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Bereft of confidence, R Ashwin continues to be used sparingly by MS Dhoni as Saturday’s loss marked the tenth time in his last 19 T20s that the offspinner didn’t bowl his full quota

Nikhil Kalro in Bangalore08-May-2016R Ashwin finished 2015 as the No. 1 ranked Test bowler and the top-ranked Test allrounder. His carrom ball, among other variations, befuddled the best. Many considered him the best spinner in the world and his numbers backed their claim. In February 2016, his 4 for 8 against Sri Lanka became the best bowling figures for India in T20s. Ashwin was indispensable – to state and country.Why then has Ashwin taken just 11 wickets in 19 games since? He has bowled 59 overs in his last 19 T20s and has completed his four-over quota on just nine occasions. Should one of the world’s best spinners have been used more? A common denominator in Ashwin’s previous 19 games has been MS Dhoni, his captain for India and Rising Pune Supergiants.A reluctance to use an offspinner with two right-handers at the crease seems the most plausible reason. Ashwin was not brought on till the 17th over in Supergiants’ seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers. Left-handed Travis Head came out to bat in the 16th. He bowled the solitary over and conceded seven – the second time this season. Before this, with 89 required off seven overs, the game had been blown open in overs 14 and 15, where 39 runs were plundered off Thisara Perera and Rajat Bhatia.”I’m guessing it’s because two right-handers mostly in the whole time, spinning in. He got the opportunity with the left-hander in, but they didn’t have too many left-handers. Limited opportunity for him,” legspinner Adam Zampa said of Ashwin’s under-utilisation after Supergiants’ loss to Royal Challengers.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ashwin returned figures of 1 for 14 from four overs – his most economical returns since February. He was introduced in the 8th over with Sunrisers tottering at 29 for 3 – with Shikhar Dhawan and Naman Ojha at the crease – and bowled in a spell through the middle.A right-handed batting order is not atypical to Royal Challengers. Most teams – domestic and international – are dominated by right handers.However, Dhoni has used Ashwin even in the end-overs if a left-handed batsman is at the crease. Shouldn’t one of the world’s best bowlers, equipped with variations to straighten or take a ball away from a right hander, bowl without condition? Ashwin has been used extensively in T20 powerplays, but has bowled one over in that period this season.The boundary-hitting ability of batsmen has increased multi-fold over the past few years. Yet, there is a precedent of teams confronting an opposition’s best bowler with caution, irrespective of the type. Dhoni has primarily used M Ashwin and Bhatia through the middle period of a T20 innings. Would using India’s leading bowler during that stage, if not crunch moments, make more sense than not bowling him at all? In a team plagued by injuries and lacking potent end-overs specialists with the ball, R Ashwin has not been utilised to the extent that he could have.”It’s a subject, like revealing strategy. Ashwin is a mature bowler. He can bowl at any point of time,” Dhoni had said at a promotional event earlier this year. Why not, then, when Supergiants are defending 191 against one of the best batting line-ups in the tournament at a favourable chasing ground?Against Royal Challengers, Ashwin came out to bat at No. 8 and struck a five-ball 10 to help Supergiants to 191, but hasn’t batted at a position higher this season. If Ashwin, bereft of confidence, is continued to be used sparingly and to take the ball away from left-handers’ hitting arc, he may not have much to do this season.

Manchester City have yet to make a signing this summer as Pep Guardiola plots how he can get his team firing on all fronts in a bid to reclaim the Champions League trophy they won in 2023.

While winning a fourth successive Premier League crown – making history in the process – is a wonderful achievement, it is not enough to satiate the City faithful.

Could they be about to deliver another blow to Manchester United, but this time in the transfer market as opposed to on the pitch?

Manchester City eye up swoop for Barcelona star

According to reports in Spain (via Football365), Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong ‘wants to join’ Man City this summer.

It is no secret that Erik ten Hag is a keen admirer of the Dutchman, with reports from Spain (again via Football365) that the manager was lining up a swoop to bring both him and Matthijs de Ligt to Old Trafford during the transfer window in a bid to bolster his squad.

It looks as though City may now have the upper hand as they eye a swoop for the 5 foot 11 maestro, especially with Champions League football on offer at the Etihad, before the end of the window.

De Jong would be an excellent signing for the Premier League champions and could emerge as Guardiola’s own version of Arsenal star Declan Rice.

How Frenkie De Jong compares to Declan Rice

The current Arsenal sensation has gone from strength to strength since making the move from West Ham United to the Gunners last summer.

He finished last season with a 91% pass success rate while ranking first in their squad for tackles per game (2.2) and signing someone with similar sort of qualities could allow Guardiola to strengthen his midfield.

The Englishman is currently the tenth-most comparable player to the Barcelona gem via FBref and last season, they registered similar statistics with regard to shot-creating actions (3.3 vs 2.79), percentage of challenges won (42.1% vs 56.1%), successful take-on percentage (54.2% vs 45.7%) and aerial duel percentage (57.5% vs 47.6%), demonstrating how close they are across several attacking and defensive metrics for their respective clubs.

De Jong was hailed by his former manager at Barcelona, Xavi, in 2023, saying: “Frenkie de Jong is one of the best midfielders in the world right now.

“He’s at spectacular level, he’s playing at incredible level — he gives us a lot, I’m so happy with Frenkie.”

A year later, the 27-year-old currently ranks in the top 5% when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for pass success rate (91.9%), progressive passes (8.70), and progressive carries (3.24) per 90, showing exactly what he could bring to a City team who love controlling and dictating games under Guardiola.

Much will depend on the fee Barcelona expects to receive for one of their prized assets, especially considering he still has two years remaining on his current contract at the Catalan giants.

Should he really want to move to Manchester, then the manager must go all out and bring him to England this summer to land his own Rice in the middle of the park to play alongside the likes of Rodri, Kevin de Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign.

After a roller coaster of a season that saw Ange Postecoglou eventually secure Europa League football for Tottenham Hotspur, it's the recruitment team's turn to step up and deliver in the coming months.

Daniel Levy and Co have to bring in the right players to help the Australian guide the Lilywhites back closer to the top of the Premier League while simultaneously helping him flush out those not good enough to do so.

Luckily for the former Celtic boss, that may well happen as the latest player touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting youngster who could be the perfect upgrade to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from football.london, Tottenham Hotspur have a 'strong interest' in Leeds United star Archie Gray.

The report has revealed that, alongside several other Premier League sides, the Lilywhites have monitored the 18-year-old's progress for some time and view his positional flexibility as a massive plus.

The report does not mention a potential price, but considering his importance to the team and his £5k-per-week contract, which runs until June 2028, it could be a costly transfer to get over the line.

However, according to The Athletic, following their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League, the Peacocks now need to sell this summer, which could help Levy and Co swipe Gray for below his market value, which could be bad news for Højbjerg.

How Gray compares to Højbjerg

Now, if Gray does move to North London this summer, he'd most likely do so under the promise of game time in the centre of midfield, as while he played well at right-back last season, that was more through necessity than design.

For example, in his 89 appearances for the senior and junior sides since the start of the 2021/22 season, the Durham-born prospect has started 41 games in attacking, central, and defensive midfield and 30 on the right side of the defence.

Therefore, his arrival at Spurs would put him up against the club's current crop of central midfielders, including Højbjerg, so how do the pair compare? Well, despite being a decade his junior, the Englishman stacks up very well, coming out ahead in more metrics than not.

For example, while he produced a lower non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, fewer clearances, progressive passes, ball recoveries, and shot-creating actions, he provided more actual assists, completed more progressive carries while receiving more progressive passes, made and won more tackles, made considerably fewer errors, produced more goal-creating actions, and completed more successful take-ones, all per 90.

What's even more impressive is that most of his metrics came while he was playing fullback, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect his progressive passes to increase considerably when in a more central role.

Ultimately, given how impressive Gray looked last season and the fact that data analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a "future £100m cm," Levy and Co must do what they can to bring him to North London this summer.

He may still be a little raw, but the talent is undeniable at this point, and as he has already surpassed Højbjerg in a number of key underlying metrics, he might be the long-term future of the Lilywhites' midfield.

What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 9, 2024

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has warned the club that 17-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal will need help if he is to reach his full potential.

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• Yamal starring for Barcelona and Spain
• But Iniesta worried about teen's progress
• Says he will need help from other around him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yamal has played a starring role for club and country since bursting onto the scene and making his debut as a 15-year-old for Barcelona. The forward, who has earned comparisons with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, already has a European Championship title with Spain to his name and will be hoping for more trophies this season under Hansi Flick at Barcelona. Yamal has already been tipped to be "one of the best in the world" in the future by former Barcelona star Rivaldo, but Iniesta thinks that Barca's teen star will need help to reach the next level.

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  WHAT INIESTA SAID

  He told : "He is a player that makes a difference, he is special. He scores, he sets up goals, he draws the opponents' attention. He is a unique and special player because of his age and what he has already shown. What stands out is the ease with which he plays, as though he were playing in his home. That is striking. I think we need to accompany his development. We can't forget he is 17 and year after year, we need to be alongside him so that the very high level he has shown at 17, he keeps increasing it because that's the demand of being in the elite, of playing for Barca and the national team. It's a beautiful challenge."

  Iniesta also spoke about concerns over Yamal's heavy workload for club and country, adding: "It's normal that as a young player he can play almost all the games. Now there are many games, whether it's for club or country. Tournaments have been added, matches have increased and all of this, evidently, causes the wear and tear of the players."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal has already bagged five goals and six assists for Barcelona this season as well as landing La Liga's Player of the Month Award for September. Yet there have been scrutiny over his playing time for club and country, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta criticising Spain boss Luis de la Fuente for being "reckless" after seeing Yamal pick up a knock during the last international break. Yamal's sheer talent and the impact he is having currently makes it hard for managers to leave him out, but both Barcelona and Spain will need to be careful with his game time over the campaign to avoid losing the youngster to injury.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

  Yamal and Barcelona are facing a huge week at home and on the European front. First up is a clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, before Flick takes his side to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first Clasico of the new La Liga season.

Luis Castro hailed Cristiano Ronaldo's greatness and admitted to having a "clear conscience" despite failing to win a major trophy at Al-Nassr.

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• Al-Nassr fired Castro earlier in the summer
• Had a slow start to the Saudi Pro League campaign
• The manager opened up on Ronaldo

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite boasting a star-studded line-up featuring Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Aymeric Laporte, Castro’s side finished second in the 2023-24 league season, 14 points behind arch-rivals Al-Hilal. Jorge Jesus' men's dominance extended beyond the league, with Al-Nassr also suffering defeats in knockout competitions like the Saudi Super Cup and the King Cup of Champions against the same opposition.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Castro’s only silverware came in the form of the Arab Club Champions Cup, in which Al-Nassr triumphed over Al-Hilal with a 2–1 victory. However, after a rough start to the 2024 season, where the club was held to draws in two of its first three league matches, Al-Nassr decided to replace him with Stefano Pioli.

• WHAT CASTRO SAID

  Reflecting on his tenure, Castro noted the strength of Al-Hilal and compared the situation to the eternal rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

  "It feels like things would have been different without Al-Hilal, but that's life," he told Real Madrid often don't achieve their goals because Barcelona exist and vice versa. A team doesn't stop being great just because they don't win at a certain point.

  "Al-Hilal had Mitrovic, Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bono, Milinkovic-Savic… They also broke the Guinness record for consecutive wins. But I have a clear conscience: we gave everything we had and managed to improve the team."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  One constant bright spot during Castro’s time at Al-Nassr was his ability to unleash Ronaldo as the forward ended up plundering 44 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. The manager was impressed with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's exceptional work ethic and determination and said: "Cristiano was, is and will always be determined to be the best. You can see it every day in training. He has a constant desire to play, to break records, to score the most beautiful goals. When you're around him, you understand why he's such a phenomenon. He continues to be decisive in everything he does. He knows that football has given him almost everything and he has a great love for it."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will enter the summer transfer market with two things in mind: sign a midfielder, and sign a centre-forward.

His side might have fallen short in the Premier League title race for the second year running against Manchester City, but the Gunners spent large portions of the campaign looking like the finest team in all the land, and now it's time to not narrow the gap but leapfrog over England's dominant force.

With Thomas Partey set to leave, Edu and Co will scour the globe for a new star to perform alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but few would contest that landing a striker is the most pressing concern.

Arsenal flourished as one of the slickest and most successful attacking forces in Europe last season and the thought of a first-rate goalscorer added to the mix certainly sparks some measure of excitement.

It's well known that RB Leipzig talisman Benjamin Sesko is of a vested interest to Arsenal, but he's not the only one on the radar, with a Premier League star being lined up.

Arsenal eyeing Premier League forward

As per The Sunday Express, Arsenal are one of the clubs interested in signing Dominic Solanke amid The Athletic's revelation that the Bournemouth striker has a £65m release clause in his contract.

It is important to note that that clause is applicable to a select few clubs, though the Gunners' reported interest suggests that they are on that list.

There's some measure of doubt that arrives with an overseas signing, warranted or not, but Solanke has showcased his scoring skills in the Premier League and could prove to be a shrewd alternative to a player such as Sesko.

Dominic Solanke's season in numbers

Perhaps it's inapt to suggest that a £60m player would be a 'shrewd' alternative for any club, but Solanke represents a methodology that stretches somewhere outside the box, with Victor Osimhen, one of Europe's most coveted players, also on the radar.

But unlike Osimhen, and unlike Sesko, Solanke has fostered, honed and sharpened his skill set on English shores, weathering plenty of attrition and recently blooming into one of the Premier League's finest.

He might have experience at Chelsea and Liverpool but only on the periphery, in his fledgling years, and it was Bournemouth and the promise of a starring role that proved to be the making of a marksman once touted for big things.

Solanke wedged his way into the leading scorers list after posting only six goals from 33 matches the season before, as Bournemouth staved off the threat of relegation on their first season back after promotion.

The improvements have been remarkable, with the one-cap England international showing the consistent signs of a "top, multi-faceted forward" – said to be shaping up as such several years ago by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell.

Why Solanke would suit Arsenal

The £50k-per-week sharpshooter would offer Arsenal something different, something more solid and pointed in the final third. Arteta has nurtured a wealth of talent but first-rate stars such as Bukayo Saka need a striker such as Solanke to ensure that extra edge is found in the potential third successive fight against Pep Guardiola's City next year.

The above-mentioned deadliness is exactly what is needed for a player such as Saka, who scored 20 goals and added 14 assists in all competitions last term and has been described as one of the "best players in the Premier League" by retired Three Lions skipper Wayne Rooney.

As per FBref, Saka ranks among the top 17% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 21% for progressive carries, the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area and even the top 10% for tackles per 90.

He's the embodiment of multi-functional and would thrive with a focal point such as Solanke to channel his talents on a regular basis. Especially given the South Coast star is so similar to Sesko and Osimhen.

Indeed, according to FBref, Sesko is Solanke's most comparable player, with the 6 foot 2 Cherry a powerful and formidable forward with disguisable bursts of sharp speed.

Sesko, too, is an imposing physical specimen, framed at 6 foot 4, though he enjoys a more dynamic style of play to that of a traditional centre-forward and would be perfect to bounce off Saka, but then, if that's the case, surely Solanke could adopt such a role with seamless integration.

One of Arsenal's biggest strengths under Arteta is that they move forward in concert, en masse, and do so to frightening effect, with teams blitzed and riven in half by the storm-blazing fury of the Emirates machine. Solanke would only add to this, and open up a new dimension.

Arsenal will not want to miss out on Sesko, especially to a rival such as Chelsea or Manchester United, but it's inconceivable that Edu would place all his eggs in one basket.

The resounding rise of recent years bears testament to the Arsenal squad, and their performances on the pitch, but, perhaps more so, the unerring transfer hits that have fuelled the resurgence.

Arteta and Co will have done their homework, and while Sesko is the number one target, Solanke has all the skills to succeed as the final piece of the puzzle at Arsenal.

Arsenal can forget about Sesko by signing "incredible" £85m "powerhouse"

The prolific striker could be the perfect alternative for Mikel Arteta.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 7, 2024

Aaron Ramsdale was visibly emotional on his first return to the Emirates Stadium since leaving Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

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• Ramsdale returns to Emirates Stadium
• Warm reception from Arsenal fans
• Goalkeeper left emotional by welcome

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ramsdale was moved to tears by the warm welcome he received from Arsenal fans ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton. Even before reaching the pitch, the popular goalkeeper was being embraced by his former team-mates in the tunnel.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ramsdale played a huge role in Arsenal's resurgence under Mikel Arteta, named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2022-23. But Arteta had other ideas and he surprisingly lost his place to new signing David Raya before last season, paving the way for a £25 million ($32.8m) switch to Southampton.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ramsdale kept 14 Premier League clean sheets for Arsenal in 2022-23, two fewer than Raya's 16 in 2023-24.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RAMSDALE?

  Despite his lack of Arsenal game time, Ramsdale was selected by England for Euro 2024 but hasn't yet been called up by interim manager Lee Carsley. His form for Southampton will be crucial in regaining that England place, with the 2026 World Cup starting to loom on the horizon at the end of next season.

Glasgow Rangers recently confirmed that a number of current first-team players are due to leave on free transfers when their contracts expire this year.

The Light Blues announced that Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, and Borna Barisic will all be moving on from Ibrox before the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

This leaves Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement in need of reinforcements during the upcoming summer transfer window to fill the gaps within the squad.

However, the Gers could already have an exciting replacement for Roofe already in the squad in the form of Brazilian ace Danilo, whose debut year in Glasgow has been plagued by injury.

Kemar Roofe's Rangers season in numbers

The former Anderlecht ace, who ends his Rangers career with 38 goals in 102 matches, only managed two goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

He also missed 12 games through injury and his fitness issues were a reoccurring problem for him throughout his time at Ibrox, which made him an unreliable player for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the table above, Roofe consistently failed to remain available for a significant period of time across his four years in Glasgow.

His struggles in front of goal this term, with two strikes in 24, mean that allowing him to leave on a free transfer appears to be a good decision on paper, as he has been unreliable on and off the pitch.

Instead of splashing the cash on a new signing to replace the Jamaica international this summer, Danilo could return from injury to be a dream replacement.

Why Danilo would be an exciting replacement for Kemar Roofe

The centre-forward was signed from Feyenoord and manager Michael Beale hailed him as an "exciting" player who wants to score and create goals for the team.

He suffered a knee injury in December that kept him out for the remainder of the season, missing 32 matches in total, but he had only missed seven games through injury between the 2020/21 and 2022/23 campaigns, which does not suggest injuries will be a long-term concern for him.

When fit, however, the Brazilian ace showcased his quality with a return of six goals and five assists in 21 appearances in all competitions, a significantly better return than Roofe's two goals in 24 outings.

The 5 foot 9 marksman, who was hailed as "bright" by Clement, produced four goals and one assist in 12 outings in the Scottish Premiership, despite starting just five of those games.

That came after the 25-year-old ace plundered ten goals and three assists in 14 starts and 34 appearances in the Eredivisie for Feyenoord during the 2022/23 campaign.

Rangers could sign Bassey 2.0 in "ball-playing monster"

Rangers are looking to make their third summer signing…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 3, 2024

These statistics show that the potential is there for Danilo to be a huge threat for the Gers at the top end of the pitch, as a scorer and a creator, but his unfortunate knee injury meant that he did not get to show it much this term.

Next season, though, could be his time to shine as Roofe's replacement when he returns from injury, as the Brazilian ace could emerge as a key player for Clement.

After a brilliant end to the campaign that saw Everton pick up four wins in their last six Premier League matches, the club are about to enter a crucial period that could define their standing next season.

Despite the excellent form under Sean Dyche, the Toffees will have to allow multiple key players to leave Goodison Park in order to prevent a further breach of the Premier League’s PSR rules.

Amadou Onana is one player who could leave, with the Belgian midfielder subject to constant interest from the likes of fellow top-flight side West Ham United, following his £33m move back in the summer of 2022.

One squad member Dyche simply can’t afford to lose is centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has enjoyed an excellent campaign for the Toffees, featuring in 35 of the 38 league matches in 2023/24.

His good form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Manchester United heavily linked with a move to sign the 21-year-old, who could be set to feature at the Euros for his country this summer.

However, should every Everton fan's biggest worry come to fruition, the club have already identified a replacement for the youngster ahead of the opening of the transfer window.

Everton interested in former PL star to replace Branthwaite

According to CaughtOffside, Everton are eyeing Galatasaray centre-back Davinson Sanchez as a potential replacement for Branthwaite, should the defender depart Merseyside in the summer, with West Ham United also keen on the 27-year-old.

The former Colombian international enjoyed a six-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur, making over 200 appearances for the club, before departing the north London side for Turkey last summer.

Many Toffees may remember Sanchez for his mistakes during his time in the Premier League – having even been booed off by his own support at one stage at home to Bournemouth – but his stint in the Turkish Süper Lig has reignited his career, with the defender looking like the player whom Spurs forked out £42m for back in 2017.

The report goes on to state while there are no bids on the table for Branthwaite and Sanchez from the respective parties, the club are merely looking at potential alternatives should the Englishman leave, with Sanchez the club’s main target as it stands.

The former Ajax ace has enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Gala, with the defender potentially a shrewd pickup with his experience in England’s top flight vital as the club look to build on this season’s 15th-placed finish.

Why Sanchez would be the perfect Branthwaite successor

On the face of the rumour, it may seem a disappointing replacement should the talented defender depart Goodison, but when delving into the stats, the former Spurs player is the perfect player to take Dyche’s side to the next level.

The "dominant" defender, as described by former boss José Mourinho, has matched and surpassed Branthwaite in multiple key defensive areas, but also blown him out of the water in possession – with Sanchez’s ball-playing ability up there with the best in Europe.

He’s managed to put himself within the top 10% in Europe for progressive carries this season, with his ability to drive forward with the ball allowing the Toffees to move away from their current low-block system.

During the 2023/24 campaign, Dyche’s side have only averaged 40.5% possession – the third-lowest in the Premier League – with the club potentially able to transform into a more expansive possession-based style with Sanchez's arrival.

He certainly wouldn't be most fans' first choice this summer, but given his time at Galatasaray since his move last summer, it certainly would be a quality addition for the club, and one that can take Everton further clear of the drop in 2024/25.

Everton “monster” has become their best player over Branthwaite & Onana

The Toffees star has been imperious this season.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 21, 2024

Mikel Arteta says he "loves" Pep Guardiola and his friendship with his compatriot will not be affected by Arsenal and Manchester City's title rivalry.

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• Arsenal in heated 2-2 draw with City
• Arteta says he "loves" Guardiola
• Rivalry won't affect their friendship

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Premier league title rivals City and Arsenal played out a dramatic, and at times heated, 2-2 draw last weekend – with both sets of players nearly coming to blows at the Etihad. Despite multiple City players criticising the Gunners' tactics, alongside rows taking place on the pitch, Arteta still has the utmost respect and admiration for his fellow Spaniard Guardiola – a man he worked under at City before joining Arsenal in 2019.

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  WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

  When asked about Guardiola, he told reporters on Friday: "I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession, another is our personal relationship.

  "If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the amount of times that they've beaten us, I would not talk to him any more. So that's not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have. In sport it will never get in my way, a personal relationship, that's for sure. If you don't like opinions then you shouldn't be sitting in the position that I am.

  "It's quite simple. Don't take it personally. It's part of our job. The things that you really care about, make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship I really care about."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ultimately, football is a results business, where teams try and win at all costs. Arsenal are trying to dethrone defending Premier League champions City and lift their first league title since 2004. Winning trophies is the ultimate goal but it seems Arteta still holds Guardiola in high esteem.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Arteta's fourth-placed Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday at home to lowly Leicester City, whereas Guardiola's table-toppers City have a tough trip away to Newcastle United on the same day.