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Middle-order batsman Umar Akmal has been out of favour for a while, but he has stormed back into the headlines with an explosive attack against Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur. In a press conference in Lahore, Akmal accused Arthur of using abusive language against him and barring him from using coaching facilities at the National Cricket Academy, saying he had to “earn that right”.Akmal said he was “insulted” by the head coach and deprived of the opportunity to “improve myself”. The PCB took swift notice of his outburst, issuing a show-cause notice demanding he respond within a fortnight.The latest saga in Akmal’s downward spiral of a career began when he was named in a national high performance camp organised by the NCA. He pulled out, citing a knee injury and according to him, had informed the relevant officials – including head coach Mushtaq Ahmed – and excused himself for five weeks, during which he intended to undergo rehabilitation with his private trainer in England. Despite returning earlier than expected, the camp had already concluded.”I had gone to England for rehabilitation of my knee injury,” said Akmal. “After I recovered, I went to the NCA to start working on my fitness and training. But the coaching staff doesn’t want to work with me at all. When I asked why all those international coaches didn’t want to work with me, they responded that they wanted to prioritise working with players who had central contracts. I said that I too am an international Pakistan cricketer, and if my fitness is lacking – and I admit that along the way my fitness has been found wanting – they should help me.Umar Akmal was dumped from Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy after failing a fitness test•Getty Images

“I then went to talk to the chief selector (Inzamam), but he referred me to Mickey Arthur. Arthur took me back to Inzi bhai’s room and started scolding me and using bad language in front of Inzi bhai, which I found demeaning and insulting. It’s not even my fault, and I find it painful that anyone should be allowed to swear at me. I accept my fitness isn’t up to the mark, and I am trying to work on it, and I asked to be allowed a trainer to help me. But Mickey said I shouldn’t even have come to the NCA, and should be playing club cricket instead.”Arthur confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that an exchange had taken place with Akmal, in which he informed Akmal that as he was no longer a contracted player, he needed to earn back the right to use the NCA.”I did tell him [Umar Akmal] a few home truths and said he was always looking for excuses instead of looking at himself,” Arthur said. “I also told him that he had to earn the right to use our support staff because he is not a contracted cricketer. He can’t just walk in here and demand what he wants.”Arthur has over the last year made improving Pakistan’s fitness standards a central focus of his coaching tenure. On various occasions, he has been candid, and at times censorious, when airing his views about the fitness of a number of Pakistan players, including Akmal. The PCB has thrown its support behind his fitness campaign, and given him free hand to axe players who did not meet his fitness standards.Akmal was sent back home from England after failing two fitness tests leading up to the start of the Champions Trophy – despite initially being included in the squad. Akmal had previously been dropped from a tour of the West Indies in April for similar reasons. He was excluded from that squad after he was the only player, out of 31, to fail the fitness test during a camp held at the National Cricket Academy in March.”He [Mickey] shouldn’t be swearing at me like that, it is like he’s abusing all of Pakistan,” complained Akmal. “You look at any cricket match, and you’ll see he’s swearing at one player or the other. I want to reveal this to the public and to all my fans. I request the chairman [Najam Sethi] to take this issue very seriously. When the head coach is allowed to swear at someone whenever they wish, that is unacceptable. As a Pakistani, I could not stomach it.”I want to tell them that even when I try to do something good, I am prevented from doing so. When I take pictures with my fans, they, too, tell me to work on my fitness, and I feel they are right. But now I want to rectify this, everything is being snatched away from me. Why do academies exist? They exist to correct our mistakes. Now you should tell me what to do; I am a Pakistan player.”With Arthur’s position stronger than it has arguably been at any point in his stint as Pakistan coach in the wake of the Champions Trophy triumph, Akmal’s outburst is likely to make an already ropey international future more uncertain still.

Zimbabwe’s head coach believes his team has the goods to beat any side, but constantly losing talent has not made their job easy

Sa'adi Thawfeeq28-Jun-2017

Zimbabwe’s consistent spells as the bottom-ranked team, 25 years after being granted Test status, are down to sporadic scheduling and the subsequent migration of players, said their head coach Heath Streak. Speaking to the media ahead of the first match of their Sri Lanka tour, Streak highlighted the difficulty of retaining talent with large gaps in the calendar.”It’s well-documented [that] there have been a lot of players who have left and are playing around the world who come from Zimbabwe,” he said.SL focused on moving ahead, insists Mathews

Sri Lanka have had troubles of their own, with fast bowler Lasith Malinga given a suspended ban of six months for a breach of contract, mere days after Graham Ford resigned as head coach. The captain Angelo Mathews, however, insisted the team will not be distracted by these off-field episodes.
“What happens outside the cricket field, we don’t think a lot about it. Our job is to concentrate on our cricket. As players we always look to perform well,” said Mathews.
“It’s beyond our control (Graham) Ford leaving. Our job is to go out there and perform at our very best. Fordy has been fantastic, one of the best in the business, but we’ve got to move on and look ahead towards this series.”

“It’s been tough for Zimbabwe to retain some of these players and hence we are constantly rebuilding. We’ve got a lot of young guys in our team. If you look around the world, and look at Zimbabweans internationally, we’ve got the likes of Gary Ballance, the Curran boys Sam and Tom, who just debuted for England, and Kyle Jarvis playing county cricket successfully.”We’ve got a lot of these guys out there whom we are trying to lure back. Part of their problem is the volume of cricket that Zimbabwe plays. That’s something that we can’t address, obviously. It’s a Catch 22 situation. We’ve got to play good competitive cricket for other countries to give us matches and that’s something we are really targeting [to do].”Hopefully we can get some of those players to return to Zimbabwe and complement a talented group of players that we have brought to the shores of Sri Lanka. It’s going to be a challenge because of the lack of cricket. We have these big gaps in between series and that’s probably our biggest challenge to get the guys to get used to playing at elite level.”The situation, in addition to having an impact on Zimbabwe’s performance on the field, has also been ‘a big challenge’ for Streak as head coach.”You inherit the players and your job is to try and get the best out of them. I certainly think that the team we’ve got here has got the ability to win against any side,” he said.”We had some good preparation coming into the series and I am looking forward to a lot of guys who can pull around. The future of Zimbabwe cricket is brighter if we keep doing the right things.”

A double career-best performance from Nathan Buck was the highlight of another hard fought day between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire

ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2017
ScorecardA double career-best performance from Nathan Buck was the highlight of another hard fought day between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in the Division Two match at Derby.Buck followed figures of 5 for 68 with 43 out of a ninth wicket stand of 89 with Max Holden who made an unbeaten 68 as Northants recovered from 171 for 8 to reach 291 for 9 at the close in reply to Derbyshire’s 281.Will Davis with four wickets supported by sharp slip catching had put Derbyshire in charge before Buck and Holden kept their side in the game with a fighting partnership in the final session.England batsman Ben Duckett and opening partner Rob Newton made half centuries to give Northants a solid platform but rash strokes transformed the contest after lunch.Buck had taken two of the last four Derbyshire wickets in the morning as the home side added 62 runs with eighth-wicket pair Alex Hughes and Tom Milnes contributing 42 in 11 overs.Northants had the best conditions to bat in and when Duckett and Newton were together in bright sunshine, it looked ominous for the home side until poor shot selection allowed Derbyshire a way back.Duckett had reached 50 with successive fours off Sri Lankan legspinner Jeevan Mendis but he then aimed a big drive at Shiv Thakor and was well taken at second slip by Daryn Smit who did well to knock up an edge from Alex Wakely for Wayne Madsen to take a good reaction catch.Madsen did even better with a one-handed grab to hold Newton’s top-edged cut at Davis and when Northants lost four wickets in eight overs after tea, Derbyshire were poised to take a substantial first innings lead.But Holden and Buck displayed the selectivity the recognised batsmen lacked to frustrate the home side for 20 overs with Buck straight-driving Mendis for six before he went back to the spinner and was lbw.But that was not the end of Northants’ resistance as Holden and Ben Sanderson gave their side a slender lead which had looked highly unlikely when Rory Kleinveldt was caught behind off Davis.It all added up to a disappointing evening session for Derbyshire who also lost Thakor when he left the field with what appeared to be an ankle injury after he went over in his follow-through.

Arsenal are seemingly far from finished spending big this window, with another huge target having now emerged…

What's the latest on Aurelien Tchouameni to Arsenal?

Reports coming out of Spain are the latest to suggest that the Gunners are now bidding for another midfield general.

Despite slowly progressing over a £105m deal to sign Declan Rice, Mikel Arteta is wasting no time in securing the perfect man to partner the West Ham United captain.

It is noted that an astronomical €90m (£77m) bid has been lodged for Aurelien Tchouameni, although Real Madrid still view the French international as untouchable.

Such a mouth-watering fee though has caught the attention of Carlo Ancelotti, but it will likely take an even more sizable offer to tempt them to sell and him to leave the Spanish capital after just one year.

How good is Aurelien Tchouameni?

Whilst many might have assumed that the acquisition of Rice would inject some added defensive impetus into the engine room, it now could be argued that this fresh update suggests the England international will instead be relied on to create more than was first imagined.

That comes at a good time, considering he is coming off the back of a term where he notched six goal contributions and maintained one key pass per game in the Premier League for the Irons, via Sofascore.

Tchouameni boasts a plethora of starring qualities himself, but has earned particular fame for his work breaking up the play and setting away counterattacks.

If he was to be likened to anyone in world football, his calmness and ability to both dictate and break up play do draw comparisons with Manchester City's Rodri. FBref supplements this with his inclusion on the former AS Monaco star's 'similar players' list.

Arteta has not been afraid of mimicking Pep Guardiola's tactical ideals or personnel decisions in the past either, lending to this theory.

Last year the Spain international was instrumental in their treble-winning success, even scoring the winner in their Champions League final victory over Inter Milan. His presence at the base of their midfield was imperative in the control they exerted in almost every game they played.

Meanwhile, in the league he maintained an average rating of 7.32, buoyed by his 91% pass accuracy, 1.2 clearances and 1.9 tackles per game, via Sofascore. The foremost figure actually saw him rated as the ninth-best player in the whole division.

Although playtime has been hard to come by for Tchouameni in Madrid, he still has showcased the class which has led to a great deal of praise. Presenter Joe Flemons even noted: "A future Real Madrid midfield of Aurelién Tchouaméni & Eduardo Camavinga is a frightening prospect. Two sensational talents, already proving their worth at a top level and only getting better."

In La Liga, the 23-year-old would record a 7.13 average rating, also posting a 94% pass accuracy, 1.5 interceptions and 1.9 tackles per game all whilst only averaging 65 minutes per game, via Sofascore.

Despite being four years Rodri's junior, it could be argued that the World Cup finalist has already showcased a level that surpasses the 27-year-old, with room to grow exponentially.

Should Arteta tempt him to join his revolution, it could provide that finishing touch that truly takes them to a level where they can topple the unrelenting Citizens.

No Championship team has been as proactive in the summer transfer window as Sunderland, who continued their spending spree by bringing in Jenson Seelt from PSV over the weekend in a reported £1.7m deal.

Dutch defender Seelt is the Black Cats' fourth signing of the close season, following in the steps of Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, Nectar Triantis and Jobe Bellingham.

Tony Mowbray's side do not appear to have finished their recruitment drive just yet, though, with plenty more names being linked with a switch to the Stadium of Light.

Joe Gelhardt is one of those on Mowbray's radar following a spell on loan on Wearside last season, with the experienced manager revealing in April he would be interested in landing the Leeds United youngster on a permanent deal.

What can Joe Gelhardt bring to Sunderland?

Having been restricted to just one Premier League start in the first half of the 2022-23 season, Gelhardt was given the chance to play more regularly on loan with Sunderland in the final four months of the campaign.

The 21-year-old scored three times and assisted three more in 20 league outings for the Black Cats, who narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

Gelhardt's return of 0.45 combined goals and assists per 90 minutes, as per FBref, was better than that of highly regarded Patrick Roberts (0.41) and only slightly lower than Jack Clarke – a target for numerous Premier League clubs – at 0.48, albeit the latter playing 27 games more in a show of his consistency.

Having only turned 21 last month, it is clear that Gelhardt is a player who has his best years ahead of him but is already showing immense talent.

"What a player this kid is going to be," talkSPORT host Adrian Durham said in October 2021. "He was astonishing for Leeds at the weekend. He should be involved in far more games. I think [Marcelo Bielsa's] been a bit reluctant to use him because of his age, but get him in there."

As Mowbray pointed out towards the end of last season, Leeds' relegation from the Premier League may work against his side, with the Whites perhaps looking toward the £15k-per-week youngster to spearhead their drive back to the top flight.

But Sunderland should at the very least test the waters to sign a player who averaged 2.48 shots per 90 minutes for them last season (only Ross Stewart with 3.71 can better that among players still at the club), as well as leading the way for fouls won per 90 (2.56), both highlighting his ability to get involved in play.

The England U20 international still has plenty of areas to improve on, such as finding the net from more of his attempts (his 0.09 goals per shot was bettered by nine Sunderland players last term), but he is the perfect type of player for Mowbray to continue to mould.

With four new signings already in the squad, each ready to challenge for a first-team spot, it may well be that Gelhardt is the final piece of this spending spree for Mowbray.

Darren Sammy struck an unbeaten 27-ball 55 to complete a heist and lead Rajshahi Kings to the second qualifier by beating Chittagong Vikings by three wickets in the eliminator

The Report by Mohammad Isam06-Dec-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDarren Sammy hammered an unbeaten 55 to complete Rajshahi’s come-from-behind win•Raton Gomes/BCB

Darren Sammy blitzed a 27-ball 55 to lead Rajshahi Kings to the second qualifier after they beat Chittagong Vikings by three wickets in Mirpur. Rajshahi recovered from 57 for 6 to chase down 143 in 18.3 overs after Sammy put on 37 and 49 with Mehedi Hasan and Farhad Reza respectively. Chittagong were knocked out of the competition.Sammy cracked Mohammad Nabi for three fours in the 12th over to get the chase rolling again. Mehedi’s needless run-out in the 15th over dented their progress, but Sammy smashed three fours past point in the next over, bowled by Subhasis Roy. Sammy reached his second fifty of the tournament with a straight six off Nabi, before Farhad struck two fours to seal the chase.Sammy was unbeaten on 55 with seven fours and two sixes, while Farhad struck three fours in his 11-ball 19. As soon as he struck the winning runs, the Rajshahi players celebrated in their unique style of pretending to take group photos and selfies.Chittagong, though, lost their way towards the end of their innings where they lost 30 runs in the last 5.1 overs. The top order had set a strong platform and a strengthened batting line-up was unable to capitalise. Chittagong included Dwayne Smith as an opener, pushing Chris Gayle to No. 3, just the sixth time he has not opened a T20 innings.After fast bowler Kesrick Williams had Smith caught at slip in the third over, Gayle launched five sixes, four over the straight boundary. However, Gayle chipped a full toss off James Franklin to long-on, which began Rajshahi’s comeback. His 44 came off 30 balls.Shoaib Malik and Tamim Iqbal, who made a record equalling sixth fifty in the BPL, lofted catches into the cover region before Mohammad Nabi was brilliantly run out by a Sabbir Rahman throw from the deep midwicket boundary in the penultimate over.In the same over, Williams removed Abdur Razzak and Taskin Ahmed to complete his second four-wicket haul in T20s.

When Tottenham Hotspur reached the Champions League final in 2019, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the ambitious London outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino had crafted one of the most eye-catching and fluid teams in the Premier League and, despite the loss on that fateful day by the hand of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the rich pool of talent tantalised green pastures over yonder.

Instead, the dismissal of Antonio Conte this year was the fourth permanent manager discarded in as many years, and the failure to qualify for European football this term has underscored the issues that the club is currently beset with.

Ange Postecoglou has now been appointed and supporters will eagerly anticipate how the Australian will bolster the squad this summer.

One of his first moves could be to seal a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has been linked with a departure from Camp Nou after just one season and has been reported by Spanish publication AS to be of interest to the Lilywhites.

As per the report, a fee of €35m (£30m) could be required to prise him away, and given his imposing physicality and tendency to progress play with his barging presence, he could suit English football and Postecoglou's system to a tee.

Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?

Dubbed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international won Serie A last term and LaLiga this season, making 43 appearances for Xavi's outfit but only starting seven times in the league, consequently discontented with life in Catalonia and ostensibly seeking an exit, with Spurs all too willing to enrich their ranks.

If he is managed aptly, Kessie could be moulded as Tottenham's next version of Dele Alli, with the England international suffering misfortune and a plummet from prominence over the past several seasons but unequivocally one of the most prodigious talents to ever grace Premier League soil.

Alli plundered 67 goals and 61 assists from 269 appearances for Spurs before losing his spark and being shipped out to Everton at the midpoint of the 21/22 campaign, having now completed an unsuccessful season-long loan move with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.

At his resounding best, Alli was lauded as a talent with the "world at his feet" by Frank Lampard and "very special" by Xavi – two former stars who know a thing or two about how to succeed as a first-rate midfielder.

The one-time MK Dons youngster was best suited to an attacking role deployed behind the all-encompassing talisman Harry Kane, almost a shadow striker at times, and wreaked havoc with his unflinching approach and devastating offensive potency.

Praised as an "amazing player" by former Spurs 'keeper Paul Robinson, Kessie can emulate this; he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, as per FBref, driving forward just like the 37-cap England ace.

And while the former AC Milan gem has been a peripheral figure with La Blaugrana this year, 19 goals across his final two seasons in Serie A, complemented by clinching the Scudetto last term, illustrates a goal-scoring prowess and a "devastating" danger, as remarked by Antonio Cassano, to match Alli's – who posted 37 strikes across his first three top-flight campaigns.

Kessie's possible transfer to Tottenham could well be an unmitigated success, with Kane's superlative skill as one of football's most creative striking focal points – ranking among the top 10% of strikers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 – providing Kessie with the perfect platform to unleash the full might of his attacking arsenal.

Forging a battle for top four and a confident domestic cup run is imperative next year and with Kessie's signing, the return to the former free-flowing football that left the Spurs support in raucous rapture could return to cast aside the cobwebs of the 22/23 term and drape the curtain irrevocably on the recent woes.

Aston Villa are edging closer to signing one of Unai Emery’s former players in La Liga, with Villa Park looking like a possible destination for a highly-rated defender – as per reports.

The Spaniard has given the club a new lease of life since his arrival in October, taking the Villans from a side with a below-average prognosis to one set to contend in Europe next season.

With his extensive CV comes a significant pull in the transfer window, as communicated by the quality of Villa’s reported targets this summer.

What’s the latest on Pau Torres to Aston Villa?

As originally reported by Football Transfers at the beginning of the month, Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres is a player wanted by Emery in the Premier League.

The two worked together in La Liga, with the Villa boss claiming he had “never seen” a centre-back like the 26-year-old throughout his coaching career.

The latest news has revealed that Villa are reportedly “leading the race” to capture the defender’s signature, as per GIVEMESPORT and journalist Rudy Galetti.

The report states that the Midlands club are in a “privileged position” due to Emery’s relationship with his former player, who has a release clause of around £43m.

What could Pau Torres bring to Aston Villa?

Praised by former Villarreal player and youth coach Javi Calleja as being an “extraordinary talent”, Torres has established himself as one of Spain’s most promising defenders.

The centre-back is not only monstrous in defence but is one of the best ball carriers in his position in Europe, as shown by his numbers over the past year.

As highlighted by FBref, the Spaniard ranks in the top 1% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues in progressive carries, averaging a huge 2.25 per 90, earning praise as being a “pattern breaker” for his ventures up field.

The 26-year-old could bring so much to Villa’s defence, and the Premier League, leaving Emery with a tough decision for selection due to the emergence of Tyrone Mings.

The Englishman has hit his best form under the Spaniard, earning him an international call-up and applause for his rise to form.

While the 30-year-old’s numbers are similar to that of Torres in La Liga this season, the defender could be in for a battle for his starting place alongside Ezri Konsa, with the consideration that Emery may opt to build for the future and ditch him in favour of a youthful partnership in central defence.

In comparison to Torres, Mings averages 4.5 clearances per game to the Spaniard’s 4.2, with both defenders winning an average of 62% of their total duels this campaign – as per Sofascore.

The 26-year-old betters the Villa centre-back in terms of tackles per 90, registering an average of 1.3 to the Englishman’s 0.4 per game as well as being significantly stronger in transition with Mings averaging just 0.57 progressive carries per 90.

When speaking to The Athletic in April, Emery admitted that he wanted to have depth in each position to improve performance, which he could do in signing Torres with reference to Mings’ future.

It’s a favoured predicament to be in should the Spaniard get the signing over the line, however, one that can only benefit the squad.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has left pundits waxing lyrical from all angles for how he has constructed a robust and free-flowing outfit from relegation-threatened strugglers.

Since the £300m PIF takeover in October 2021, the Magpies' fortunes have turned around most resoundingly, and despite the overt opulence of the club's new owners, transfer business has been conducted shrewdly.

Dan Burn, for example, was signed for his hometown club for £13m in January 2022 to kickstart a prosperous run that has yet to falter, the Magpies perched in third place in the Premier League and on course for a return to the Champions League with just three matches to play.

Considering this, Howe is looking to fortify his ranks with signings across the pitch, and despite Burn's success as a makeshift left-back this season, has earmarked Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney as an option for transfer this summer.

According to The Sun, technical director Dan Ashworth is planning to instigate a £30m raid on the Gunners for the Scotsman, who has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta's wing, with the Magpies boss actively searching for a new left-back.

Should Newcastle sign Kieran Tierney?

Despite his recent woes in north London, Tierney remains a dynamic and exciting full-back and there is no reason why he cannot reignite his career under Howe's tutelage on Tyneside.

Signing for Arsenal from Celtic for £25m on transfer deadline day in 2019, Tierney has won the FA Cup and Community Shield with the Emirates-based outfit and forged 120 displays for the club, scoring five goals and supplying 14 assists, hailed as a "warrior" by distinguished former left-back Ashley Cole.

This season, the 25-year-old has played 33 times, scoring once and assisting twice, but found a starting berth in the top-flight on only five occasions, with £32m summer acquisition Oleksandr Zinchenko cementing the position as his own.

With Arsenal making commendable progress over the past few years under Arteta, it's difficult to argue that Tierney deserves a permanent place when the ship is flowing with such formidable conviction, but at Newcastle he could solidify the left flank as his own for years to come.

As per FBref, the £110k-per-week ace ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for total shots, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 21% for rate of assists per 90.

Prospectively sealing a transfer, Howe could emulate the success of Liverpool's Andy Robertson on Tyneside, with Tierney's compatriot flourishing as one of the world's best in his position since signing for the Reds for a scant £10m from Hull City in 2017.

The 60-cap Scotland captain has won a wealth of major honours at Anfield including the Premier League and Champions League and currently boasts the highest assist tally of any defender in Premier League history, hailed as a "Duracell Bunny" by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott for his unrelenting presence down the left.

With Tierney boasting passing proficiency of his own and an aptitude at carrying the ball up the pitch, as highlighted via his FBref statistics, Newcastle could soon sign a dynamic new defender to steer them towards illustrious success.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have officially confirmed their place as a Premier League club for the 2023/24 campaign after avoiding relegation to the Championship.

Julen Lopetegui's side are nine points clear of the drop zone with two matches left to play and can now concentrate on building a squad ready to compete higher up the table next season.

One player who could be on his way to join the pack is Lens central defender Kevin Danso, who is a reported transfer target for Wolves heading into the transfer window.

Earlier this month, 90min reported that the club were on one of a number of Premier League teams who scouted the Austrian gem this season, with a view to a possible swoop in the summer.

Who is Kevin Danso?

The 24-year-old is an excellent centre-back who currently plays for Lens in Ligue 1 and a player who could come in as Lopetegui's own version of Manchester City star Ruben Dias.

Since arriving in England, the Portuguese monster has won the Premier League title twice, potentially soon to be a third time this month, and picked up the Player of the Year award in the top flight in 2021.

The ex-Benfica man is a strong defender who is also able to use his ability and composure on the ball to start attacks for Pep Guardiola's side and Danso could fulfil a similar role for Wolves.

In Ligue 1 this season, the "rapid" – as he was once described by journalist Josh Bunting – Austrian has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 and won 64% of his individual duels, which shows that he is able to deliver quality performances on a regular basis whilst also dominating opposition players in physical battles.

Dias, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 or higher in all three of his Premier League seasons to date and has won 58% of his duels in the division this term.

These statistics show that both defenders are able to perform to a similar level week-in-week-out whilst winning the majority of their clashes with opposition attackers in their respective leagues.

Both players also rank in the top 21% of players in their position in Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days for progressive passes per 90 and pass completion success rate respectively.

This shows that they are reliable passers who can also break lines and progress the ball up the pitch by aiming to find midfielders and forwards in good positions, rather than being safe and leaving it to the others to take risks.

FBref lists Dias as one of the most similar players to Danso, based on their respective statistics over the last 365 days, and Lopetegui could now land his own version of the Portuguese star by swooping for the 6 foot 3 Lens "colossus" – as he was dubbed by Timo Werner – this summer.