The left-arm spinner ran from the field in significant pain late in the match against Hobart Hurricanes

AAP16-Jan-20251:00

Ferguson: Connolly has stood up with every opportunity

Matt Kuhnemann is in serious doubt for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka after the recalled spinner hurt his thumb playing for Brisbane Heat.The left-arm offspinner ran from the ground in agony on Thursday night after attempting to field a Matthew Wade straight drive off his own bowling.The injury occurred to his non-bowling right hand but appeared to be significant and left Heat and Test team-mate Marnus Labuschagne visibly distressed post-game.Related

Kuhnemann has 'no pain' after batting and bowling; hopes to fly to Sri Lanka

Smith's assist in Connolly's selection, ten years on from childhood photo

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Hurricanes seal home final with last-ball win; Heat and Australia sweat on Kuhnemann injury

“I just heard about Matt Kuhnemann, so that’s pretty bad,” he told AAP.  “Thumb … it doesn’t look great. I really feel for him.”Kuhnemann is due to fly out to Dubai for a pre-Test training camp alongside Labuschagne on Sunday. His absence would increase the prospect of a shock debut for allrounder Cooper Connolly.Connolly spins the ball away from the right-hander like Kuhnemann and is highly rated by Steven Smith – interim captain in Sri Lanka – despite not yet owning a first-class wicket. Right-arm offspinners Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy are already part of the touring party.Uncapped West Australian offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli, New South Wales legspinner Tanveer Sangha and Queensland’s Mitchell Swepson are among those pushing for a late call-up to the squad if Kuhnemann is ruled out.Australia would have to rethink their plans if Matt Kuhnemann is ruled out•Getty Images

Kuhnemann played three Tests in Australia’s 2023 tour of India, his style proving effective in sub-continental conditions as he claimed nine wickets, including 5 for 16 in the second Test.Starved of Sheffield Shield opportunities given he was stuck behind Swepson at Queensland, Kuhnemann opted to move to Tasmania this season. It paid off, his 18 wickets in six games the most of any spinner in the competition as he pressed his case for a spot in the XI in Galle later this month.”It’s someone I’m close to and he’s grown so much with his bowling and in Sri Lanka, he’s probably one of the first picked over there,” Labuschagne said. “I’m really gutted.”Labuschagne tuned up for the tour with a BBL-best 77 from 44 balls, anchoring the innings before Hurricanes chased down their 201-run target on the final ball.”I’m pretty confident, clear on my plans for how I’ll go about it,” he said of the spin test awaiting. “So it’s about cleaning that up in Dubai first.”You can’t put your finger down on one thing; you need different options because in the subcontinent, you hit one good sweep and there’s two or three guys out there. So you trust your defence, trust your sweep and your game and mix it all together.”

Crystal Palace are looking to replace Eberechi Eze’s creativity at Selhurst Park and could now be set to seek out two replacements as opposed to one, according to a report.

Crystal Palace look to future after Nottingham Forest draw

Completing a successful week on the field despite the circumstances behind Eze’s departure, Crystal Palace maintained their unbeaten Premier League start after securing a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest amid a backdrop of hostility between both sets of supporters.

While their controversial expulsion from the Europa League is still fresh in the memory, a 1-0 victory over Fredrikstad FK has placed Oliver Glasner and company on course for Conference League football.

Paying tribute to the Eagles’ supporters, he stated on his side’s positive early performances via Match of the Day: “We always know we can count on our supporters and fans.

“They did it again. It’s always great to play at Selhurst. I’m more or less delighted with our start to the season. This was our fourth competitive game, fourth time unbeaten. There’s a lot of noise around us but a lot of credit to the players to deal with the situation.”

Still, there will be plenty of focus on who comes in to enrich his squad, and speculation over Crystal Palace making a move for Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss refuses to die down.

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West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta could also be en route to Selhurst Park. However, Manchester City have also renewed their interest in the Brazilian, creating a saga that may drag on into the final days of the window.

Either way, there is a need for reinforcements to bolster Glasner’s slim squad depth, and there is a chance he could look to bring in two players to replicate Eze’s unique level of output.

Crystal Palace eye double deal to replace Eberechi Eze

According to The Sun, Crystal Palace could sign Villarreal star Yeremy Pino and Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis to replace Eze amid a difference in opinion between Glasner and Steve Parish.

In short, Glasner would favour a move for Tzolis. Meanwhile, Parish prefers Pino, fashioning a scenario where both players could be purchased for fees of £20 million apiece.

Yeremy Pino – 2024/25 league stats

Christos Tzolis – 2024/25 league stats

Chances created: 38

Chances created: 79

Shots: 29

Shots: 126

Shots on target: 4

Shots on target: 53

Goals: 7

Goals: 16

Assists: 4

Assists: 9

With Eze departing for £67.5 million, there is a wealth of money for the Eagles to play with in South London. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether their boss will soften up on a move for Pino, who he doesn’t currently see room for in his side.

Clearly, both players in question would improve Crystal Palace’s attacking output, though time is of the essence if either are to be drafted in before the window closes.

Sean Williams just wants “to show the kids that bravery is okay, and you can”, after hitting a career-best 154 in the Boxing Day Test against Afghanistan in Bulawayo.Williams’ hundred and his 163-run fifth-wicket stand with captain Craig Ervine propelled Zimbabwe to their highest Test score in 30 years, and he hopes it will instil a sense of belief in a team that has not won a Test since March 2021.”If I can lead by action, and not with my mouth, I think the kids will grow from that very fast,” Williams said after the first day’s play. “They’ll start to do the similar things and start to do the same things off the field as well as on the field. And that for me is probably the best I can do as a senior player, and also keep that discipline and professionalism in place.”Related

• Stats – Zimbabwe (586), Afghanistan (699) reach record highs in Bulawayo run-fest

• Williams praises Curran's 'intent' as Zimbabwe find scoring touch

• Williams' 145* leads Zimbabwe's domination against Afghanistan

Zimbabwe’s current XI has three debutants – Ben Curran, who scored a half-century, Newman Nyamhuri and Trevor Gwandu – and three other players – Joylord Gumbie, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Brian Bennett – in just their second Tests. That makes Williams, with 19 years of international experience to his name, their most experienced player (in terms of time, as Ervine has more Test caps) who is keen to lead proactively.Not only did Williams score big, but he scored quick. His hundred came off 115 balls and his next 54 runs off 59 deliveries as he took on the Afghanistan bowling to dominate on his home ground in what he described as a “historic day”.This is only the second time Zimbabwe are hosting a Boxing Day Test after 1996, when it was hosted in Harare. It is only the fourth time they are playing in one and it’s Williams’ first. All that has only made his achievement more special.”Being able to get a hundred on a day like this is a very big thing,” he said. “We used to wake up early in the morning to watch Boxing Day Test matches and it’s finally here at home.”The “we” refers to his father Colin, who passed away in April 2022 and to whom Williams dedicated his achievement, and his brothers Michael and Matthew. But it might also be about other aspiring Zimbabwe cricketers, who grew up turning on television sets to watch Boxing Days Tests being played in neighbouring South Africa and at the MCG and wondering if they would ever get the opportunity to enjoy an occasion like that first-hand. The irony is not lost in the fact that matches in those two places were taking place at the same time, and have attracted much more attention than the goings-on at Queens Park, where there has also been a fair amount of drama.Williams was on 124 when he was given out caught after a Zahir Khan delivery carried off his pad to a slip fielder. He started walking before the square-leg umpire opted to check for a bump ball and he was called back to continue batting.”I was actually a little bit angry with myself because as a batter, you stand your ground. Even though you’ve been given out, I feel you have the right to stand your ground for them to go and check. I didn’t do that,” Williams said. “I started walking off, trusting the umpire’s call, even though I knew I wasn’t out. But, luckily, the square-leg umpire went across and said, ‘you know, I think we should check this one’. It was a big emotional turnaround from that point, because I had worked so hard.”Sean Williams only added nine runs on the second morning before falling to Naveed Zadran•Zimbabwe Cricket

He ended the day on 145 not out and was hopeful of going on to his first double-hundred but only added nine runs on the second morning before falling to a short-ball plan. Still, it does not detract from the immense form he has held for almost five years. Since January 2020, Williams has played six Tests, scored four hundreds and averages 88.75. That’s a result of what he continuously references as “intent” but actually sounds more like the work he has done to stimulate deep concentration such as cold-water plunging and turning domestic matches into pressure situations to test himself.”Having intent doesn’t start at Test level,” he said. “It actually starts at the franchise level, where I try to create my own pressure, to be able to play the way I’m going to play at an international level. So I will do something at franchise level, where I’m putting myself under pressure, so that I’m constantly training hard. And in a match situation, it’s even better, because you have the pressures, you’ve created them for yourself, and then you grow from that.”Already, Williams and Zimbabwe have shown they can deal with the pressure of a varied Afghanistan attack. Their next challenge is to see if they can drive their advantage home, to make even more history.

After Boca Juniors’ 1-1 draw against Rosario Central, midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia highlighted the great moment his teammate Leandro Paredes is experiencing. The World Cup champion, who decided this year to leave European football for Boca, has previously played for PSG, Juventus and Roma. Since his arrival, Paredes now shares the midfield with Battaglia.

Getty Images SportBattaglia and Paredes solidify midfield

Battaglia had nothing but praise for Paredes, who returned to Argentina this year after a long spell in European football. Battaglia underlined the strong partnership he has developed with the former PSG star.

"With Paredes, everything comes naturally. We talk a lot on the pitch. When he drops deeper, I push a bit higher so he can find me, and when it’s the other way around, I hold my position," Battaglia said. "Lea has vision and passing ability that, I have to admit, I don’t have as much. We complement each other well. If he attacks, I stay; if I push forward, he stays back. It’s basic, but I think we’re doing it the right way."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportParedes’ arrival a boost for Boca

The former Sporting CP player also highlighted the maturity and completeness that Paredes has shown since his return to Boca.

"I had high expectations for him, and he has delivered. He’s very mature now. Over the years, he became a more complete player. His vision of the game is special, and we try to take advantage of that," Battaglia said.

When asked about Paredes’ current form, Battaglia was emphatic: "Paredes is at a great level, and without a doubt, he is the best player in Argentine football."

Getty Images Sport'Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy'

Battaglia also emphasized the importance of having a World Cup winner such as Paredes in the squad, both on and off the field.

"Lea’s arrival helped us a lot as a team," he said. "A player with that much quality sets the tone for how we train and how the group is managed. That leadership carries over onto the pitch. We have a mix of experienced players, hungry players, and young guys who listen. Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy. It’s great for Argentine football that players of this caliber are competing here – it enriches the league a lot. Hopefully, more will come."

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Getty Images SportBoca Juniors on a strong run

Boca Juniors sit in third place in Argentina’s Primera División with 13 points. The Xeneize are in good form and pushing to reach the top of the standings.

The Tests in Sydney and Cape Town brought with them some record highs

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2025Scott Boland has entered the top ten of the ICC’s Test bowling rankings for the first time after taking 21 wickets in three Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests.Averaging 13.19 in the series, Boland broke into the top ten after a match haul of 10 for 86 at the SCG, which sealed the series 3-1 in Australia’s favour and earned him a Player-of-the-Match award. He has moved up to joint-ninth after climbing 29 positions.Jasprit Bumrah, who topped the wicket-takers’ chart at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 32 wickets at 13.06, remains the No. 1 Test bowler, adding one rating point and going up to 908, improving on the record for Indian bowlers.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada have moved up to No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, while Josh Hazlewood has fallen just out of the top three. Marco Jansen rounds up the top five for Test bowlers.Bavuma, Pant, Babar rise among Test battersSouth Africa’s big batting performance in the second Test against Pakistan, where they scored 615 in the first innings, has seen their key batters move up the Test batting charts.Temba Bavuma’s 106 has taken him three places up to a career-best No. 6. Ryan Rickelton’s 259 has lifted him 48 positions to 55th, while Kyle Verreynne’s 100 has seen him move up four spots to No. 24.For Pakistan, Babar Azam (No. 12) inched closer to the top ten after scores of 58 and 81.Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, has regained his place in the top ten among Test batters, after hitting 40 and 61 in India’s defeat in Sydney. He moved up three places to No. 9 while his team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal remained at No. 3 behind world No. 1 Joe Root and second-placed Harry Brook.

Celtic are in the market for reinforcements and now know the price needed to sign a versatile star who could enrich Brendan Rodgers’ squad, according to a report.

Johnny Kenny signs Celtic contract extension

After Jahmai Simpson-Pusey signed on loan for the Scottish Premiership champions from Manchester City, there has been a distinct lack of activity on the transfer front at Parkhead.

However, confirmation came on Friday that Johnny Kenny has extended his contract at Celtic, which may offer some clarity regarding their striking pecking order.

Speaking after his renewal, Kenny stated that he wants to help the Bhoys win trophies and score as many goals as possible while involved under Brendan Rodgers and beyond.

He stated: “I’m delighted. All I wanted to do was commit my future to this club, and I’m delighted it’s done now. I feel really proud. I spoke to the manager at the start of the summer, and it was a case of tying it all together.”

Later, he added: “I want to play Champions League football, win every trophy available and score goals. That’s my aim.”

Celtic’s transfer spend this summer

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey

Loan

Benjamin Nygren

£2 million

Shin Yamada

£1.5 million

Hayato Inamura

Undisclosed

Callum Osmand

Undisclosed

Kieran Tierney

Free transfer

Ross Doohan

Free transfer

Regardless, Celtic are still in the market for a new striker and could turn to Wycombe Wanderers’ Richard Kone, though his goalscoring exploits will also not have gone unnoticed in England.

However, the forward line isn’t the only area in need of reinforcements, and the Bhoys have now been told how much they will need to pay to solidify in another area of the pitch.

Celtic could have to pay £15 million for Kassoum Ouattara

According to Pete O’Rourke in conversation with Football Insider, Celtic may need to pay £15 million to sign AS Monaco defender Kassoum Ouattara amid competition from Rangers for his signature.

He explained: “He’s somebody who is on the list of both clubs. Celtic and Rangers are both looking to bolster their left-full-back options. Celtic are looking for competition and cover for Kieran Tierney following the departure of Greg Taylor earlier in the summer window.”

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Labelling Ouattara a “top young player”, he added: “There will be a lot of competition for him as well; French sides Toulouse, Metz, and also Dutch Champions PSV have been looking at him. It’s not going to be a straightforward deal for Rangers or Celtic, but it’s definitely a position both clubs are looking at as they want to strengthen their options.”

Last term, Ouattara made 16 appearances across all competitions and registered a solitary assist, featuring both as a left-back and further up that side when needed.

With Kieran Tierney’s minutes likely to be managed, the 20-year-old could offer valuable cover while also helping to address the Hoops’ lack of depth out wide, which has become a bugbear since Nicolas Kuhn’s departure.

MatériaMais Notícias

Luan Garcia foi um dos grandes nomes do Palmeiras neste último mês de maio. Com a dura missão de substituir o titular Murilo, que se machucou logo no início do mês, Luan acabou sendo titular em todos os jogos que o Verdão fez durante esse exaustivo maio.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras vê ‘atitudes persecutórias’ contra Abel Ferreira e contesta versão da arbitragem em expulsãoPalmeiras01/06/2023PalmeirasOLHAR DO PORCO: Por um Palmeiras quente, Abel precisa de mais cabeça friaPalmeiras01/06/2023PalmeirasLar doce lar! Palmeiras volta para casa para sequência em São Paulo e terá descanso antes de viajar novamentePalmeiras01/06/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Ao todo foram nove partidas disputadas pelo camisa 13, com cinco vitórias, três empates e apenas uma derrota, para o Fortaleza, que foi até que comemorada pelo fato de ter garantido a vaga do time de Abel Ferreira para a próxima fase da Copa do Brasil.

Com apenas quatro gols sofridos, Luan foi peça fundamental para o setor defensivo alviverde que carrega o lema de sempre tentar terminar as partidas com a ‘baliza zero’ (sem sofrer gols).

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Luan ainda ajudou o Palmeiras na parte ofensiva, e com um gol diante do Grêmio e uma assistência diante do Cerro Porteño, mostrou para Abel Ferreira que pode brigar com Murilo pela titularidade.

O mês de junho deve colocar Murilo e Luan frente a frente por uma vaga entre os 11 titulares, uma vez que o camisa 26 deve retornar aos treinos e poderá voltar a ser relacionado em breve, e aí o português terá o chamado problema bom para decidir quem joga ao lado de Gustavo Gómez.

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O próximo desafio de Luan e do Verdão será diante do Coritiba, no Allianz Parque, no próximo domingo (4), em jogo válido pela 9ª rodada do Brasileirão 2023.

Glamorgan to sell extra 1% shareholding to Govil as Hundred windfall approaches £1 billion

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Feb-2025

GMR Group have, as expected, secured a stake in Southern Brave to conclude the ECB’s process of selling equity in the Hundred. GMR, co-owners of IPL team Delhi Capitals, were already the majority shareholders of host county Hampshire, having bought out former owner Rod Bransgrove last year.They had signalled their intention to take a majority stake in Brave at the time, and agreed a deal for the ECB’s 49% – reportedly valuing Brave at £98 million (100%) – in the final auction conducted on Wednesday.GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, owns teams in a number of T20 leagues around the world, including Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, as well as being principal investors in MLC side Seattle Orcas.It brings the number of Hundred teams bought into by IPL owners to four, after Northern Superchargers (Sun Group), Manchester Originals (RPSG Group) and Oval Invincibles (Reliance). The ECB’s hopes for a spread of investment from around the world had already been realised by deals for Birmingham Phoenix (Knighthead Capital), Welsh Fire (Sanjay Govil), London Spirit (Silicon Valley consortium) and Trent Rockets (Cain International).With more than £450 million raised and a total valuation approaching £1 billion, the Hundred equity sale has exceeded initial expectations and is set to deliver a signifcant windfall to the English game.GMR had become the first overseas owners of an English county when they agreed a deal for Bransgrove’s majority shareholding last September. The acquisition did not guarantee a stake in Southern Brave, however, with a mechanism requiring GMR to pay fair market value for 49% of Brave before the ECB would sanction the remaining 51% being transferred to Hampshire.Brave won the inaugural men’s Hundred in 2021, as well as finishing as runners-up last year. In the women’s competition, they were twice runners-up, in 2021 and 2022, before lifting the trophy the following season.Glamorgan to sell Govil extra 1%Washington Freedom won MLC in 2024•MLC

Glamorgan have confirmed that they have entered into an exclusivity agreement with Sanjay Govil, the owner of MLC franchise Washington Freedom, at the start of talks to finalise Govil’s investment in Welsh Fire. Glamorgan are planning to sell 1% of the 51% transferred by the ECB as Welsh Fire’s host county, to “create an equal ownership split” with Govil.Glamorgan chair, Mark Rhydderch-Roberts, said: “It was vitally important for us that any investment partner shared our values, our strategic and commercial aims and our ambition to grow as an international brand. Washington Freedom ticked all of the boxes and has been our preferred bidder for some time so we are delighted that they have chosen to partner with us.”They share our belief that both Glamorgan and Welsh Fire have huge potential and that Welsh Fire, in particular, can become a global brand, opening commercial opportunities on a different scale across the whole spectrum of Welsh cricket.”The growth of the global game and the role of the Hundred in engaging new audiences, transforming the Women’s game and showcasing the best global talent means that we are really excited by the endless opportunities that this partnership will present to both parties.”Govil, a US-based tech entrepreneur, won the auction for a 49% stake in Fire late last month, after agreeing to a 100% valuation of £67.5 million for the team.He said: “I’m thrilled for this next step forward in renewing and expanding cricket for the next generation of fans. I’m looking forward to the benefits our partnership will have not only for recreational cricket in the United Kingdom, but for strengthening the cross-border relationship between international teams, franchises, and fans for years to come.”

Fabrizio Romano has shared what Man City sensation Rico Lewis is thinking about a move to Nottingham Forest, coming after Nuno Espirito Santo’s side opened negotiations for the talent earlier this week.

Since it was announced by UEFA that Forest will be taking Crystal Palace’s place in the Europa League this season, Evangelos Marinakis and co have seriously started kicking the club’s transfer plans into gear with a late-window flurry.

Nuno lost one of their key attacking stars from last season, Anthony Elanga, to Newcastle United in a deal worth £55 million earlier this summer, and were on the verge of losing star playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham before Marinakis intervened.

The summer didn’t exactly start in rosy fashion for Forest, but in the space of a few days, Marinakis has sealed a triple signing for Nuno worth around £92 million.

Man City’s James McAtee and Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson are on their way to the City Ground, as is Arnaud Kalimuendo, with the striker now sealing a £27 million move to Forest ahead of an imminent medical.

So much is happening at Forest right now, with the club also reaching an agreement on personal terms for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, who could make a swift return to the Premier League just one year after leaving the Midlands from Aston Villa.

Forest are pushing to sign the Brazilian, who bagged 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions during his final year at Villa, to complement Gibbs-White in the middle of the park.

Forest have also opened talks with Juve over Luiz, so this is certainly one to watch out for, as is a move for Lewis.

Rico Lewis stance on joining Nottingham Forest after opening Man City talks

It’s hard to keep up with all the activity going on under Marinakis’ watch.

On Friday evening, Romano shared news that Forest have submitted an official bid for Lewis – opening talks with City as they push to sign the versatile 20-year-old – who can play at full-back and in midfield.

In a further update, the reliable journalist shared Lewis’ stance on making the move to Forest from Eastlands.

The reporter claims there is real belief at Forest that the player is keen to join them, and this has resulted in Nuno’s side insisting on finding an agreement with City – though it is stressed that Marinakis’ initial bid is currently below Lewis’ asking price.

The starlet has already earned five caps for England as a result of his sky-high potential, with Pep Guardiola even once calling Lewis one of the best players he has ever coached.

Aston Villa haven’t had it easy across the summer transfer window, but there’s no doubt that Unai Emery’s squad have what it takes to tackle the new Premier League and continental campaign with fervour.

Emery has returned to his favourite competition, the Europa League, after all.

Signings have been made, even if obstacles had to be circumvented. Still, the club, the owners, the manager, the fans, all are ambitious, and all are in concert that one or two more deals could be struck before the closure of the transfer window, should Villa hope to go from strength to strength.

Villa planning late-window deals

Aston Villa have been hamstrung by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (PSR) rules this summer, no doubt, but they have spent shrewdly and may yet welcome one or two more fresh faces.

But one or two signings might be made before the end of the term, with Villa still in the race to sign Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson at this late hour, though they face stiff competition from Bayern Munich.

However, Emi Buendia is currently weighing up an exit, with German club Stuttgart keen, and so a replacement could be found in Marco Asensio.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Villa are ready to bring the Spaniard back to the club after his successful half-season loan, and they have agreed personal terms with the 29-year-old.

Monchi is currently locked in talks with Paris Saint-Germain, and it’s been suggested that a £13m package could do the trick.

Why Villa should sign Asensio

When Aston Villa welcomed Asensio to the fold at the season’s midpoint last year, they perhaps didn’t expect him to revel in the prolific heights he reached, scoring five goals across his opening seven matches for the English outfit.

Once hailed by his Mallorca youth coach, Juan Pericas, for his “magical” ability on the ball, Asensio has led a storied career amongst some of Europe’s heaviest hitters, but his spell with Villa last term showcased his potential for success in a system such as Emery’s, still challenging for the top but perhaps a rung below.

In this way, his potential arrival offers shades of Jack Grealish’s recent move to Everton, with Asensio perhaps set up to become Villa’s own version of the England international, once a superstar at Villa Park.

Aston Villa’s boyhood sensation completed 213 appearances for the Lions before leaving in 2021, and while he has since won the lot under Pep Guardiola’s wing at Manchester City, a recent loan move to Everton has seemingly reignited his career, having placed two assists against Brighton in the Premier League last week.

The difference, of course, is that Asensio has already proven himself for Emery’s squad, with his prolific touch and capacity to play across the frontline seeing him complete his sojourn with eight goals scored and one assist placed across 21 matches in all competitions.

Asensio differs from Grealish in that he’s more of a focal contributor in the final third, although he completed 71% of his dribbles in the Premier League last year to showcase some degree of ball-carrying similarity to the one-time Villa Park talisman.

24/25 PL stats – Asensio

Stats (* per game)

#

Matches (starts)

13 (9)

Goals

3

Assists

1

Shots (on target)*

1.8 (0.8)

Big chances missed

4

Pass completion

86%

Big chances created

1

Key passes*

1.2

Dribbles (success)*

0.9 (71%)

Tackles + interceptions*

0.7

Duels won*

2.1

Stats via Sofascore

Grealish set the Premier League alight during his two-year performance at the highest level with his boyhood club, and he then earned himself a record-breaking £100m move to Manchester City.

While the experienced Asensio doesn’t fit that same narrative, he could emulate the modern-day Grealish in stepping down a notch to rekindle his decorated career.

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