Aston Villa have missed out on signing Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio, however the Villans are reportedly in the mix to capture another star from the Spanish capital.

Unai Emery has given the club a significant pull ahead of the summer transfer window, both on the pitch in sealing European football and off it with his individual accolades in his lucrative managerial career.

Villa shouldn’t feel discouraged by Asensio’s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain, with another option suggesting a new candidate to join Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Joao Felix to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa have emerged as one of the options for Portuguese ace Joao Felix to relocate this summer.

The report states that Emery would be “delighted” to sign the 23-year-old, speaking in a press conference earlier this season regarding Felix’s move to Chelsea.

At the time, the Spaniard suggested the youngster was “better” than Villa, however with the club securing European football next campaign, the tides could change this summer.

What could Joao Felix bring to Aston Villa?

Lauded by Jose Mourinho as being an “incredible talent”, the forward has an impressive array of experience in European football behind him, despite being just 23.

The youngster has contributed to a total of 107 goals in his budding career, scoring 72 and assisting 35 playing at Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea – as per Transfermarkt.

After having disagreements with Diego Simeone, Felix has been searching for a new home, with Chelsea declining the option to sign the player permanently after a loan deal that came at a tough time for the Blues.

Despite playing in a disjointed Stamford Bridge squad, the forward showed his worth, scoring four goals in 11 starts in his debut season in the Premier League.

The attributes that the forward could offer Villa are endless, especially as Philippe Coutinho looks likely to depart this summer, with the Atletico gem being the perfect upgrade to the underachieving Brazilian.

When comparing the two, the Portuguese starlet gives a glimpse of what Coutinho could have been at Villa, and what he could give the club should he opt to join Emery’s project.

The £195k-per-week ace averages a mammoth 0.35 goals per 90, as well as being a live wire in the final third, as shown through his average of 4.04 shots on goal per 90 – as per FBref.

The former Liverpool magician falls short in both areas, averaging 0.11 goals per 90 and 2.40 shots per 90, showing that Felix would be a firm upgrade in the advanced areas.

A similar pattern is highlighted in the duo’s progressive play, with Coutinho averaging 2.06 progressive carries to the former Chelsea forwards’ 3.11 per 90, communicating his desire to get forward which is integral in Emery’s set-up.

Hailed as being “special” by the Villa coach himself, Felix could thrive in the Spaniard’s project at Villa, becoming one of the club’s star players and having an area to enjoy his football under a manager that can accommodate his playing style.

Cameos from Darren Sammy and Umar Akmal late in Rajshahi Kings’ innings gave them enough momentum to beat Rangpur Riders by 12 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDarren Sammy’s 18-ball 44, along with Umar Akmal saw them add 70 runs in the last 37 balls•BCB

Rajshahi Kings’ bowlers latched on to the momentum of Darren Sammy’s late assault to defend 162 and beat Rangpur Riders by 12 runs. Rajshahi rose from 94 for 5 to post 162 thanks to a 70-run partnership between Sammy and Umar Akmal for the sixth wicket, which came off only 37 deliveries. That was sufficient to put Rangpur under pressure, given their most successful chase in this season was 126.Losing Mohammad Shahzad in the seventh over was a blow for Rangpur but Mohammad Mithun and Nasir Jamshed led a brief recovery, adding 40 runs for the second wicket. Mithun waged a lone battle after Jamshed fell, and then watched as Soumya Sarkar, Anwar Ali and Liam Dawson were dismissed, leaving the score at 119 for 5 in the 17th over. With a six over long-on, Mithun reached his fifty in the 18th over, and Rangpur went into the last two overs needing 28.Mohammad Sami, however, bowled a tight penultimate over, giving away just three singles. Mithun slammed his fourth six in the final over but his unbeaten 64 off 36 balls was not enough to take Rangpur over the line.Earlier, Rajshahi’s innings got off to a rollicking start as Sabbir Rahman struck four boundaries and a six before falling in the seventh over for a 24-ball 31. Rangpur fought back in the next seven overs to reduce Rajshahi to 94 for 5.Sammy and Akmal hit a flurry of boundaries, taking 17, 15 and 23 off the last three overs. Sammy struck three fours and four sixes – over long-off, square-leg and midwicket – in his unbeaten 44 off 18 balls, while Akmal hammered two fours and a six in his 33 not out

The Gunners are crazy to be spending up to £65 million on a dire finisher who is nowhere near as good as any of their starting forwards

About halfway through last season, Andy Townsend was asked about Chelsea's goalscoring problems during an interview with and confessed that he didn't "quite get" Kai Havertz. It was a wholly understandable admission. The Germany international is one of the European game's most curious players.

We're talking about a 24-year-old who has already scored winning goals in the finals of both the Champions League and the Club World Cup – and yet is renowned for his poor finishing and lack of a fixed position. Nobody seems very sure of what kind of player Havertz, or whether Chelsea's £75 million ($96m) signing from Bayer Leverkusen is even any good.

And the debate over the attacker's true value has only intensified in recent days, after it emerged that Arsenal are about to commit to spending up to £65m ($83m) to sign him.

Getty ImagesArsenal's more pressing concerns

A small section of supporters called for caution, arguing that Mikel Arteta has clearly seen something in Havertz that many others have not. Others were outraged, though, wondering what on earth Arsenal are doing even entertaining the idea of signing a player who has scored just 19 times in 91 Premier League appearances. The one thing that united the fanbase was a sense of shock, though, because nobody saw this coming, and it's easy to understand why.

Arsenal's brave bid to dethrone Manchester City as the champions of England didn't collapse because of a lack of an attacking threat from midfield or out wide. They scored 88 goals last season – just six fewer than Erling Haaland & Co.

No, Arsenal were ultimately punished for their defensive deficiencies, which were brutally exposed following William Saliba's season-ending injury. The Frenchman's absence, coupled with the mental and physical fatigue caused by trying to fend off City, resulted in costly draws and losses down the home stretch.

So, Arsenal's determination to sign a centre-back and a right-back this summer makes perfect sense. As does their interest in a winger to provide back-up for Bukayo Saka, who tired during the closing stages of the 2022-23 campaign, a replacement for Granit Xhaka and a top-class defensive midfielder to provide the back four with great protection.

AdvertisementGettyHavertz any better than Smith Rowe?

The hope is that the latter role will be filled by Declan Rice. Given the England international is held in the highest esteem, not only at West Ham, but also in Manchester, Arsenal are likely to have to pay around £100m ($128m) for the 24-year-old. Is Rice really worth such a fee? Maybe not, but he would be to Arsenal – and that's all that matters at the end of the day.

However, given it's going to take a colossal amount of cash to make that transfer happen, Arsenal's willingness to pay even £50m ($64m) – their opening bid – for Havertz is utterly baffling. The Gunners are not backed by a Gulf state, meaning that the eventual fee that they will pay for a player who would not walk straight into Arteta's starting line up is astronomical.

Indeed, the question has to be asked as to whether Havertz is as good as any other attacker that Arsenal presently have at their disposal. How much would he actually add to this team? Emile Smith Rowe couldn't get in the side last season – would Havertz fare any better?

GettyHavertz the new Zidane…

There is no doubting Havertz's potential. It's been obvious since he broke into the Leverkusen line-up at 17 and began breaking one club record after another. There was huge and wholly justified excitement surrounding a kid that missed the second leg of a Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid because he had to sit a school exam.

Lothar Matthaus, arguably the most complete midfielder in football history, called Havertz the most talented player to emerge in Germany for decades, even going so far as to compare him to the great Zinedine Zidane.

"He has set the bar very high – for me he was the player of the [2018-19] season," Matthaus told magazine. "If Havertz can maintain this high standard, with his natural talent, cleverness, presence on the pitch, and goal threat, then he could someday follow me as world footballer of the year."

Five years on, though, he looks nothing like a Ballon d'Or winner.

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GettyAdmired by Madrid

There was a brief spell in March and April of last year when it appeared as if Thomas Tuchel may have successfully unlocked Havertz. He netted five goals in five Premier League games, and also scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti was certainly impressed, as he asked Florentino Perez to try to sign Havertz last summer.

Talk of a transfer to Santiago Bernabeu resurfaced following Karim Benzema's shock exit, but it is believed that Madrid were put off by Chelsea's asking price – and Arsenal should be too.

Vinay Kumar returned from injury in style as Karnataka recorded their third successive win this season

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2016Karnataka captain Vinay Kumar capped his return from injury with a second-innings half-century and five-wicket haul that sent Vidarbha crashing to a 189-run loss inside three days in Vadodara. The win took Karnataka to their third victory in four games, thereby topping Group B at the season’s halfway mark.On a 17-wicket day in 71 overs, Karnataka first crumbled from 108 for 3 to 209 all out. Set 301 for victory, Vidarbha were skittled for 111, with Vinay returning 5 for 28.Left-arm pacer Shrikant Wagh (4 for 59) and Lalit Yadav ripped through Karnataka’s lower middle-order, before Vinay rescued them with 56 from No. 8. He hit eight fours along the way to build the lead.After top-scoring with the bat, Vinay returned to lead the bowling charge, by picking three of the first four wickets; Vidarbha slumped to 12 for 4 at one stage. Jitesh Sharma counter-attacked to make 61, before S Aravind and K Gowtham dismissed the tailenders to finish off the innings inside 37 overs.Saurashtra dismissed Assam for 171 in Kolkata with Jaydev Unadkat taking six wickets, but not before Assam took a first-innings lead of 18.Saurashtra started the day on 121 for 9 with Unadkat and Shaurya Sanandia adding 32 runs in the morning for a cumulative partnership of 46 runs for the final wicket – their highest in the innings. Unadkat’s 46 helped creep their score up to 153 before Sanadia was dismissed by Dhiraj Goswami.In the reply, Assam lost their first wicket in their second over and Unadkat’s double-strike in overs 13 and 15 saw them stranded at 26 for 3. But a 52-run partnership between Arun Karthik and Swarupam Purkayastha for the sixth-wicket took them close to Saurashtra’s score, before the former was dismissed for 57. Purkayastha was out the following over and then Unadkat and Jadeja cleaned up the tail to constrict Assam to a slender lead.Saurashtra lost opener Avi Barot to Arup Das – his eighth scalp of the match – as they ended on 0 for the loss of one wicket at stumps.Opener Ranjit Singh and Subhranshu Senapati helped Odisha to 244 for 2 after following-on against Rajasthan in Patiala. Their unbeaten partnership of 159 runs in 56.3 overs gave Odisha a 93-run lead before final day’s play.Beginning the day on 143 for 8 in their first innings, Odisha fell short of avoiding follow-on by one run as Pankaj Singh picked up the last two wickets to finish with 4 for 61 as they were all out for 172, chasing 343.Odisha batted better in their second innings; opener Sandeep Pattnaik scored a 32-ball 40 before his partner Singh and Senapati – both of whom remained not out on 89 and 90 – steered Odisha to a significant lead while playing out the seven Rajasthan bowlers used in the innings.Unmukt Chand reached his century and followed that up with another half-century as Delhi reached 165 for 1 in their second-innings at stumps against Jharkhand in Thumba after being asked to follow on.Starting the day on 225 for 3, Chand and overnight centurion Rishabh Pant added 36 runs more before the latter was removed by Ashish Kumar. Chand fell one run later, but not before he had completed his eighth first-class ton earlier in the day. The last five Delhi wickets could add only 72 more runs as they were dismissed for 334, trailing by 159. Kumar and offbreak bowler Sunny Gupta returned with three wickets each.In their second innings, Chand put on 109-runs with fellow-opener Dhruv Shorey before Gupta dismissed him for 63. Shorey continued, to post his third first-class fifty, and ended not out on 67 with Nitish Rana, at stumps with Delhi on 165 for 1, leading by six runs. * The report erroneously mentioned Karnataka had beaten Baroda. This has been corrected.

R Ashwin talks about how MS Dhoni’s experience will still be crucial after Virat Kohli takes over the ODI captaincy in the forthcoming series

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-20172:00

Virat likes picking wickets at the cost of some runs – Ashwin

R Ashwin has said he will need to come to grips with new captain Virat Kohli’s aggressive brand of captaincy and different style of communication in the upcoming limited-overs series against England.Since his international debut in 2010, Ashwin has played most of his short-format cricket under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, but has over the last two years become Kohli’s go-to bowler in Test cricket.”It will be different in terms of interactions you’ll have,” Ashwin said in Pune, where India meet England in the first ODI on January 15. “Before, when I used to play alongside Mahi – which won’t happen this game onwards – it’s almost about communication through from top of the mark to the keeper.”Obviously, Virat will be around at short midwicket or short cover, but it is going to be different in that terms. We have to try and get used to those communications.”For the most part of his captaincy, Dhoni banked on his spinners to establish control in the middle overs by drying up the runs. Kohli, according to Ashwin, doesn’t mind going for wickets at the cost of runs. “I’ve never played under Virat even at RCB or something. I just played one whole ODI series with him against Sri Lanka,” Ashwin said.”Virat, on occasions, can be a little aggressive and that’s the one thing that I need to try and adjust to. He likes attacking, he likes picking wickets through the middle overs. Even at the cost of some runs. And obviously, giving those extra runs to try and get a wicket is not such a bad thing.”Ashwin, however, felt Dhoni would continue to play a crucial role from a communication and leadership perspective. “I feel Mahi is going to hold the key because he’s the keeper and he’s going to bring that invaluable experience with him,” he said. “It’s going to be very, very important that we try and take as much as valuable inputs from him and try and take the team forward.”When Ashwin takes the field in Pune, it would be exactly a year to the day he last played an ODI after he was rested for the Zimbabwe series in June and the home series against New Zealand. With the limited-overs series being sandwiched in the middle of a long Test season, he felt it was a question of making a mental adjustment.”We played T20s in America in between, that was a bit of a good switch. I thought I switched up pretty well,” he said. “I am sure it is going to be a challenge. We are going to get into the practice. Next three-four days is going to be very important. I tried to tick as many boxes as possible when I practised in Chennai. But nothing like game-time.”I think we’re playing a full-strength Indian team after a long time – I don’t know when we [last] played a full-strength side. We also have Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) back in the side. So that’s also going to add to your experience. I think this England side has played some cracker of one-day tournaments in the last year or so. They’ve made some mammoth scores in England as well. So they are a side which will look to be positive.”

United States international Ricardo Pepi has named ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata as his surprising source of striking inspiration.

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• American frontman starring in the Netherlands
• Is a big fan of Mexican frontman Jimenez
• Likens himself to Spain international

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The exciting 20-year-old forward is in the process of trying to forge his own reputation as a fearsome frontman in European football. He left FC Dallas for Augsburg in Germany back in 2022, but burst into life last season when hitting 13 goals during a productive loan spell at Groningen. Pepi is back in the Netherlands for 2023-24, having completed a transfer to PSV, and has already opened his account for the Eredivisie giants.

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  WHAT THEY SAID

  Asked on the podcast to name those that he tries to model his own game on, Pepi said: “I used to be a big Ronaldo fan, but I also used to watch a lot of Raul Jimenez – he was one of my idols growing up. Now I watch players like Alvaro Morata, who I feel is similar to my playing style a little bit. Of course you want to watch players like Erling Haaland, who is always scoring. I like to watch a lot of players.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pressed further on why he looks up to Spain international Morata, who is currently back at Atletico Madrid and proving to be a useful source of goals for them, Pepi added: “Just the way we move on the pitch. We aren’t the fastest player or the strongest player, but we somehow manage to find space in the box and score goals. I feel like I compare myself pretty well to him. When it comes to scoring goals, I feel like he is a very effective player.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Pepi has found a way of being effective himself, with 16 caps and seven goals for the USMNT to his name, and hopes to use PSV as a stepping stone en route to the very top of the game in Europe. He said of his plans for the present and future: “I feel like being at a club like PSV, I signed a five-year deal so it’s about patience and working every day trying to get better as a player. I feel like I’m at a club, PSV, that are known for making big transfers of players, of having players go to the big clubs. I feel like I’m in the right spot and I’m going to keep working until I get my opportunity.”

Chelsea endured a dismal campaign and are mired in a 12th-placed finish, but that has not stopped the rumour mill linking the prestigious Premier League outfit with Real Madrid prodigy Vinicius Junior.

What's the latest on Vinicius Junior to Chelsea?

That's following reports from Spain late last month, who claim that the Blues – alongside Manchester United and Newcastle United – are interested in luring the Brazilian phenom away from the Spanish capital for a staggering €150m (£129m) fee.

The forward has been one of the central figures behind Real Madrid's success over recent years, and new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino could craft one of football's greatest strike forces by clinching Vinicius.

Madrid signed the 22-year-old from Brazilian outfit Flamengo for £38m in 2018, when he was just 16, but he has dispelled any doubt over his calibre and the feasibility of paying such a sum for a youngster with an ascent to the forefront of the game over the past few seasons.

How good is Vinicius Junior?

Vinicius has steadily ascended to prominence among Europe's very best over the past few years, and over the past two terms has exuded confidence and swagger at a level to reflect his placement as a first-rate member of an illustrious Real Madrid outfit.

Last year, when Los Blancos won both LaLiga and the Champions League under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, Vinicius plundered 22 goals and 20 assists; this season, with the Copa del Rey gleaned, the £348k-per-week star has scored 23 goals and supplied 21 assists from 55 games.

It is this level of breakneck brilliance that places him among the very best the game has to offer, with his manager hailing him as "the best in the world" after his outfit dumped Liverpool out of the Champions League this season.

Predominantly a left-winger, he could prove to be the heir to Eden Hazard's throne at Stamford Bridge, with the deft Belgian scoring 110 goals and providing 92 assists from 352 games for the Blues – notably winning two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues and one FA Cup – before departing for Madrid for a staggering £130m in 2019.

The 21-cap Brazilian phenomenon could most certainly replicate Hazard's feats, ranking among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 9% for rate of assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Back in the day, more specifically the 2018/19 campaign, Hazard also ranked highly in these metrics, sitting in the top 2% for rate of assists, and the best 1% for both shot-creating actions and progressive carries compared to positionally similar players in the Premier League.

Praised as the "catalyst" for his club by Daniel Sturridge, Vinicius is still comfortably outside the prime years of his career, and with a move to Chelsea, he could prove his worth on English shores and serve as the focal point for a new era in west London.

The BCCI’s existing power structure has been dismantled by the Supreme Court of India in a landmark order, which directed the removal of the board president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke from office with immediate effect.The order was the culmination of a long-standing impasse between the BCCI and the Lodha Committee: the board had resisted implementing the majority of the committee’s recommendations despite being told to do so by a Supreme Court order on July 18.The court also ordered that other office bearers of the BCCI and state associations who did not meet the eligibility criteria set by the Lodha Committee shall “cease to hold office” immediately. According to the committee’s recommendations, an office bearer should be a citizen of India, should not be 70 years or older, should not be a government servant or minister, should not hold office in another sports organisation, should not have held office with the BCCI or state association for more than nine years, should not be insolvent or of unsound mind, and should not have a criminal record.All existing office bearers who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were permitted to continue in their roles, but were asked to file an “unconditional undertaking” in the Supreme Court within four weeks from January 2 that they would implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.To fill the gap created by Thakur and Shirke’s removal, the court said the most senior vice-president of the BCCI would perform the duties of president in the interim, and the joint secretary – Amitabh Chaudhary – will perform the secretary’s role.

I wish them all the best – Anurag Thakur

In a video on Twitter, Anurag Thakur said he had fought for the autonomy of the BCCI and not a personal battle. “Over the years, Indian cricket saw its very best in terms of administration and development of the game. BCCI is the best-managed sports organisation in the country, with defined procedures. India has the best cricket infrastructure, built and maintained by the state associations with the help of BCCI. India has more quality players than anywhere in the world.
“I respect Supreme Court as any citizen should. Supreme Court judges feel that BCCI could do better under retired judges, I wish them all the best. I’m sure Indian cricket will do well under their guidance.”
Shirke said he wasn’t too concerned by the development. “If I am removed, there is absolutely no issue. I will go back to my work,” he told CNN News from the UK. “The enforcement of the order is not in my individual control. The members decide. They have accepted many recommendations. Now that the Supreme Court has settled the matter, let the new dispensation carry on the good new work.”

The court also said that a committee of administrators would be appointed on January 19 to supervise the functioning of the BCCI through its chief executive officer. The committee will also oversee the functioning of the BCCI and states’ office bearers and ensure that the Lodha Committee recommendations approved by the Supreme Court order on July 18 are implemented.Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramanium and senior advocate Anil Divan* were asked by the court to suggest names of persons having “integrity and experience in managing a similar enterprise” for the committee of administrators. “We request the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the parties to also place their suggestions before the Court so as to facilitate a considered decision,” the court said.At the previous hearing on December 15, before breaking for the winter holidays, the court had reserved its order in response to the Lodha Committee’s status report, which recommended that all ineligible BCCI office bearers be removed and an observer be appointed to oversee the board’s operations.On Monday, the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, approved the Lodha Committee’s view of the BCCI’s office bearers.”The Committee has in its status report dated 14 November 2016 drawn the attention of the court to the fact that several office bearers both of BCCI and the State Associations continue to hold posts although they stand disqualified in terms of the above norms which have been accepted by this Court,” the order read. “Persons who have a vested interest in continuing in their positions in spite of the norms noted above have ensured that the writ of the court is obstructed and impeded.”We need to emphasise that the turf of the cricket field is not a personal turf or fiefdom. We must hence order and direct that no person shall hereafter continue to be or be entitled for appointment as office bearer of BCCI or a State Association in breach of the above norms. All existing office bearers of BCCI and of the State Associations who do not fulfill the above norms shall with effect from the date of this Order stand disqualified.”The course of events indicates that though sufficient opportunities have been granted to BCCI to comply with the judgment and order of this Court, it has failed to do so. The President and Secretary and office bearers of BCCI have obstructed the implementation of the final directions of this Court on the basis of a specious plea that its State Associations are not willing to abide by the directions. This Court having furnished sufficient opportunities to BCCI to comply, it is constrained now to take recourse to coercive steps to ensure that the directions contained in its final judgment and order are not left to be a writ in sand.”5:04

Ugra: A legacy judgement from Justice Thakur

Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, said the court order was “the logical consequence” of the position the BCCI had taken. “Once the recommendations were accepted by the court, it had to be implemented,” he said. “There were obstructions, there were impediments … obviously this had to happen, and it has happened. The Supreme Court itself has ensured that its order of 18 July is now enforced.”It’s a victory for the game of cricket and it will flourish. Administrators come and go, ultimately it is for the game.”The Lodha Committee was formed in January 2015 to determine appropriate punishments for some of the officials involved in the 2013 IPL corruption scandal, and also to propose changes to streamline the BCCI, reform its functioning, prevent sporting fraud and conflict of interest.In January 2016, the committee released its report, which recommended an exhaustive overhaul of the BCCI’s governance and administrative structures. On July 18, the Supreme Court approved the majority of the recommendations and directed the Lodha Committee to supervise the BCCI’s implementations of the same. However, despite the Lodha Committee laying out timelines and other directives, the board did not cooperate because its state associations objected to the recommendations.

Liverpool have joined the race to bring Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Marcus Thuram?

Thuram is a centre-forward who currently plays his football at the Borussia Park having moved there from Guingamp back in 2019, and he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of the first-team having clocked up 134 appearances to date.

The France international started 28 of the 34 Bundesliga games last season and was a standout performer under Daniel Farke before he departed, ranking as his manager’s top-performing offensive player and second overall with a WhoScored match rating of 7.09, so he’s bound to have attracted interest.

However, the 6 foot 4 titan will be out of contract at the end of the month and is expected to depart as a free agent having not signed a deal to extend his stay, with his potential availability having alerted FSG and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Are Liverpool signing Thuram?

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Liverpool have entered the running to sign Thuram ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Reds are reportedly “hoping to snap him up” for nothing during the upcoming window, and it’s stated that the striker could be wanting to “take the next step” in his career. The Premier League is viewed as an “attractive option” so he is therefore “likely to be tempted” should an offer arrive at his door.

Where would Thuram fit in at Anfield?

Liverpool have confirmed that Roberto Firmino is leaving the club so Klopp will be in need of a suitable replacement in time for the start of the new season, and given the fact that he would be available to recruit for quite literally free, Thuram could be the perfect long-term successor, allowing the serious funds to be spent in midfield.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £53k-per-week, racked up 19 goal contributions (13 goals and six assists) in 30 Bundesliga appearances last season and recorded a total of 92 shots over the course of the campaign, which was higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, with this form seeing him collect four man-of-the-match awards.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s “beast”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also a versatile operator with his ability to operate everywhere across the frontline, including at centre-forward, out wide on both flanks and as a second striker, so he really seems to have all the qualities to fit what the boss is likely to be looking for in a Firmino replacement.

Manchester United are looking for a new striker this summer and it is believed one of their targets, Rasmus Hojlund, would be keen on a move to Old Trafford.

How old is Rasmus Hojlund?

The 2022/23 campaign is not over just yet for the Red Devils as they face a tough challenge in London this weekend as they take on their city rivals in the FA Cup final.

However, they are going to have to do so without Anthony Martial with the French forward believed to have picked up an injury in their final game of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Although the Frenchman has hardly been a regular source of goals this season, this latest injury only highlights Erik ten Hag's lack of options at striker.

It is believed a striker is United's main priority for the upcoming summer transfer window with Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane reportedly their top target.

But Spurs are expected to battle hard to keep ahold of their all-time record goalscorer who has just 12 months remaining on his current deal in north London.

And with this in mind, United will have other options on their radar and one of them is believed to be the young Danish prospect, Hojlund.

Speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 20-year-old would be keen on the possibility of potentially joining Ten Hag's side this summer:

(18:45) "They really like the player and the player really likes Manchester United because he's always been a Manchester United fan.

"So there is a connection I would say between United and Hojlund. But, at the moment, I think the big issue is going to be the price tag because Atalanta will not negotiate for less than €60m/€65m (£51m/£55m) for a player who has been very good this season, but honestly, he wasn't even a starter in the last two/three months."

How many goals has Hojlund scored?

Despite being just 20 years old, the Danish striker has begun to establish himself in Serie A having made 31 league appearances for Atalanta this season.

Across all competitions this season, the young Dane was able to find the back of the net 15 times as well as providing seven assists for the Italian outfit (via Transfermarkt).

However, it is on the international stage where he has shown a lot of promise with his early games for Denmark providing five goals in just four appearances.

Considering it is believed United are targeting the likes of Kane and Victor Osimhen, would a 20-year-old who is yet to score more than 10 league goals in a season be a suitable option?

Bringing in an unproven striker to the Premier League could mount huge pressure on the Denmark international's shoulders with United looking to close the gap on the title charge.

Although Hojlund has been described as "scary quick" by some in the media, it could potentially be too early in his career to lead the line at Old Trafford.