and claiming four assists in that time from central midfield.

While the former Anderlecht whiz was a reliable player for Wolves, he found himself battling for a starting spot under Bruno Lage, as the talents of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were favoured to run the engine room.

Once lauded as a “top player” by former Molineux boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Dendoncker’s move to Villa came as a result of his varied game time under Lage, and at a pivotal time for the Villans who were poised to take a new-look midfield into the 2022/23 campaign.

With Dendoncker and highly-rated free agent, Boubacar Kamara signed that summer, Gerrard’s options in the middle of the park were greatly enhanced, however whether this was a positive for the Belgian was yet to be discovered.

How much does Leander Dendoncker earn at Aston Villa?

In signing for Villa, the midfielder was not only presented with a new opportunity to grasp consistent game time in the Midlands, but also handed an improved salary to ease the transition.

At Wolves, the Belgian picked up a wage of £75k-per-week, a figure that rocketed to £90k-per-week at the point of his arrival at Villa Park in 2022.

Currently, the 28-year-old earns the fifth-highest salary at Villa, receiving a healthy package of £4.68m-per-year.

His £90k-per-week wage sees him currently earn more than the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey, raising questions as to whether the Belgian has warranted such rewards so far in his career at Villa Park.

What happened to Leander Dendoncker?

Unfortunately for the towering asset, history repeated itself at Villa as it did at Wolves, as he is far down the pecking order amid the wealth of competition in his position.

Emery favours to field the likes of Kamara, Luiz and McGinn over his other options in midfield, Dendoncker and his countryman Youri Tielemans, who are forced to wait for their chance to shine.

Leander Dendoncker's appearances at Aston Villa

Competition

Apps

Starts

Premier League

22

7

FA Cup

1

1

Carabao Cup

1

1

Europa Conf League

1

1

Europa Conf League Qual

1

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

As highlighted this season, the midfielder has been given the opportunity to start fixtures thanks to Villa’s European and cup involvement, however he looks far away from being on the cusp of a Premier League start any time soon.

In 24 league appearances last term, Dendoncker secured only nine starts, averaging just 39 minutes per game to convey how out-of-favour he is in comparison to his teammates in the position.

So far, the Belgium international has secured just 26 appearances for the Villans and has failed to contribute in the final third – without a goal or an assist in all competitions – not helped by his poor performances in the engine room.

While Dendoncker is waiting to earn his first Premier League start of the season, he was given the chance to start in the Europa Conference League against Zrinjski, and also in the Carabao Cup against Everton, yet he was hooked at halftime on both occasions.

The midfielder left Molineux in the hunt for game time and was presented with an even steeper uphill battle at Villa Park, not aided by his performances when his chances have come, having been branded “so poor” by journalist Tom Parker.

How much is Leander Dendoncker worth now?

An exchange worth £13m is considered to be a matter of pennies in the current climate of the transfer market, however Villa may be haunted by the money spent to bring Dendoncker to the club.

The Belgian’s lack of game time and poor performances have seen his market value crash dramatically, as highlighted in the graph below via Football Transfers, spelling worrying times for Villa who would be fortunate to receive anything close to £13m for a possible future sale.

From being purchased just last summer for £13m, Dendoncker’s expected transfer value (xTV) currently sits at €6.4m (£5.5m), seeing a rampant decline since his arrival at Villa Park.

In October 2022, Football Transfers documented the 28-year-old’s xTV as being in the region of €17.2m (£14.9m), conveying that Villa paid a valid price for their acquisition, a figure that sits at almost £10m more than his value exactly one year down the line.

Considering his place in the pecking order within Emery’s squad, it looks highly likely that the former Wolves ace’s value will continue to decrease, with game time far from guaranteed to be handed to him on a regular basis in order to build form.

What does the future hold for Leander Dendoncker?

As Emery continues to test just how far he can push his current crop of talent at Villa, Dendoncker’s future at the club looks to be further and further away, as reinforced this summer following the close of the transfer window.

As reported by Football Insider, the Belgian was eyed by Turkish side Fenerbahce before the window in Turkey closed, with the report claiming that the forgotten man “is free to quit” his role at Villa as a result of his place in the pecking order.

While the validity of the report remains merely speculation, it could be seen as the start of a possible exit route for the midfielder, who is deemed as nothing more than a rotational figure by Emery.

Villa have spent millions to welcome and maintain Dendoncker at Villa Park, and are yet to see just why they opted to spend the money to bring him to the club last summer.

Southampton are pushing for promotion from the Championship this season, and they are believed to be eyeing a move for a young defender with plenty of potential, according to a new update.

Southampton results and fixtures

Saints suffered are misery of being relegated from the Premier League last season, eventually finishing bottom of the table after a desperately disappointing run of results. Russell Martin's side went into the new campaign as one of the favourites to go straight back up, however, and a win away to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening night further suggested that that would be the case.

Things haven't quite gone as well since then, with inconsistent results leaving Southampton sitting 10th in the table, but they are still clearly in the mix for at least the playoffs, although new signings may be required to take them up a further gear.

Next up is a trip to Hull City, who are level on points with Martin's side, before a difficult mid-week trip to high-flying Preston.

Having quality and depth in the squad can be priceless in the Championship, considering how relentless the fixtures are the more the season goes on, and Saints are seemingly keen on signing a Premier League player to boost their defensive depth in January.

Southampton transfer update – Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson to Southampton is reportedly a deal that could come to fruition in 2024, according to West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh, who report the player is likely to be sold to one of the interested parties:

"Everton are understood to be interested along with Southampton, whilst Luton Town could show interest in the player given his versatility as a right and left back."

This could be a really strong piece of business by Southampton, with Johnson someone who has racked up plenty of experience, and who could be looking to move away from West Ham at this point in his career.

The 23-year-old has found himself out of favour at the London Stadium in recent times, with Johnson's statistics showing that he hasn't yet played at all in the league this season, instead making just one solitary appearance in the EFL Cup.

He will see his current West Ham deal expire at the end of this season, meaning they could be tempted to cash in come January. The fact that he has the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters could be aid discussions over a move too, and the positives outweigh the negatives.

Even if Johnson's move to St Mary's Stadium doesn't work out, the cheap element of the signing would make it less of a risk, and his ability to play in several positions kills mutliple birds with one stone.

West Ham appearances

88

Premier League appearances

55

England Under-21 caps

10

The Englishman is a versatile defender who can play on either flank and in a central role, and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has described him as "brilliant" in the past.

For any Championship club to snap up a Premier League players feels like a coup, and Johnson has the ability to make Southampton a more fearsome proposition at the back for years to come, with West Ham also seemingly happy to see him move on, given the lack of minutes they are affording him at the moment.

Manchester United are reportedly looking to sign an exciting young attacker ahead of rivals Manchester City next year.

Man Utd transfer news…

The Red Devils splashed the cash on three high-profile additions over the summer, with Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund all arriving at Old Trafford. Altay Bayindir, Sofyan Amrabat, Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon also made the move to Manchester, but on the pitch, things haven’t been going to plan.

Erik ten Hag’s side have lost half of their opening eight Premier League games and their opening two Champions League group stage fixtures, with the Red Devils returning to action this weekend against Sheffield United.

The January transfer window is also fast approaching, and by the looks of things, those at Old Trafford are already identifying potential targets for 2024, one of which being "one of the world's biggest talents" in the eyes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Sport Witness relayed a Florian Wirtz transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming that Man Utd, Man City and Newcastle United are all in the picture to sign the player alongside Bayern Munich. The report adds that Wirtz is going to receive ‘very high proposals’ from England, with Leverkusen wanting around €85m (£74m) for his services next summer.

Florian Wirtz profiled…

Wirtz is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play out wide or slightly further forward if needed. The Germany international has been on the books with Leverkusen since 2020 and has seen his transfer valuation rocket to a career-high €85m after starting at €10m when he arrived at the club. (Florian Wirtz profile – Transfermarkt)

Statistically, Wirtz has been a regular in recent years and has now made 113 senior appearances for Leverkusen, scoring 26 times and providing 34 assists, netting three times and registering four assists in 10 appearances during the current campaign. (Florian Wirtz stats – Transfermarkt)

Wirtz’s manager, Xabi Alonso, has even compared the player to Lionel Messi earlier this year, saying:

"There are good players and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient. Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: 'You're in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!' It's not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That's why he's so good."

Therefore, with Bruno Fernandes approaching 30 years of age and Christian Eriksen already over 30 years old, United could see someone like Wirtz as a shrewd long-term addition, and by the looks of things, a deal is one to keep an eye on.

Newcastle United have been leagues above the previous standard since Eddie Howe's arrival two years ago, having turned consistent relegation battles into a fight for European football and success on the continental scene.

The PIF takeover has, of course, been crucial to the transformation, but the Magpies are not the only team in England to boast affluent wealth, and the way that the club has matched monetary value with diligence and implementation has been commendable.

Having escaped relegation with some tremendous form in the second half of the 2021/22 season, last year Newcastle transcended their past performances with sustained brilliance across the campaign, finishing fourth in the Premier League ahead of teams such as Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.

And this season, despite a three-match skid in the early phase, the Magpies are currently situated in sixth place and impressing with their performances, four points off Liverpool in fourth.

The new season has seen several exciting additions join the fold, but one former star, Allan Saint-Maximin, now plies his trade elsewhere after being shipped on in July after four years.

Why Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin

Having signed for Newcastle from French side OGC Nice for an initial £16.5m in 2019 with Steve Bruce as the manager, Saint-Maximin established himself as one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League, praised for his "breathtaking" performances by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

After 124 appearances, Howe made the decision this summer to grant his departure, and when Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli came calling, he was sold for around £23m.

The 26-year-old whiz offered a very distinctive dimension to the Tyneside club but he was not the most consistent of attackers, and given that the electric Anthony Gordon was signed from Everton in January it isclear that Howe had prepared for his exit.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

22/23

31

1

5

21/22

37

5

5

20/21

26

3

4

19/20

30

4

7

Statistics sourced via Transfermarkt

As is delineated in the table above, for all of his fleet-footed brilliance, Saint-Maximin never quite chanelled the level of prolificness to cement a starting berth in Howe's expansive, dreamy, vision.

Tricks and weaves from speedsters of Saint-Maximin's ability can threaten the calmest, most immovable of defenders, but there will always come a time when igniting the spark in the final and decisive moment calls for incisive action.

The Frenchman did not marry the facets well enough to win Howe over, and he opted to cash in and replace him with Harvey Barnes, who joined from relegated Leicester City in a £38m deal.

Barnes, while quick and skillful, plays a more direct game and relies on his end product to impress, having scored 13 Premier League goals last season and posting a goal and an assist on his Magpies debut in August.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90 to illustrate this fact.

But injury struck and the Englishman has been ruled out indefinitely after sustaining an ankle issue in September, not scheduled to return for some time yet.

That unwelcome scenario is compounded by the recent shoulder injury to Jacob Murphy, whose industriousness has left him "so important" to Howe's side, according to The Athletic's Chris Waugh; while a timeframe has not yet been provided, Howe has expressed worry over the extent of the injury.

Such unfortunate circumstances inevitably lead to poignancy over the sale of Saint-Maximin, who would be an important component for the injury-stricken Toon at present.

Allan Saint-Maximin's statistics this season

The 5 foot 8 forward has impressed in the Saudi Pro League so far, plundering two goals and assists apiece from nine appearances – all starts – but a cruel twist of fate has recently seen the £226k-per-week phenom suffer minor ligament damage and now he too faces a spell on the sidelines.

As per Sofascore, he has complemented his direct return with some pretty impressive metrics thus far, completing 86% of his passes, taking 2.1 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game, and succeeding with 59% of his frequent dribbles.

Once hailed as a “wing wizard” by 90min's Graeme Bailey, Saint-Maximin is certainly bringing the magic and while he would likely not be the most prolific of members of the St. James' Park squad right now, he boasts core attributes that would allow him to fill in and play a big part.

Ranking among the top 7% of positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the past 365 days for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive passes, and the top 1% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, he clearly offers the skills requisite for success under a manager such as Howe.

His four direct goal contributions actually surpass that of an ever-present member of the Newcastle squad this season, with Miguel Almiron not quite enjoying his richest vein of goalscoring form this season despite maintaining his impressive work rate and intensity.

Miguel Almiron's statistics this season

Last year, Almiron really came into his own after years of ebbing and flowing from form, and he scored 11 times and supplied four assists, with eight strikes coming in a blistering ten-match period in the Premier League, leading journalist Josh Bunting to remark at his “sensational” rise.

This season, the Paraguayan has scored three times from nine appearances across all competitions, and while he has been impressive, the deluge of injuries now demands an upswing in his cutting edge.

The £60k-per-week ace is among the crispest passers of the ball in his position, ranking among the top 11% of positional peers for pass completion per 90, but his clinical touch has been lacking a bit since last season's vibrant purple patch.

Saint-Maximin, of course, hardly trumps the 29-year-old in output but he is outperforming him this season – with one more goal contribution – and combining both his direct threat with a creative flair; Almiron is only creating 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League this term.

Whether Howe rues the sale of the former star is questionable, after all, he was the one that permitted his departure, but there is no doubt that Saint-Maximin would be a valuable asset amid the current injury crisis.

Aston Villa are certainly riding the crest of a wave right now as they secured their sixth Premier League win of the season with a rather straight forward 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on the weekend.

Unai Emery was clearly just getting started by leading Villa to a seventh-place finish last season and their form during the current campaign ensures they have a realistic chance of securing a top six spot or whisper it quietly, a Champions League berth for next year.

Of course, they will have to maintain this over the course of a whole term while defeating established sides like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City at some point, but with the way the Spaniard has them playing right now, nothing appears out of the question.

Having lured players such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo to the club in a bid to strengthen his squad, and it has worked a charm.

He may not stop there, however, as his meticulous approach suggests there could be a few more arrivals during the January transfer window, and if Villa are still challenging at the top end of the Premier League while progressing in Europe, improving his squad depth could be crucial.

With this in mind, it appears as though the Midlands side are showing interest in a current Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of the winter window.

Are Aston Villa interested in signing Carlos Soler?

According to a recent report by Le Parisien (via One Football), Emery looks to be keeping tabs on the Spanish ace as the January window fast approaches.

The outlet claimed that PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add some more creativity to his side and could be set to bolster this area, yet this would potentially require him to make a few sales in order to accommodate some new arrivals.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also showing interest in the 6-foot gem and, having played for PSG and Valencia, his next stop could be the Premier League.

The 26-year-old ace is currently earning around £100k-per-week and this is certainly a wage that Villa could afford, especially when you consider that their highest earner is Boubacar Kamara, who is reportedly taking home £175k-per-week.

According to Football Transfers, Soler is currently valued at €25.6m (£22.3m), although he does have another four years remaining on his current contract, giving Enrique some more flexibility with the fee he could charge prospective buyers.

How good is Carlos Soler?

PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season and with the triumvirate of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe obviously stealing headlines throughout the campaign, scoring 58 goals between them, it was Soler who played the unassuming role in the heart of the midfield.

Across 26 league matches last term, he scored three goals and grabbed three assists while registering ten goal contributions altogether in all competitions and key played a key role in their title triumph.

7

1

38

7

38

12

34

12

37

3

51

4

37

1

35

4

Before PSG however, he was an integral member of the Valencia squad, racking up a rather remarkable 38 goal contributions – 24 goals and 14 assists – across his final two full seasons with the Spanish giants, and it is clear he could give Emery and extra attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.

Over the previous 12 months when compared with positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, he currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.32), the top 14% for assists per 90 (0.19), and the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.91).

This indicates that not only does he feature highly for goals and assists, but the midfielder likes to burst forward and receive the ball in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

Could he even be an upgrade on one of Emery’s summer signings? Youri Tielemans has failed to really showcase his true talents since joining Villa.

Is Carlos Soler better than Youri Tielemans?

Since arriving at Villa Park, the Belgian international has failed to start a league match under Emery and currently ranks in a lowly 12th spot for accurate passes per game (11.6), while also ranking 12th for key passes per game (0.2) and 11th for goals and assists(one) which indicate that he hasn’t made the required impact as expected.

In comparison, Soler ranks 15th for accurate passes per game (18.7) across the PSG squad while also ranking 15th for key passes per game (0.6) and seventh for goals and assists (two), and considering how tough it is to stand out at the French giants, he is performing fairly well when called upon.

The Spaniard has also registered more shots per 90 (2.32 vs 0.58) than Tielemans while also having a better pass success rate (87.7% vs 86.9%), taking more touches in the attacking third (64 vs 36) and receiving more progressive passes (13 vs five) per 90, suggesting that Soler has the edge on the Belgian across a wide range of performance metrics.

It is no wonder then that former Valencia star Curro Torres, who coached Soler during his time in the youth academy, praised him back in 2021, saying: “He is the complete midfielder and can act as a 6, 8 or 10; he has power, arrives in the box and can score.

“I know him and I know that he can still bring his game to the next level. He has taken on responsibility in the team too.”

These attributes could be a huge bonus for Emery as he aims to strengthen his side and with Tielemans not quite making an immediate impact following his summer arrival, Soler could see the potential to secure a regular spot in a team who are on the rise.

It would signal yet another statement of intent by the former Arsenal boss if he was able to lure the PSG midfielder to the Midlands, especially given his performances on the continent since making his debut for Valencia during the 2016/17 season.

If Emery wants constant improvement at Villa, he needs to continue his fine record in the transfer market and secure players who are heading to the peak of their powers.

Diaby and Torres fit that bill having joined during the summer and there is no doubt Soler is about to enter his prime years as a footballer, becoming an upgrade on Tielemans in the process, due to the aforementioned statistics.

Arsenal ceded ground in the Premier League after drawing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, though Mikel Arteta will be elated by his side's comeback from two goals down.

Despite toiling for much of the first half, the Gunners flaunted their title-winning credentials with a sensational late fightback, and at this stage of the campaign, Arteta will indeed be far more impressed with the mentality than the squandering of the joint-top spot.

However, the tense affair was littered with several subpar displays, and there will undoubtedly be some post-match discussions regarding the poor performances, with Oleksandr Zinchenko at the epicentre.

How did Oleksandr Zinchenko play against Chelsea?

The Ukrainian dynamo has been an important figure at the Emirates Stadium since signing from Manchester City in a £32m deal in 2022, though against the Blues, he had an evening to forget.

Hooked at half-time, the 26-year-old's technical qualities had been completely negated by the electric pace of Raheem Sterling, with BBC Sports' Raj Chohan remarking at the England international's "immense" dribbling.

According to Sofascore, Zinchenko produced the worst match rating of the night (6.2) and picked up a yellow card for his travails, recorded to have been dribbled past and committed an error leading to a shot.

Having only won one ground duel too, it truly was an awkward and forgettable affair on an individual level, having also taken 33 touches but failed to demonstrate his passing skills with anything of note.

While the 57-cap international was the notable struggler, captain Martin Odegaard, so often the spark of ingenuity and inspiration in decisive matches, was a shadow of his former self, subdued in the middle of the pitch.

How did Martin Odegaard perform vs Chelsea?

Declan Rice stole the show once again with his talismanic role in orchestrating the comeback having fallen two goals down after the break, but Odegaard really did endure a tough night.

As per FBref, the Norwegian phenom ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, but he failed to live up to such superlative metrics in a heated London derby.

The £240k-per-week machine only took 35 touches during his 78 minutes on the pitch despite Arsenal controlling the lion's share of possession; comparatively, Enzo Fernandez took 73 in the opposite squad.

Odegaard also lost the ball on ten occasions, highlighting just how wasteful he was in possession.

And while the former Real Madrid prospect made two key passes, he couldn't muster a shot nor succeed with his one attempted dribble, also winning just one duel on the night despite his central placement, leading journalist Sam Dean to remark how "off it" he was.

In his post-match ratings, football.london's Kaya Kaynak was displeased with the captain's contribution, writing: 'A bad day at the office for the Norwegian who struggled to ever really got on the ball. On the rare occasions that he did there was a distinct lack of quality.'

The 5 foot 10 Odegaard has been absolutely integral to the Gunners' ascendancy over the past several years, proving to be the squad's creative fulcrum and inspiring leader since receiving the captaincy in July 2022.

But there's no denying that he was off the boil in west London, and Arteta will look to swiftly stamp out any tincture of poor form to serve the squad in the fight for the gleaming Premier League trophy.

West Ham United are in the race to sign a new striker in January, but a report has revealed that they aren’t the only club hoping to bring him to the Premier League.

West Ham transfer news

The Irons appear keen to bolster their options in the backline having already been linked with moves for two defenders in the form of Perth Glory’s James Overy and Club America’s Sebastian Caceres, but the centre of the park is another area that they are looking to strengthen.

David Moyes has set his sights on Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay in that defensive midfield role, though with centre-forward reportedly having been made the priority area heading into the upcoming window, the boss is ready to do battle to secure one of his top targets.

Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez has established himself as Arne Slot’s best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Feyenoord statistics), and his impressive form has caught the eye of chiefs, but not for the first time at the London Stadium.

The Irons held preliminary talks for the 22-year-old over the summer both with his club and his representatives having been recommended to the hierarchy by technical director Tim Steidten, but having instead chosen to extend his contract, a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline.

West Ham plotting move for Santiago Gimenez

According to The Mirror, however, Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez is of interest to West Ham who are considering taking a second bite of the cherry for their summer target.

“West Ham are among a long list of clubs chasing highly-rated Feyenoord frontman Santiago Gimenez. West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all watched the 22-year-old in action during months gone by and Feyenoord are braced for winter approaches.

"Now Gimenez's value has sky-rocketed upwards of £40million although Feyenoord have no interest in selling their most-valuable asset, particularly halfway through the current campaign, in January.

"Although Gimenez is not the only target of interest – he is believed to be a popular pick among the Hammers' transfer committee despite widespread competition from across Europe.”

Since putting pen to paper at Feyenoord from Cruz Azul last summer, Gimenez has posted a remarkable 44 contributions, 38 goals and six assists, in 57 appearances (Transfermarkt – Gimenez statistics), with this prolific form having seen him described as a “Mexican Machine” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Slot’s left-footed star has also recorded a total of 38 shots so far this season which is more than any other of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Feyenoord statistics), highlighting his desire to create chances and hit the back of the net. Additionally, Gimenez knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level having secured six trophies for both club and country since the start of his career, so he could bring a real winning mentality to the squad at West Ham.

Leicester City supporters have been through all levels of emotions in recent years, from the highs of winning the Premier League title in 2016 to the lows of being relegated to the Championship in 2023.

The Foxes defied all odds in that 2015/16 campaign and were written off from the get-go having survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in the season prior.

Despite being tipped for the drop, the industrious and energetic performances of midfield duo N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater as well as the formidable attacking partnership of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy dragged Leicester to England's top prize.

Throughout that campaign, that unplayable attacking pairing were involved in a whopping 59 of Leicester's 68 Premier League goals, etching their name into Foxes folklore in the process.

While Vardy is still plying his trade in the Championship at the age of 36, Mahrez has achieved world domination since departing the East Midlands.

How much did Leicester City sign Riyad Mahrez for

In January 2014, Leicester captured a 22-year-old Riyad Mahrez for around £400k from Ligue 2 side Le Havre, a fee which turned out to be one of, if not, the biggest bargains in the club's history, aside from Vardy's £1m move from Fleetwood Town in 2012.

A skilful right winger, who possessed incredible attacking attributes, including his precise ball control, ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas and his wand of a left foot – all combined together to produce countless match-winning moments.

In his first 18 months at the club, he helped Leicester win the Championship title in 2014 and then consolidate in the Premier League in 2015, but in 43 appearances across those campaigns, he only managed to post seven goals and eight assists.

While he showed glimpses of his world-beating class during the early stages, the true potential of his talents were showcased in the following campaign as Leicester scooped the Premier League and the Algerian startled defences with his fleet-footed dribbling and ruthless finishing.

As previously mentioned, his indispensable partnership and telepathic understanding with Vardy was instrumental in their success and Mahrez had the season of his life, plundering 17 goals and supplying ten assists in the top flight.

Those tremendous returns saw him get shortlisted for the 2016 Ballon d'Or alongside world-class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

In the 2016/17 season, Mahrez tailed off in the top flight, only recording six goals and four assists, but did play a vital role in Leicester's run to the Champions League quarter-finals with six contributions in nine appearances.

The 5 foot 10 whiz used the allure of Champions League football as fuel to earn a move to an elite European club and on the back of his 12 goals and 11 assists in 2017/18, Manchester City came calling.

How much did Leicester sell Riyad Mahrez for

Man City smashed their transfer record at the time to capture Mahrez for £60m from Leicester and the rest is history.

Across his five-year spell at the Etihad, which came to an end in the summer as he completed £30m move to Al-Ahli, the 83-cap Algerian was instrumental to City's trophy-laden period, winning the Premier League title in all but one of his seasons at the club.

Dubbed by Pep Guardiola as "exceptional", Mahrez had to contend with a whole host of star-studded competition in Manchester, battling it out with Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva among others for a spot on the right flank.

Despite falling victim to the Spaniard's rotation policy, he was still adored by his former teammates and centre-back Aymeric Laporte was one of many who showered him with praise, labelling him as "unbelievable" for his performances in a City shirt.

He may have bid farewell to Manchester this year, but he capped his time at the club in the best way possible by playing a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign, scoring three times in the Champions League, five times in the FA Cup – including a hat-trick in the semi-final against Sheffield United – and posting 15 goal contributions in the Premier League.

15 goals / 13 assists

24 goals / 9 assists

14 goals / 9 assists

13 goals / 16 assists

12 goals / 12 assists

In 236 appearances for the Citizens, he plundered 78 goals and supplied 59 assists – not bad for someone who was originally discovered by Leicester in the French second division and cost them a measly £400k.

Now currently ripping it up for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli with four goals and six assists in 11 matches, Mahrez will always be remembered by the Foxes faithful for dragging them to an unthinkable title win, yet what could have been had he remained at the King Power instead…