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A former Manchester United manager has told Sir Jim Ratcliffe to hire a "great coach" in place of Erik ten Hag this summer, as the Dutchman battles to save his job.

Erik ten Hag under pressure

Ten Hag has found himself increasingly under pressure this season, following a campaign that has hugely disappointed overall, particularly compared to last term. United have struggled to find consistency at any point, both in terms of performances and results, and they sit sixth in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's daunting visit to local rivals Manchester City.

While no decision has officially been made yet regarding the Dutchman's future at Old Trafford, an increasing number of reports are emerging that suggest replacements are being looked at ahead of the summer, and he is reportedly disagreeing with INEOS about aspects of their transfer approach.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is seen as a "standout" candidate to take charge at the end of the season, as he continues to shine with Brighton, playing an attractive brand of football and a strong work ethic from every single player – something arguably not on show at Old Trafford currently.

Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane have also been linked with being Ten Hag's successor should Ratcliffe decide that a change is needed, but a new claim has emerged regarding another possible target.

Man Utd urged to hire Julian Nagelsmann

According to an update from inews, former Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has told the club to hire Julian Nagelsmann as their next manager this summer. He has given a "recommendation" to the Red Devils.

Nagelsman has been considered one of the most exciting young managers in Europe for some time now, bursting onto the scene during a spell at Hoffenheim when he was still in his 20s. Since then, the 36-year-old has won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, and he is now in charge of the German national team ahead of Euro 2024 this summer.

He is set to leave at the end of the tournament as it stands, which would pave the way for a move to United, and he could stand out as a fresh, exciting option at Old Trafford, having been hailed by Argentina's World Cup-winning manager Lionel Scaloni:

"He’s a great coach. We’re following his work with big interest. We often look at his training sessions, we really like the way he trains. I hope that one day I’ll get to meet him personally."

Erik ten Hag

2022-present

1.96

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

2018-2021

1.79

Jose Mourinho

2016-2018

1.97

Louis van Gaal

2014-2016

1.81

David Moyes

2013-2014

1.73

Sir Alex Ferguson

1986-2013

2.02

Ron Atkinson

1981-1986

1.72

Dave Sexton

1977-1981

1.53

Tommy Docherty

1972-1977

1.54

Frank O'Farrell

1971-1972

1.37

The decision ultimately lies with Ratcliffe, who has to nail Ten Hag's replacement if he does sack him, bringing in a boss with modern ideas who can work effectively alongside a sporting director such as Dan Ashworth, who has strongly been linked with a switch from Newcastle United.

Liverpool are interested in sealing the key appointment of a 55-year-old ace who can join the club now, according to a fresh rumour from reliable journalist Simon Hughes.

Liverpool need new sporting director

The Reds are facing so much change at the club in the coming months, not least because Jurgen Klopp will leave as manager once the current season reaches its conclusion. His entire backroom staff will also depart, with the next boss bringing in his own team.

Not only that, but Liverpool and FSG are also on the lookout for a new sporting director, with Jorg Schmadtke departing from his role at the end of January. The German was only ever a short-term appointment, coming in last summer, and it is now vital that the club hire an individual who can work seamlessly with the next manager at Anfield.

Xabi Alonso continues to stand out as arguably the favourite to replace Klopp, and his "remarkable" current Bayer Leverkusen colleague Simon Rolfes has been linked with coming in and filling the void left by Schmadtke in the summer, assuming the Spaniard comes in as well.

Now, another name has emerged as a sporting director candidate, with Liverpool ensuring they are looking at plenty of different options.

Liverpool want Frederic Massara

According a new report from The Athletic's Hughes, Frederic Massara is seen as an option to be Liverpool's new sporting director, following Schmadtke's departure.

The 55-year-old is currently on gardening leave at AC Milan, but he would be able to join the Reds immediately, which could act as a big boost for them. The report also notes that Milan owners RedBird Capital own a stake in FSG, which may mean that the appointment happens in smooth fashion.

Massara impressed during his time in Italy, helping mastermind the signing of the likes of Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez, Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori and Mike Maignan, playing his part in Milan reaching the Champions League semi-finals last season.

The Italian certainly feels like a good option to come in at Liverpool, and the fact that he could arrive immediately arguably gives him an edge over Rolfes, should FSG want to look at new signings for the summer transfer window before it actually gets underway.

Massara is clearly a very experienced figure in his job, so there may not be too much risk element compared to bringing in a younger figure, and his track record at Milan speaks for itself, in terms of making strong signings.

Jamie Carragher says he’s “heard” about 56 y/o becoming Liverpool manager

His football is “similar to Klopp’s style”.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 19, 2024

That being said, Rolfes would still be the ideal sporting director Liverpool to hire if Alonso does end up being the man who the Reds appoint as manager, considering they are already working so effectively together at Leverkusen, with the German side now eight points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table.

Should Massara come in, however, there is enough evidence to suggest that he could be a shrewd acquisition, hopefully playing a big role in Liverpool moving on after Klopp, making this one to watch.

West Bromwich Albion would have come away from Deadline Day reasonably happy with how the day unfolded, adding in Celtic winger Mikey Johnston to the Baggies group at the death.

Carlos Corberan's men didn't quite manage to get a deal over the line for Aston Villa defender Calum Chambers despite talk of a last-gasp move happening, but being able to tie young talent Tom Fellows down to a new long-term deal was another highlight away from any failed moves during a largely productive transfer window.

The promotion-chasing Baggies were at one stage also linked with a move for Huddersfield Town gem Brahima Diarra, but Corberan might well already have an energetic and tenacious midfielder similar to Diarra in homegrown talent Fenton Heard, who is beginning to make waves in the first-team fold.

Fenton Heard's statistics at youth level

Handed a senior debut in West Brom's convincing 4-1 win over non-league Aldershot Town in the FA Cup last month, it was a milestone that had been coming for Heard who has excelled at youth level for the Baggies for some time now.

The 19-year-old didn't look out of his place in a midfield trio comprised of otherwise experienced figures in Nathaniel Chalobah and Alex Mowatt either, coming away from the big occasion with his head rightly held high.

Predominantly playing as an attacking midfielder in the youth set-up – alongside filling in down the wings if called upon to do so – Heard has shown why he was thrown into the deep end by Corberan in the Premier League 2 this season, with two goals next to his name from ten appearances.

With midfield target Diarra operating in a similar role for the Terriers, it would've been illogical from the Baggies to swoop in for the Mali U23 international when the West Midlands side already have Heard at their disposal keen to kick on and further make an impression.

Fenton Heard's statistics at senior level

It will be intriguing to see if the 19-year-old hotshot gets more first-team opportunities as the games come thick and fast in the Championship in the months to follow, Corberan wary of overplaying the youngster whilst Heard continues to develop and grow.

Yet, the Spaniard named the midfielder amongst his substitutes last game even with the match being a high-intensity Black Country derby versus Wolverhampton Wanderers and so could begin to utilise the exuberant West Brom number 47 on a more frequent basis.

Heard's display against Aldershot certainly caught the eye however, the teenager not fazed one bit by the Hawthorns masses watching on in a calm and controlled debut for the men's team.

Corberan even went out of his way to praise Heard openly in his post-match thoughts after the demolition job of the non-league visitors, stating that the 19-year-old played "with a lot of maturity and game understanding".

The youngster wasn't a distant observer to everything good going on during the match from the hosts' perspective, deftly playing Tom Fellows through early on who then crossed into the area for Nathaniel Chalobah to power home the opener to set West Brom on their way.

Given an 8/10 rating in Joe Chapman's post-match thoughts after the smooth Cup win – with the Birmingham Live journalist stating that Heard 'glided about' the pitch confidently – the Baggies youngster will hope he can actively follow in Fellows' footsteps eventually and break into the first-team set-up to stay there.

There would have been some groans from the West Brom fanbase about one or two more signings not being finalised, but one positive on a deal for Diarra going awry is the fact Heard could be unleashed more and more and take second-tier defences by surprise as Corberan's secret weapon.

MatériaMais Notícias

Danilo Barbosa foi oficialmente apresentado no Palmeiras nesta sexta-feira (26), após treinar pela primeira vez com o grupo. O volante comentou sobre os motivos que o fizeram aceitar a proposta do Verdão e demonstrou muito ânimo com a estrutura e projeto do clube para a temporada de 2021.

– Foi me apresentado um projeto muito ambicioso e eu me senti atraído pelo o que é o clube, sua história, e pelos últimos anos. Um clube ambicioso e uma comissão vitoriosa me atraíram. Essa junção fez com que eu tomasse a decisão de vir. Eu me senti muito motivado a vir pelo clube, pelo treinador e pelo grupo. É um motivo de muita alegria estar no maior campeão nacional. Foram os pilares que me fizeram vir para cá – afirmou o jogador.

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Questionado sobre sua temporada com Abel Ferreira, no Braga, em Portugal, Danilo elogiou o treinador e ressaltou a característica do português de valorizar o trabalho de todos os jogadores.

– Sem sombra de dúvidas, foi uma época muito positiva da parte de todos daquele grupo. Tivemos um campeonato português muito positivo. Sobretudo, na Liga Europa eliminamos equipes muito fortes e nos classificamos em primeiro. Me senti à vontade com o Abel, com a forma que ele trabalha e a forma como ele passa para os jogadores a ideia de que independentemente de você estar jogando, você é importante para o grupo. Isso soma muito – finalizou.

>>Saiba quais são os times invictos no futebol brasileiro até agora

Tema de especulações antes de sua chegada, o atleta também foi perguntado em relação a sua condição física tendo em vista que, em 2020, fez sua temporada com menos jogos na carreira. No entanto, novo camisa 18 do Palmeiras garantiu estar apto a jogar, inclusive, pelo fato de ter treinado antes da coletiva. Além disso, Danilo reafirmou sua polivalência em campo e disse estar disposto a jogar onde for requisitado.

– Fisicamente estou ótimo. Já estava treinando com o grupo lá fora. Aqui cheguei, fiz meus testes, hoje treinei com o grupo. Grupo muito qualificado! Agora é trabalhar e desfrutar do trabalho.

– Eu joguei algumas vezes improvisado lá atrás num momento delicado do clube. Mas cabe ao treinador. Eu sou um volante, mas cabe ao treinador decidir. Estou disponível – garantiu Danilo Barbosa.

O volante de 25 anos também analisou como pode ser sua contribuição aos jogadores mais jovens do Alviverde Imponente, que tem, cada vez mais, utilizado atletas da base em seu plantel.

– A experiência não tem a ver com a idade, mas com as vivências. Eu posso, de certa forma, acrescentar aos jovens, no que diz respeito ao futebol lá fora. Mas eles podem também passar coisas que não vivi aqui. Sai daqui com 18 anos. Não vou deixar de aprender com eles. É muito importante essa troca – realçou

continua após a publicidade

Por fim, Danilo fez um breve comentário acerca do cenário da pandemia no Brasil e, assim como Abel Ferreira, pediu que as pessoas tenham um pensamento coletivo em relação a isso.

– É uma situação delicada (o calendário). Vivemos um momento difícil. Não posso ser egoísta e pensar que temos que jogar. É um problema de saúde e cabe as pessoas competentes tomarem as decisões. Não podemos pensar só em nós, mas no próximo também – concluiu.

Já inscrito no BID pelo Palmeiras e em condições de jogo, Danilo Barbosa está à disposição da comissão técnica e pode estrear, a qualquer momento, pelo Maior Campeão Nacional.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani has been re-elected as chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) for another term. But his election has put ZC in direct conflict with the Sports and Recreation Commission, a government parastatal that ostensibly oversees all sporting bodies in the country, which issued a directive that ZC’s Elective Annual General Meeting – at which Mukuhlani’s tenure was extended – be suspended.In a letter sent to ZC’s acting managing director Givemore Makoni – and seen by ESPNcricinfo – SRC director general Prince Mupazviriho ordered the suspension of ZC’s electoral process “until further notice”. But ZC went ahead with its elective AGM – a move that would meet with the backing of the ICC, whose constitution specifically prohibits such government interference in board affairs.The SRC’s letter gave several reasons for the suspension, alleging complaints about the nomination process and the violation of ZC’s constitution. It also detailed a new forensic audit report commissioned by the SRC to:

• “Conduct objective and independent investigations of all matters brought to its attention involving financial misconduct, irregularities of a financial nature and the commission of economic offenses.”
• “Determine the total revenue and examine the authenticity of all the expenditure incurred for the respective years of 2015, 2016 and 2017.”
• “Ascertain receivable and/or payables related to the years in question for Zimbabwe Cricket.
• “Assess allegations of theft, fraud and corruption.”

“In light of all these and various other controversies relating to Zimbabwe Cricket and its financial and governance structures, the SRC, as resolved by the board hereby directs that all or any electoral processes including any electoral AGM for a new Board of Directors forthwith be suspended until further notice,” the letter reads.Had ZC bowed to the pressure and stopped the meeting from going ahead, Zimbabwe may well have been in danger of suspension from the ICC. In 2016, the ICC suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal because of government interference in the running of the board. The ICC regarded the actions of the Nepalese National Sports Council to be in breach of Article 2.9 of the ICC’s Articles of Association, which prohibits government interference and requires free and fair elections.According to Section 2.4 (D) of the ICC constitution, every member must “manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration of Cricket in its Cricket Playing Country.”Furthermore, according to Section 2.10 (A), the ICC board of directors “may suspend the membership of a Member with immediate effect where, in the opinion of the Board of Directors (in its absolute discretion), the Member is in serious breach of any of its obligations as a Member.”While ZC’s actions may be in line with the ICC’s constitution, they will undoubtedly cause further friction with the SRC. The SRC’s letter warned that, should ZC disregard its directive to suspend the elective AGM, it would invoke Section 30 of the SRC Act, which gives the SRC power to suspend ZC members and employees from their positions, strike the board from the national register, and appoint its own committee to run the affairs of the concerned association.The attempted suspension of ZC’s elective AGM was one of the first actions of the new SRC board, which was reformed at the beginning of June, having been dissolved by sports minister Kirsty Coventry in September last year. The new SRC board is headed by Gerald Mlotshwa, a lawyer who represented former national coach Heath Streak in his defamation case against Mukuhlani – which has since been dropped – and who was also involved in the short-lived attempt by Zimbabwe’s professional cricketers to set up a players’ union last year.It remains to be seen what move the SRC will make next, but as things stand Mukuhlani will be ZC’s board chairman for another four years, his tenure being extended by a unanimous vote. Sylvester Matshaka was also retained as Mukuhlani’s deputy, while former Zimbabwe cricketer Ed Rainsford is among the five new faces on the 13-member board.

Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a Saudi Pro League record as Al-Nassr beat Al-Ittihad in their final domestic game of the season.

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Ronaldo scored a brace in Al-Nassr's winBroke Saudi League scoring record in a seasonAl-Nassr ended the league campaign on a highGetty ImagesTELL ME MORE

Ronaldo broke the Saudi Pro League scoring record in a single season as he scored twice to guide Al-Nassir to a 4-2 win over Al-Ittihad in their final league game of the season. The 39-year-old broke the deadlock at the stroke of half-time after receiving a long ball from Mohammed Al-Fatil. The Portuguese star chested the ball down before pushing it into the back of the net.

He then shattered the scoring record of 34 goals in a single Saudi Pro League campaign – previously held by Abderrazak Hamdallah – in the 69th minute when he converted a clinical header from Marcelo Brozovic's corner. It was also the Portuguese's 50th goal across all competitions in as many games in the current campaign.

Al-Nassr then extended their lead in the 79th minute courtesy of a strike from Abdulrahman Ghareeb from the penalty spot but Al-Ittihad scored twice within a gap of four minutes to keep the clash alive until the end. Meshari Al-Nemer, however, scored a fourth goal for his team in the 95th minute to crush N'Golo Kante's side's hopes of staging a late comeback and securing at least a point.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE MVP

Ronaldo was simply unstoppable in his last game of the season as the forward looked hungry for goals right from the word go. Despite seeing two of his attempts ruled out due to offside, the Portuguese managed to break yet another record in Saudi Arabia and sign off in style.

THE BIG LOSER

Al-Ittihad defender Suwailem Abdullah Awadh was at fault for bringing down Ronaldo just outside the penalty box which earned him a direct red card and reduced his side to 10 men. Shortly after his sending-off, the Al-Nassr star completed his brace which sealed the fate of the game.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Luis Castro's side will be next seen in action on Friday as they take on Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal, who finished their top-flight campaign with an unbeaten record, in the King Cup final.

Ashes hopefuls Peter Siddle and James Pattinson shared eight wickets between them as Victoria rolled New South Wales to all but guarantee a home Sheffield Shield final at Junction Oval after a low scoring affair in Sydney ended comfortably inside three days.Set 166 for victory, the Blues never recovered from the early strikes by Siddle and Pattinson with the new ball, as the latter plucked 5 for 25 on his return to the Victorian team from injury, while Siddle finished with six victims for the match.Pattinson’s speed and swerve were particularly striking, while Siddle’s reliability and experience made him the ideal counterpoint. Uncertain injury returns for Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have left the national selectors thinking more broadly in terms of their Ashes options, with Harry Conway’s swing and bounce also a feature of the match.The hosts slipped as low as 9 for 54 in their pursuit of the target before the captain Peter Nevill and the last man Steve O’Keefe added a last gasp 48 to briefly give the visitors something to worry about. However Scott Boland teased out O’Keefe to finish the match, and leave the Victorians a game clear of the rest on the Shield table, pending the outcome of Western Australia’s match against Tasmania in Hobart.

Arsenal have deployed chiefs to assess the performances of an overseas defender live in action ahead of a possible future move, according to a fresh report.

Gunners contract latest

According to 90min, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu have both entered talks to discuss new deals in the capital, and whilst that could be fantastic news for the long-term future of the club should they both put pen to paper, there may well be a problem in the here and now.

During Tuesday’s Premier League 4-3 victory over Luton Town, Tomiyasu was missing due to a calf injury, and with Mikel Arteta confirming after the game that he would be sidelined for a while, the manager may look to recruit a replacement at right-back.

Arsenal to seal new contract for "terrific" ace; he'll gain large wage hike

Arsenal lead the way in the Premier League and now look to be close to securing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Dec 3, 2023

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has emerged as a potential target despite still having another five years remaining on his terms with Xabi Alonso's side (Bayer Leverkusen contracts), but it’s not the first time the 22-year-old has been on the radar at the Emirates Stadium.

The Netherlands international was reportedly in talks to join the Gunners over the summer, and while a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline, the hierarchy appear to be taking a second bite of the cherry during the upcoming window.

Arsenal send scouts for Frimpong

According to 90min once again, Frimpong was watched by Arsenal and top-flight rivals Liverpool in Bayer Leverkusen's most recent fixture that took place last weekend.

"Arsenal and Liverpool were present to watch Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong during Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund, 90min understands.

"The 22-year-old has a £35m release clause which expires this summer – his deal as a whole runs until 2028 – and that figure would appear to represent tremendous market value given he has played consistently well in the Bundesliga and has experience of playing in both the Champions League and Europa League."

Frimpong is an "astonishing" player

While Frimpong is naturally a right-back, he seems to be stronger in the offensive aspect of his game which he’s proven this season by posting 10 contributions, six assists and four goals, in 13 Bundesliga appearances (Transfermarkt – Frimpong statistics).

The Amsterdam native also currently ranks in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, showing just how much he loves to use his athletic pace, dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third (FBRef – Frimpong statistics).

Sponsored by Puma, Arteta’s target even has experience competing in both the Champions League and the Europa League, so not only may he possess a winning mentality at the top, but he also appears to be at the top of his age with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.

For all of the positive qualities that he has in his locker, Frimpong would be an “astonishing” addition to any team, as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so this could be a no-brainer of a deal to pursue should the right opportunity present itself in January.

علق جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك، على انسحاب الفارس الأبيض من مواجهة الأهلي في بطولة الدوري المصري الموسم المنقضي.

وكان الزمالك قد قرر عدم خوض مباراة الأهلي بالجولة السابعة والعشرين من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل” 2023-2024، اعتراضًا على نظام المسابقة.

جوميز يتغزل في ثنائي الزمالك.. ويصرح: سنعمل على حل هذه المشكلة بالموسم الجديد

وقال جوميز في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورتس 2”: “عن انسحاب الزمالك من مباراة القمة، فالأهلي لديه لاعبين عظماء، وأظهر أنه من الممكن أن يلعب بـ 11 لاعب مختلف ويحافظ على نفس الجودة، فريق قوي جدًا ولا أحد يخفي ذلك”.

وأضاف: “يستغلون قوتهم كفريق وتختلف هذه الطريقة عن طريقتنا، هم يغلقون الخطوط ويحمون منطقة الجزاء بشكل أفضل، ولا يتواجدون كثيرًا في منطقة جزاء المنافس، لديهم لاعبين بجودة عالية”.

وواصل: “الفريق يعكس طريقة تفكير المدير الفني، هم يحمون منطقة الجزاء ويغلقون كل المسارات ويستغلون جودة لاعبيهم لكي يصلون لمرمى المنافس، كل مرة يصلون لمنطقة جزاء المنافس يتسببون في خطورة”.

واستكمل: “نحن نفضل الدفاع العالي بعيدًا عن مرمانا ونحب خلق المساحات، ونلعب بشكل ذكي لاستغلال المساحات، ومواجهة الأهلي في الدوري تختلف عن مباراة البطولة، بالتأكيد النهائي له مذاق مختلف”.

وتابع: “لا يوجد لاعب في الأهلي لمع بشكل ملفت للنظر، لكني أرى أن الأهلي فريق متماسك وقوي كفريق، نقطة قوتهم أنهم يلعبون كفريق، أنا شاهدت معظم مبارياتهم، ولا أستطيع أن أقول أن هذا اللاعب هو الذي يمكنه حصد الـ 3 نقاط للفريق”.

وأتم: “أما عن إمكانية الاعتماد على الناشئين في الموسم المُقبل، فحراس المرمى أعطونا انطباع جميل، الشناوي وعمر، وهما حارسان جيدان، سنرى إذا كانا سيحافظان على مستواهما أم لا، الاستمرارية هامة، أنت تلعب في ناد كبير يلعب تحت ضغوط، عليك أن تستمر”.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, there has been much talk about the areas where Arsenal could strengthen.

Will it be in defence? Well, after the injury to Jurrien Timber adding more depth in that position could well be a smart call.

However, a move to really take the Gunners to the next level could be in attack. Ivan Toney has long thought to be a target of Mikel Arteta but there are three concerns over a potential deal this winter.

First of all, Toney hasn't played any football this season yet after being banned for betting offences, Brentford and Thomas Frank don't want to sell, and if they do, it could take the best part of £100m.

The January market is never easy to conclude deals, particularly one of that magnitude, which means Edu and co may have to wait until next summer to bolster their attacking armoury.

Toney is perfect for Raya

It would be rude of us to suggest that Brentford are a route one team under Frank. That wouldn't be doing their side justice at all.

Indeed, they can play equally as well with the ball on the deck, punishing teams on the counterattack and winding them down courtesy of players such as Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.

However, when the Bees had Toney and David Raya in their ranks, it provided a different layer to the game.

Arsenal fans will know all too well that their new goalkeeper is adept with the ball at his feet and Brentford used that to their advantage to play long into Toney, a striker who very rarely loses an individual duel against a defender.

Last season, no goalkeeper had more touches per 90 in the Premier League than the Spaniard's 45.32 but crucially, he was one of the best when it came to passing. Equally, no stopper could better Raya's success from passes longer than 40 yards up the pitch. On average in the top-flight last term, he completed 9.13 per game.

This was largely because he had one of the best target men in the division to aim for; Toney. Their two styles of play complement each other beautifully well, with the busy Brentford striker winning 3.32 aerials per 90 minutes in 2022/23, enough to rank him in the top 9% of strikers in the league. For reference, Everton's Calvert-Lewin was the best with 5.10 per 90.

What that means is that more often than not, Toney was able to win long balls forward from Raya. The perfect match.

Arsenal already have their own Ivan Toney

Of course, signing the Brentford marksman in 2024 would bring huge benefits. There is that pre-existing relationship with Raya to consider and how that could be utilised to Arsenal's strengths, while his 21 goals last term is also a pretty attractive thing.

However, it's possible that Arteta already has his own version of Toney in their ranks. Enter Kai Havertz.

The German has been a polarising figure since signing from Chelsea in the summer for £65m, but appears to finally be finding his groove in north London.

Havertz scored the late winner against none other than Brentford a week ago and then also scored the opener in their 6-0 demolition of Lens in midweek. It was perhaps a surprise, therefore, to see him on the bench for the visit of Wolves.

Arsenal could force Havertz into a new role by signing £52m PL star

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ByTom Lever Nov 28, 2023

It might well be difficult to work out what the former Chelsea man has brought with him since arriving but one thing is for certain, just like Toney, he's a menace in the air.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the "special" player as Paul Merson dubbed him, offers something no other Arsenal player can do in the final third, an aerial presence.

Last season, Havertz ranked inside the top 13% of forward players in the Premier League for aerials won per 90 with 2.77, a statistic that when compared with attacking midfielders placed him in the very best 2%.

Player & ranking

Duels won

#1 Tomas Soucek

114

#2 Kai Havertz

79

#3 Rodri

72

#4 Joao Palhinha

71

#5 Joelinton

66

#6 Jefferson Lerma

62

Stats via FBref.

It's not quite the same level as Toney but it gives Raya a focal point to aim for and we've already seen it in action this season. Only on Saturday in the dying embers of the game did we see Arteta screaming at his goalkeeper to find the German. What happened? Well, the 'keeper used his vision to pick out Havertz who was able to retain the ball high up the pitch for his team.

This is a method that we're set to see throughout the rest of the season, it's just a shame their £280k-per-week summer signing doesn't offer the same level of goal threat as a certain Toney.