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Newcastle United are considering a loan move for Manchester City star Kalvin Phillips in January, and a fresh report has revealed his stance on a switch to St. James' Park.

How much is Kalvin Phillips paid a week?

At Man City, Phillips currently pockets £150k-per-week, which he isn’t really earning – since making his big-money move last summer from Leeds United, he’s failed to make any kind of positive impression on Pep Guardiola.

In the Premier League last season, the defensive midfielder was handed just two starts, showing how low down in the pecking order he is, so even though his contract isn’t set to expire for another five years, he’ll know that the only way he’ll receive more regular game time is by sealing a move elsewhere.

The Irish Independent reported in July that the Magpies were plotting loan moves for both the 27-year-old and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, though it was claimed by the same outlet that the former is the one that chiefs were most keeping a close eye on.

Football Transfers later backed this up by revealing that Eddie Howe is a "big, big fan" of the England international, and despite a deal failing to materialise before the deadline on September 1st, it sounds like the boss could be tempted to take a second bite of the cherry in the new year.

Are Newcastle signing Kalvin Phillips?

According to INews, Phillips is facing an "increasingly uncertain" future at Man City, but despite attracting interest from Newcastle and Premier League rivals Everton over the summer, he had a "determination" to stay and fight for his place under Guardiola.

Gareth Southgate still named him as part of his squad for England's upcoming fixtures against Ukraine and Scotland, but if he continues to be out of the picture upon his return to club action, he is "likely to push for a loan" in January.

The Three Lions star will have "no shortage of takers", especially from the northeast, so this could be one to watch over the next few months.

How much has Kalvin Phillips played for Man City?

Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, Phillips has only made 22 appearances for Man City, but having been dubbed a “Rolls Royce” by members of the media, he has so much to offer, so the minutes he’s getting under his belt could hugely increase should he join Newcastle.

The Leeds-born talent recorded a 92.6% pass success rate last season which was higher than any of Howe’s players achieved, highlighting his calmness and composure on the ball, but he’s also capable of getting involved in the final third having posted 28 contributions (14 goals and the same number of assists) since the start of his career.

Phillips, who has secured two wins when facing off against the Magpies, also shares the same agent, CAA Stellar, as Nick Pope, Javier Manquillo and Elliot Anderson, so this existing connection that his representative has to the club could give them a small advantage should they decide to pursue a deal in January.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has reportedly fended off competition from several Premier League sides and is closing in on bringing a teen starlet to Turf Moor.

What's the latest news involving Burnley?

The Clarets sit bottom of the Premier League table without a single point to their name from their opening three fixtures and have conceded eleven goals so far, which is the most shipped by any side in the English top flight so far.

Cited by The Burnley Express, Kompany holds belief that solutions can be found to the Clarets' problems within the heart of their backline, as he stated in an interview: “It is solvable, there are solutions and habits we have in our game that we just need to recover to prevent these moments from happening. But we’re playing against good sides and those players don’t need many chances to score. The biggest things for me when you review a game are: are things fixable? In one of the first games there’s a goal from Haaland, is it fixable? Maybe not that one. But there are other things, is it coachable and is it fixable?"

In other news, Burnley's previously postponed fixture against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in August has now been rescheduled and will be played on Tuesday 3rd October, sandwiched between encounters against Newcastle United and Chelsea.

According to The Athletic, Burnley made checks on AS Monaco winger Krepin Diatta and were believed to be keen to bring the 24-year-old to Turf Moor. Diatta has hit eight goals and registered six assists during his time at the Ligue 1 side, as per Transfermarkt; nevertheless, nothing materialised and he will now remain at his current employers.

Who could Burnley sign despite the transfer window being closed?

According to TEAMtalk, Burnley have broken through to strike a deal with Scottish Premiership side St Mirren to sign talented young centre-back Murray Campbell, who is seen as a 'potential star in the making' at Turf Moor, subject to international clearance.

Interest in Campbell has been high-profile over recent times and it is believed that Burnley have stolen a march on the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace to bring the 17-year-old to England.

Born in 2006, Campbell has been capped five times at Scotland Under-18 level and has also been courted by Sky Bet Championship side Leicester City in the past, as per The Daily Record.

What now for Burnley?

As per Nettavisen via Sport Witness, new summer signing Sander Berge has spoke glowingly about what it has been like for him to work under former Anderlecht boss Kompany in an interview while on international duty, stating: “It is an extreme change in everyday life. It is highly detailed and bordering on advanced as a footballer. You open your eyes in a completely new way.”

He then added: “Here you seek perfection in the game and work on every little detail. It is an advantage to work under a coach who has been captain under Pep and seen football that way.”

Cited by Hull Live meanwhile, Burnley ace Scott Twine, who is out on loan at Hull City for the remainder of the campaign, has issued a coy response to questions over where his long-term future lies and has signalled that his only focus, for now, is helping the Tigers to challenge for promotion.

The 24-year-old was given occasional opportunities to make an impact at Turf Moor last term and notched three goals and one assist in 18 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

It will be interesting to see if there is more turnover in the midfield come the January transfer window, but for now fans can at least get excited about a promising addition to the defensive ranks.

Half-centuries from Jeet Raval and Colin de Grandhomme put New Zealand in a comfortable position at 286 for 7, but West Indies broke through to the tail late in the day to boost their chances

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Dec-2017A measured 84 from Jeet Raval, and a Colin de Grandhomme blitz bookended New Zealand’s day, but it was West Indies’ quicks who made the best of it, starting off slowly, then working themselves into a fine rhythm by stumps. The hosts are still nicely placed, at 286 for 7, with the pitch expected to get quicker on days two and three. However, in breaking through to the tail with the second new ball, West Indies have given themselves a chance in this match – which is more than what could have been said at a similar stage of the game in Wellington.It was Shannon Gabriel who, having leaked boundaries with the first new ball, inflicted important blows with the second, dismissing de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner after the pair had put on 76 for the sixth wicket.AFPHe had also claimed the wicket of Raval during West Indies’ resurgent period in the middle of the day. New Zealand had had 154 runs for the loss of just one wicket, before Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins and Raymon Reifer combined to claim four wickets either side of the tea break. Where Gabriel bowled both good spells and poor ones through the course of the day, Cummins, Roach and debutant left-armer Reifer were much more consistent, delivering tight lines and muzzling New Zealand’s batsmen when they threatened to attack. Between the three of them, they claimed four wickets and conceded only 118 runs from 53 combined overs.That West Indies ended in a creditable position is testament to the attack’s fortitude, for their day had not begun well. Gabriel was driven for two boundaries by Raval in the first over, and had been guilty of pitching too full -perhaps in search of swing or seam movement, which did not eventuate. Raval was assured through that first session, pulling with authority and rotating the strike with ease, as he had Tom Latham built an opening partnership of 65. The scoring did slow down soon after lunch, however. Kane Williamson, who replaced Latham at the crease after the opener had gloved a pull shot off Cummins, was left scoreless for the first 17 balls he faced in the second session, 12 of which were delivered by Reifer. That period of tight bowling from West Indies helped produce the wickets that came later in the session – Williamson caught behind down the leg side off Cummins, before Gabriel drew an outside edge from Raval with a length ball that seamed across the batsman.When, soon after tea, Roach and Reifer also struck in quick succession to remove Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls, New Zealand had lost four wickets for 45 runs, and were reduced to 189 for 5.It was at this stage that de Grandhomme reclaimed some ground for his side. Having taken 11 balls to make his first run, and having perhaps been dropped by the wicketkeeper off the offspin of Roston Chase for 8, de Grandhomme walloped 42 runs – including three sixes and a four off Chase – off 25 balls, to register a half-century. He used Seddon Park’s small boundaries to his advantage, as even some good deliveries were muscled to the fence. He had threatened to reassert New Zealand’s control over the match when West Indies took the second new ball, and Gabriel struck immediately. Mitchell Santner lost his off stump to a ball that pitched on leg and nipped slightly back, beating his booming drive. De Grandhomme was himself dismissed in similar fashion, though for him the ball seamed in the other direction.Tom Blundell, New Zealand’s debutant centurion from the last match, remained not out alongside Neil Wagner at stumps.Though West Indies will be pleased with the manner in which they closed out the day, there will be some consternation about their over rate. They were three overs short of the target of 90, even though the extra half-hour was used. That regular captain Jason Holder is suspended for this match is of course down to West Indies having been too slow to complete their overs in the first Test. This time, it is stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite who is at risk of being penalised.

Australian legend Matthew Hayden called England “no-hopers” and insisted he didn’t know who James Vince was. You learn something new every day

George Dobell in Brisbane23-Nov-2017The desire to prove his doubters wrong helped inspire James Vince on the first day of the Ashes.Vince, recalled to bat at No. 3 despite a modest season in county cricket, stroked an elegant 83 to ensure England gained a foothold in the first Test. And while he missed out on a maiden Test century, Vince hoped he had earned some respect from those who dismissed him ahead of the series.Matthew Hayden, in particular, should have sat up and taken notice, according to Vince. Hayden, the former Australia batsman, dismissed England as “no hopers” and “a rabble” ahead of the series and insisted he didn’t know who half the team – including Vince – were.It was a remarkable comment bearing in mind that Vince has played seven Tests previously – enough, you would think, for a cricket pundit to have taken notice before passing judgement – and it clearly irritated the England camp.Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder who is currently in England awaiting the outcome of a police investigation, had already called into question Hayden’s quality as a pundit as a result of the comments, while Vince has now revealed he was inspired by such doubters.”If he didn’t know who we were before the game, he probably does now,” Vince said of Hayden after sharing a stand of 125 with fellow “unknown” Mark Stoneman. It was more than England managed in any stand during the Ashes series of 2013-14.”Reading comments like that gives you the motivation to go out there and make a statement,” he said.”A few comments I’ve read said that I’m not ready for Test cricket, so hopefully I’ve proved a few people wrong. It all gives you more inspiration to prove people wrong.”While Vince admitted he was disappointed to miss out on a century – he was run-out by Nathan Lyon after attempting an unwise single – he was able to appreciate it was a good start on his return to Test cricket.”No matter what score you get you always want more,” he said. “It would have been nice to be there at the end of the day, but stuff like that happens in cricket.”It’s great to get off to a good start. If I could have my first go at Test cricket again, I would, but that’s in the past now. I’ve been focused on capitalising on this opportunity and nailing a place in the team. I felt reasonably calm considering the occasion. I tried to enjoy it and maintain focus. I didn’t want them to get on top of me and I thought I got the balance just about right.”I’m sure lying in bed I’ll have a few thoughts about missing out on a century, but if you’d offered me 80-odd before play, I’d have taken it. And we had spoken about getting overs in the bowlers’ legs – what with them only having three seamers – and if we can get through the new ball in the morning, we can built to 300, 350 even 400. The first hour in the morning will dictate how things go.”It was a disappointing way to go. It was a great piece of fielding, but in retrospect I wouldn’t take the run.”Vince defended England’s scoring rate – they scored at 2.43 runs per over – by explaining the pitch was slow and Australia bowled well throughout the day.”The lack of pace made scoring hard,” he said. “Conditions weren’t what we expected – there wasn’t much pace in the wicket, though the ball came on a bit better as the day wore on – and they bowled pretty well.”They would have wanted some more pace in the pitch. But they kept coming all day and the lack of pace made it hard to score runs when they hit their areas. We’ll see how they respond in the morning after all those overs in their legs today.”

Last summer, Stefan Bajcetic made a glorious breakthrough in Jurgen Klopp’s squad ahead of a stirring first season with the Liverpool first-team.

The youngster was only 17-years-old at the time and would go on to make 19 appearances in all competitions.

During this time, Bajcetic would score his first goal for the senior side in a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

Aged just 18 years and 65 days, this meant he was the third-youngest player to score for Liverpool in the Premier League after Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling. He is also the second-youngest Spaniard to score in the English top flight, only behind Cesc Fabregas.

There will be many other Liverpool academy graduates hoping to emulate Bajcetic’s impressive journey to the first team, especially with the club's homegrown player dilemma in the Premier League.

This year in pre-season, the next sparkling prodigy on course for a breakout year is Ben Doak.

Who is Ben Doak?

The Scotsman signed for Liverpool in March 2022 and his debut for the club in November of that year, coming on as a substitute in an eventual penalty shoot-out victory over Derby County at Anfield.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Later that month, Doak signed his first professional contract for the Merseyside outfit and made his league debut in December and became the youngest Scottish player to appear in the Premier League.

Across 27 appearances for the club’s youth sides, the 17-year-old has registered 19 goal contributions. More recently, Doak netted his first senior goal for Liverpool in a friendly against Leicester City.

How good is Ben Doak?

Evan Fairns, Doak’s former coach at Celtic, has eulogised his limitless potential, saying:

“He was like a wee rocket. His ability was quite raw but he had this physical presence, that is how he could compete and play up front. He was fearless on the park.

“In training, he was just a sponge. He was very quiet and would always listen. He would turn up to training and even though he was the youngest, there was no carry-on from him — he was there to train and to learn. He was a delight to coach.”

Doak’s esteemed reputation means is well-positioned to replicate what Bajcetic has achieved in red.

The young midfielder spent seven years with the Celta Vigo academy, where youth football co-ordinator Alex Otero raved over his accomplished quality, saying:

“He has amazing physical characteristics. He is extremely quick, makes good recoveries, has a great spring, is really impressive in the air and carries the ball cleanly out of defence.

“It was clear he was a standout player in his age group. He can really play and help construct attacks but he is also noticeable for his comfort with his left and right foot and the ability to play on the right or left of the centre-backs. That is quite rare.”

He has evolved into a box-to-box midfield enforcer, whose nimble frame, mixed with stunning athleticism and cultured technique meant he has emphatically impressed the Anfield faithful.

Last campaign, long-term injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota halted Liverpool’s progress, but the eye-catching rise of Doak can provide Klopp with a new dynamic in attack, especially considering how quickly his Spanish academy teammate has hit the ground running amongst the German's first-team plans.

There may be more competition for places out wide in the Reds' senior side but Doak, given the evidence above, could be the next Melwood talent to make a name for himself at Anfield.

Cricket Australia has recovered 2890 scalped tickets for this summer’s Perth Ashes Test and will put them back on sale through official channels next Monday. CA said the tickets had been offered on eBay at inflated values.”Our team is working extremely hard to identify and stop tickets being re-sold at an inflated value across our venues,” Anthony Everard, CA’s executive general manager, events and leagues, said.”We know that tickets are in high demand for this series and this is a very clear message to those who try to take advantage of the system and scalp tickets at inflated prices, that we will identify and cancel tickets, in accordance with our terms and conditions.”Our message to all fans is to not support this practice. Whilst we understand this leads to disappointment with some days of our Tests sold out, you should only purchase from official ticket agencies to ensure you only pay the official prices, and not risk your ticket being cancelled at the gate.”Fans who purchase tickets from unauthorised resellers (such as Viagogo, Ticketmaster Resale, Gumtree, eBay etc.) risk paying too much, receiving invalid tickets or no tickets at all. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist fans or verify any tickets purchased through resellers.”

Everton could be set to bolster their attack in one fell swoop, finally handing Sean Dyche the perfect offensive platform to secure safety with ease.

Is Arnaut Danjuma joining on loan?

The first of which is all but confirmed, as Arnaut Danjuma reportedly completed his medical to join the club just yesterday. Given his dramatic change of heart in January, fans will likely be cautious about getting excited until he is properly announced. The deal will be a straight loan move for the full campaign.

However, some alternative fresh news comes courtesy of Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, who took to Twitter to detail the future of Watford whiz Ismaila Sarr.

Whilst Olympique de Marseille have already sent the first bid, it is noted further down in his Tweet that there is also: "Interest from Everton".

The Senegalese speedster is expected to cost just €20m (£17m) this summer, after years of speculation regarding a potential exit from Vicarage Road.

How many goals has Ismaila Sarr scored?

The long-running interest in the 25-year-old is well-founded, given how the dynamic forward has starred in both the Premier League and the Championship. His acquisition alongside Danjuma would add something which the Toffees have been desperately lacking for some time now: serious pace.

After all, journalist Rob Blanchette had detailed the various reasons why even Manchester United should have considered making a move back in 2020, writing:

"Why do I like Watford’s Ismaila Sarr? He fits Ole's #MUFC build. He's young, hungry and electric. When you watch him, you feel there's a top-class player in him."

Such fiendish speed paired with technical precision makes him a true threat for every full-back he comes across, with last season only serving to emphasise that once again.

A tally of ten goals and six assists from all across the front line showcases his versatility, suggesting that even if Dominic Calvert-Lewin was to endure another injury-hit term, the natural winger would be able to deputise well.

These figures come following his debut year in England, in which he notched 11 goal contributions in the top flight despite falling to relegation. In the season following he would then record 23 goal contributions in the Championship alone.

There are few wide men who have boasted such consistently impressive goalscoring figures despite his side often struggling, with his total career goals having now reached 57.

Whilst Dyche will hope that Danjuma can post these kinds of figures in his quest to bolster a relegation-threatened squad, the last term has been tough for the Dutchman, who has seen his chances dwindle. Just ten LaLiga appearances led to his expulsion to Tottenham Hotspur, where he would only start once in the Premier League before returning to Spain.

However, during the 2021/22 season he would thrive for Villarreal, playing a key role in their remarkable Champions League run which culminated in a semi-final exit to Liverpool.

Posting 16 goals and four assists across all competitions, pundit Kevin Phillips even branded him a "nightmare for defenders" at the time. However, he earned that success whilst supplemented by additional attacking firepower. Samuel Chukwueze and Jeremy Pino offered that extra threat to take the shine off the 26-year-old, allowing him space to thrive.

Perhaps placing Sarr and Danjuma in the same side could actually help them both explode, surpassing their current peaks due to the headache their respective presence would cause for defenders. Whoever they choose to double up on would only free up the space for their counterpart to instead wreak havoc.

As such, this move could be the one that returns the former AFC Bournemouth star to his best and one that helps propel Everton to safety.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the main contenders to sign Borussia Monchenglacbach defender Ko Itakura, who is open to leaving the German club this summer, according to a report from Sky Sports.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham's next priority target is a centre-back, having held discussions over both Micky van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba, with talks over personal terms with the former's camp now at an advanced stage.

While Spurs have progressed in talks with the Wolfsburg defender, the same report claims that Tapsoba is seen as the more ready-made addition to Ange Postecoglou's defence, due to his ability on the ball, strength and acceleration.

That said, the Burkina Faso international's value is much higher than Van De Ven's, with the aforementioned report detailing that Bayer Leverkusen could look to hold out for a fee of around £50m this summer.

Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo may be a more affordable option for the Lilywhites, with journalist Fabrice Hawkins previously claiming the Cottagers may sanction his departure for as little as €10m (£8.6m).

Sky Sports report that Itakura is now emerging as a target for Tottenham, however, there may be competition for his signature from Serie A champions Napoli, who are also named as one of the main contenders.

The centre-back is threatening to leave Monchengladbach this summer, despite only joining the club in the summer of 2022, with reporter Florian Plettenberg adding:

"Itakura is open to a change. I hear that very clearly."

The Japan international is a player that Postecoglou knows well from the time he spent at Yokohama F Marinos, having also attempted to sign him for Celtic in the summer of 2021.

Who is Ko Itakura?

The 26-year-old made his first-team breakthrough with Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, before eventually completing a £1m move to Manchester City, however, he failed to make a single appearance for Pep Guardiola's side.

Instead, the Yokohama-born defender spent time out on loan at Schalke, subsequently joining Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee of around £4.5m last summer, despite interest from the likes of Bournemouth and Fulham.

Having made it clear he would consider leaving, the former Man City man may finally get his chance to play in the Premier League, with Tottenham very much in the mix for his signature, and he could be a solid acquisition for Postecoglou.

Former Monchengladbach manager Daniel Farke praised the £25k-per-week defender last season, saying:

"Ko Itakura is another important player for us. He is a top character and has become a leading figure, despite only being here a short time. He has been outstanding so far and long may it continue."

Last season, the Monchengladbach ace averaged a 7.01 SofaScore match rating in the Bundesliga, the fourth-highest figure in the squad, and he ranks in the 95th percentile for blocks completed per 90 over the past year.

Itakura is also a versatile player, who is capable of playing in defensive midfield, indicating he could potentially slot in for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who faces an uncertain future in north London, and by the looks of things, a move for Itakura is one to watch.

Nottinghamshire took less than an hour to complete a ten wicket victory over Leicestershire on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground

ECB Reporters Network09-Apr-2017
ScorecardJames Pattinson completed a fine allround match•Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesNottinghamshire took less than an hour to complete a ten wicket victory over Leicestershire on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground.Resuming on 51-6, still needing another 27 runs to make the visitors back again, Leicestershire’s remaining batsmen could not cope with the pace of James Pattinson.Night-watchman Gavin Griffiths was first to go, edging Pattinson to third slip, where Greg Smith took a fine diving two-handed catch diving to his right.Zak Chappell was caught behind off the inside edge, and Leicestershire captain Mark Cosgrove mis-pulled Luke Fletcher to Michael Lumb at midwicket. Pattinson then ripped out Clint McKay’s off-stump, giving the Victorian figures of 5-29 for the innings, to go with 3-55 in Leicestershire’s first innings.Pattinson also hit a first-class career best 89 not out, completing an outstanding debut for Nottinghamshire, whose win was their first in the county championship since beating Surrey in the first game of the 2016 season.The defeat completes a deflating few days for Leicestershire, who were deducted 16 points on the eve of the season following an incident in their match against Loughborough MCCU.Leicestershire head coach Pierre de Bruyn: “I feel we came across a very good side. We prepared accordingly and on the first day managed to get ourselves out of trouble and then put them under pressure with the ball on day two.”But we are better than this and I will continue to back these guys to bounce back. Facing the likes of James Pattinson and Stuart Broad, world-class bowlers, sets a benchmark. But we know we weren’t good enough.”It’s the first game and I need to back these players. Our noses are out of joint, but we’re not going to panic over selection. Every player is in the mix.”It’s been a very tough few days with the 16 point deduction on the eve of the match and then this result. But this dressing room has character, we’ll have a good week of preparation and we will fight back.”

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, as Monchi eyes his first transfer window masterclass during his first window in charge.

The Spaniard alongside former colleague Unai Emery will fuse together to ensure the Villans are in good stead ahead of next season, as the Midlands club prepare to endeavour on their first European journey since 2010.

Laporte has been on Villa’s radar since earlier this month, when 90min revealed the club’s interest in the central defender.

An update provided by Football Insider this week cemented the Claret and Blues’ desire to sign the 29-year-old, claiming that the club had ‘set sights’ on the Manchester City star and were ‘considering a move’.

The report adds that the Spaniard ‘ticks a lot of boxes’ wanted by Emery, with the four-time Europa League-winning manager hoping to sign a left-sided centre-back this summer.

Valued at £60m by the treble winners, as per the Mirror, the defender could be Villa’s record-breaking signing this summer, however, he’s not the only centre-back linked to Villa Park.

Indeed, Pau Torres looks as though he's also on his way to the Midlands, with reports emerging on Thursday that an agreement is in place to land the player from Villarreal.

The links to the two centre-backs is exciting news for the Villans, who could see a complete shift in defence with two experienced upgrades potentially incoming.

What could Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres offer Vila?

While Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings have been a revelation at the back for Emery, the Spaniard could present Villa Park with two world-class signings in a rebuild of the defence this summer.

Hailed as the “best left central defender in the world” by treble-winning manager Pep Guardiola, the City star could be just what Emery requires to take Villa forward.

Despite falling down the pecking order at the Etihad, Laporte possesses quality that could see him dominate in most defences in Europe, seeing him lauded a “beast” by journalist Muhammad Butt.

The 29-year-old won an average of 60% of his total duels in the Premier League last season, cementing himself as a competent defender before anything else, however, his attributes go way beyond his defensive capabilities.

Similarly to Torres, Laporte flexes a powerful progressive ability, acting as a defender that can transition the ball upfield competently, in skills honed by the genius of Guardiola.

When comparing the two Villa targets based on their respective seasons and minutes via FBref, it makes for fascinating reading for those associated with the Midlands club, who could see a complete revamp of the defence as they know it.

While Torres’ 4.30 clearances and 1.74 aerials won along with Laporte’s 2.72 clearances and 2.18 aerials won per 90 communicate their defensive knowhow, their competency on the ball highlights just how much they could add to Villa Park.

As per FBref, the Villarreal gem averaged a monstrous 5.81 progressive passes and 2.24 progressive carries per 90 in La Liga this season, closely followed by the City ace who scored an average of 7.70 progressive passes and 2.72 progressive carries per 90.

By introducing two experienced players in quality and efficiency, Emery could equip his side with strength that could bolster all areas of the field, with two players boasting the ability to move the ball and dictate play from the back. This is surely a mouthwatering prospect for everyone associated with the club.