Unidentified players will self-isolate for two weeks, missing three Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures
Matt Roller07-Sep-2020Two players representing Lightning in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy are self-isolating after breaching Covid-19 guidelines.The ECB has confirmed a report on the CricketHER website that both players were made unavailable for selection for Lightning’s last game against Northern Diamonds, which they lost by two wickets.The players have been told to self-isolate for two weeks, a stricter sanction than the one imposed by Kent on Jordan Cox, the 19-year-old batsman who breached protocols by agreeing to have his photo taken with a fan.It is understood that clubs have been given discretion on how they handle breaches, with certain minimum standards imposed. Lightning have opted to exceed those minimum standards to mitigate the risks of transmission, though the exact nature of the breach remains unclear.Lightning are currently winless after three games of the tournament. They will be without the self-isolating players during their next two fixtures, against Central Sparks on Friday and Thunder on Sunday, though are likely to have them available again for their final group game.The news follows the abandonment on Sunday of Northamptonshire’s Bob Willis Trophy match against Gloucestershire, after a non-playing Northants squad member tested positive for Covid-19.The ECB will confirm later this week whether Friday’s T20 Blast game between the two teams will go ahead as planned, depending in part on what contact the player involved had with team-mates before his positive test.The player who tested positive has not been part of Northants’ T20 campaign so far, and did not travel with the squad to Bristol. The ECB and the club are working through the relevant medical protocols, and as things stand, the fixture is still expected to be played.
It was another weekend to forget for Chelsea Football Club as they found a way to drop points to a ten-man Burnley side at home.
Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to create a coherent and effective team from the plethora of talented players at his disposal, and the pressure is now starting to mount.
It was the sort of game in which no player can come out looking good, but there are still a number of seriously impressive players in the Blues' squad who are having a mediocre season.
One of those players is World Cup winner Enzo Fernández, who has shown genuine quality at points this season, and now it looks like the club could be about to replicate his signing with another young talent in the summer.
Latest Chelsea transfer news
According to a report from Portuguese publication O Jogo (via Sport Witness), several top-flight clubs, including Chelsea, are interested in signing Benfica's talented youngster Joao Neves this summer.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues have been 'keen for a while' but will have to compete with Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.
The other sides won't be the only obstacle for the Pensioners to contend with, however, as the report also reveals that the young midfielder's supposed release clause stands at around €120m, which is about £103m, although it is said that As Águias want to increase that to around €150, which converts to about £128m.
It would be an undeniably expensive deal to complete and arguably a massive gamble from Todd Boehly and Co. Still, by signing Fernandez from the same club just over a year ago, they've proven that they are willing to sanction such deals.
How Neves compares to Fernandez
Now, if Chelsea were to complete this signing, there would be a couple of apparent similarities between the two players, notably that they'll cost over £100m and come from the same club, Benfica.
There is also the fact that the pair are both incredibly talented midfielders and play – or played in Fernandez's case – a crucial role at the heart of the Lisbon outfit. Still, with Neves being just 19 years old, fans of the west Londoners shouldn't expect him to come in and immediately impact the first team, regardless of his price.
Benfica's Joao Neves
However, his genuinely impressive performances in Portugal suggest that there is a possibility he could thrive in the Premier League.
According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across the next best 14 competitions, the "complete" midfielder, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, ranks in the top 2% of midfielders for attempted passes, the top 3% for blocks, the top 8% for tackles, the top 9% for pass completion, the top 10% for successful take-ons, and the top 11% for progressive passes, all per 90.
Passes Attempted
Top 2%
Blocks
Top 3%
Tackles
Top 8%
Pass Completion
Top 9%
Successful Take-Ons
Top 10%
Progressive Passes
Top 11%
Aerials Won
Top 14%
Non-Penalty Goals
Top 15%
While those are undeniably impressive stats, they would likely come down slightly in a tougher league, such as the Premier League. However, the fact that the Tavira-born gem is already performing to such a high level suggests he could adapt to a more challenging league with time and proper management and guidance.
Moreover, with his preferred position being more of a defensive midfield role, he could well partner Fernandez at the heart of the next great Chelsea team, learning and growing alongside a fellow Benfica prodigy, although Moises Caicedo may be less than enthused about that prospect.
In all, while the enormous sum of money involved in any deal would make this something of a gamble from Boehly and Co, that hasn't stopped them in the past, and if Mango is correct in his assessment of Neves as being a "future star", then it may well be a gamble worth taking.
Chelsea struck gold on special star who'd be 3x as valuable as Palmer today
The Blues legend is a genuine Premier League icon.
Paul Mullin does not form part of Wrexham’s North American tour, with the prolific striker recovering from surgery undergone during pre-season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Striker underwent spinal surgeryEnjoying summer break with familyWill miss start of the new seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Dragons took the decision to send their talismanic frontman under the knife at the end of the 2023-24 campaign – as promotion into League One was secured. Mullin required “minor spinal surgery” in a bid to rid him of long-standing lower-back and hamstring issues.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Said medical procedure ruled the 29-year-old out of friendly dates in the United States and Canada, with Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney organising another trip across the Atlantic – a year on from seeing Mullin suffer a punctured lung during a clash with Manchester United.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mullin has revealed what he has been up to while his team-mates take on Bournemouth, Chelsea and MLS side the Vancouver Whitecaps. He has been relaxing with his family, taking in surgery recovery sessions by the pool and building sandcastles.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT?
Wrexham are set to be without Mullin for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Phil Parkinson will be hoping that his star No.10 – who has registered 105 goals through 140 appearances for the Welsh outfit – can return to action before too many competitive fixtures have passed.
Bowler follows twin Craig’s five-for with his own in what could prove farewell before Surrey move
ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2020Somerset 296 (Davies 81, Brooks 72) and 290 for 8 dec (Abell 119, Green 54) beat Glamorgan 131 (C Overton 5-38) and 166 (Cooke 82, J Overton 4-48) by 289 runsSurrey-bound Jamie Overton marked what could prove his farewell appearance for Somerset with 5 for 48 to complete a 289-run Bob Willis Trophy victory over Glamorgan at the Cooper Associates County Ground Bristol.Brother Craig finished with 2 for 31 and match figures of 7 for 69 as the visitors’ five remaining wickets fell for 40 runs in 70 minutes on the final morning after they had resumed on 126 for 5, 329 runs behind.Chris Cooke’s battling innings took him from 67 not out overnight to 82 before Jamie Overton had the Glamorgan captain caught at first slip by James Hildreth, having faced 138 balls and hit 10 fours.It was too little too late to save his side from a comprehensive defeat in a game they had bossed for the first two sessions. Somerset took 21 points to Glamorgan’s three.Overcast conditions and a pitch that was still responsive to quality pace bowling conspired against the visitors as the Overton twins set about finishing their opponents off.The first wicket fell after 15 minutes when Graham Wagg chased a short, wide ball from Jamie Overton and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Steve Davies. What little hope Glamorgan had left disappeared when the same bowler, operating from the River End, produced a fine delivery to end Cooke’s stubborn resistance.At 153 for 7, Ruaidhri Smith walked out with a runner for the second time in the game, determined to contribute despite the hamstring injury he suffered while bowling in Somerset’s first innings. But he could manage only three before getting a leading edge to Josh Davey, who had replaced Craig Overton, and lobbing a simple catch to Roelof van der Merwe at mid-wicket.Jamie Overton, whose decision to reject a new Somerset contract and sign for Surrey was announced before the game, produced some jaffas in a hugely impressive spell of 7.2 overs, which yielded 3 for 16. He claimed his fifth wicket of the innings with a perfect swinging yorker, which defeated Kieran Bull’s attempt to clamp down on the ball and sent his off stump flying.Overton’s celebrations suggested he had been determined to sign off his Somerset career in style before moving to the Kia Oval, and it was job done in that respect. He even had a hand, literally, is finishing the match, diving to his left to hold a slip chance offered by Michael Hogan off Jack Brooks.
Doom and gloom have encased Manchester United over the last decade or so. Remarkably it has now been over ten years since they last won the Premier League but brighter times lie in wait.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS at the helm, a rosier picture has been painted. A new Old Trafford could be in store but first and foremost, there is the summer window to navigate.
Where United find themselves next term remains to be seen. They are behind in the race for Champions League football but a dramatic FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool eight days ago has offered supporters renewed hope about Erik ten Hag’s side.
So, how do they go about improving this team? There will be plenty of ways no doubt about it, but bringing through the youth would certainly be a smart idea. We’re talking about you, Kobbie Mainoo.
Man Utd's summer transfer targets
After their defensive positions have been pillaged by injuries this term signing a new central defender should certainly be high on United’s agenda.
Leny Yoro of Lille has been linked while there have been further stories to suggest that Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite might be on the agenda. As we said, more youthful figures appear to be the order of the day at Old Trafford.
That remains the case when considering Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel. A report from Sky Sports back in the middle of February suggested that he was an option for United this forthcoming summer.
Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel
They suggest that the Red Devills are ‘keen’ on acquiring the forward who is very much among their options.
A move could be quite a pricey one given Tel’s reputation, although CIES Football Observatory value the 18-year-old at £32m.
Why Mathys Tel is a bigger talent than Kobbie Mainoo
When discussing the great Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate several years ago, United legend Rio Ferdinand muttered the following words: “People try and make comparisons about who’s better, just enjoy them man.”
We’re not for one moment saying that Tel and Mainoo are in the same category but we’re going to ignore Rio’s advice for now to justify why the former would be such an exciting signing.
Mainoo has burst onto the scene this term with some aplomb. Before the 2023/24 campaign commenced the midfielder had played just three times for the club with his sole start coming against Charlton Atheltic in the Carabao Cup.
Well, fast forward to the current campaign and our man Mainoo is now an undroppable figure in Ten Hag’s side.
He was first inducted into the team in 2023/24 against Everton in a 3-0 win at Goodison Park and since that moment the teen hasn’t looked back. Mainoo has missed just two league games since that win, starting 11 of the 12 matches from the 0-0 draw with Liverpool onwards.
Such dazzling consistency for one of the world’s biggest clubs has seen the 18-year-old handed his England bow already. Gareth Southgate proclaimed when announcing his squad for the latest fixtures that Mainoo wasn’t ready. However, after seeing him in action in the FA Cup quickly had a change of heart. The youngster was called into the senior side immediately and then came off the bench against Brazil last Saturday.
On the flip side, Tel is yet to make his debut for the France national team. Hardly a surprise given the remarkable amount of talent Didier Deschamps possesses but it surely won’t be too long.
Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel.
After all, the attacker may well be a bigger talent than Mainoo. Mainly capable of playing off the left wing, the Bayern sensation has been in superb form after bursting onto the scene this season, scoring eight goals and supplying four assists across 33 outings.
Tel’s form has led him to be described as a “ball-striking machine” and an “elite level goal-scorer” by analyst Ben Mattinson, with FBRef’s castle of stats detailing even further why he’s so exciting.
Compared to the likes of Phil Foden, Lamine Yamal and Bukayo Saka by the stats-based platform, among similarly positioned players in Europe’s top five leagues, the Frenchman ranks inside the top 2% for non-penalty goals, assists, touches and successful take-ons. You name it, Tel has it.
Interesting to note is that he’s also ranked ahead of Mainoo in GOAL’s NXGN list for 2024, a renowned award each year which determines the best young talent on the planet.
#15 Guillaume Restes
Toulouse
#14 Kendry Paez
Independiente del Valle
#13 Roony Bardghji
FC Copenhagen
#12 Jorrel Hato
Ajax
#11 Antonio Nusa
Club Brugge
#10 Leny Yoro
Lille
#9 Claudio Echeverri
Man City (River Plate loan)
#8 Kenan Yildiz
Juventus
#7 Kobbie Mainoo
Man United
#6 Vitor Roque
Barcelona
#5 Arda Guler
Real Madrid
#4 Mathys Tel
Bayern Munich
#3 Warren Zaire-Emery
PSG
#2 Endrick
Palmeiras
#1 Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
That’s quite the list of players but only goes to show how highly rated the Bayern superstar is.
Mainoo has been nothing short of incredible for United this term, but in Tel, they may well sign a player with an even higher ceiling. Isn’t that a little bit exciting.
Man Utd must rue losing a "wonderkid" who's now worth as much as Mainoo
The incredibly talented youngster left Old Trafford looking for first-team football.
The position will report to the head of sports science Alex Kountouris
Daniel Brettig14-Jul-2020In the wake of 40 redundancies at Cricket Australia and more than 150 around the states in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is some logic to the news that the first new job created at the downsized governing body will be devoted entirely to mental health.CA this week advertised for the role of mental health and wellbeing lead, to report to its head of sports science Alex Kountouris. It is a little less than a year since the AFL appointed its own head of mental health and wellbeing, Kate Hall, and the winter after Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Will Pucovski all made very public withdrawals from cricket to deal with their mental health.While Maxwell, Maddinson and Pucovski were all dealing with issues stemming one way or another from the unrelenting treadmill of constant cricket, its attendant pressures and risks, the more recent Covid-19 crisis has laid bare matters concerned with what happens when that particular schedule and the sporting business in general are brought to a shuddering halt by unforeseen external events.Both instances, though, have underlined the need for more focus on the area, the better to allow CA’s two dedicated sports psychologists, Michael Lloyd for the men’s team and Peter Clarke for the women’s team and pathways, to spend more time with individual cricketers and staff.Meanwhile the new role is geared at taking a broader approach to the area, whether that be in managing cases between CA, states and W/BBL clubs, updating the governing body’s approach according to new research, or evolving the remit beyond high performance to the whole of CA.”The new Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead will give a greater focus on mental health at Cricket Australia, giving us an individual resource dedicated to this area,” CA’s high performance chief Drew Ginn told ESPNcricinfo. “The role will also provide broader case management support for CA contracted players.”It’s a great chance to prioritise mental health. It will provide further reinforcement to our current psychologists working with our teams. To have a dedicated leader in a national role and having them focus on a national strategy, policy, future partnerships, critical case management and support for players and states is a positive step forward for the sport.Michael Lloyd (left) chats with Australia coach Justin Langer•Getty Images”This role is more important than ever, particularly in a world where mental health issues continue to be prevalent, particularly with the demands of elite cricket, Covid and all of the uncertainty. It’s crucial for us to provide the right support and environment for our players, coaches and staff, and this builds on fantastic work being done by Michael Lloyd and Peter Clarke.”Required qualifications for the role include post-graduate qualification in psychology/psychiatry, behavioural science, or a related field and clinical practice experience, in addition to senior management and case management expertise.One of the areas needing to be negotiated will be the varying approaches taken in each state association, where not every department has the same structure or resources regarding mental health or other areas. This has only been exacerbated by the aforementioned staff cuts, where only Cricket New South Wales has so far managed to steer clear of cost-cutting.At the same time, CA staff are still regaining their composure after the traumas of April, May and June, when 200 staff were stood down ahead of redundancies that also saw the departure of the chief executive Kevin Roberts amid widespread rancour between CA, the states and the players’ union.”We are looking for a senior mental health professional who has experience in systems leadership,” the position description states. “You will have expertise in the development and operationalisation of best practice mental health and wellbeing strategies, policy, governance and partnerships. In this role you will also be assisting Australian Cricket health professionals in case management.”Reporting to the Head of Sports Science & Medicine, you will bring your previous success in implementing best in class mental health and wellbeing outcomes. This is a pivotal strategic role and your success will be determined by your ability to influence outcomes across a complex stakeholder landscape.”
A Premier League club are not going away lightly in their efforts to sign a "fabulous" Rangers player this summer, having already seen a bid rejected.
Rangers could lose key players this summer
The Gers are in with a great chance of tasting Scottish Premiership glory this season, trailing Celtic by one point currently but having a game in hand on their rivals.
Philippe Clement has a group of players at his disposal, with quality and depth littered throughout the squad, but there is the threat that key men could be moving on at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
One such figure is captain James Tavernier, who has been such an influential player for a long period of time now, racking up a remarkable tally of 122 goals and 127 assists for Rangers, which is a great figure for an attacker, let alone a right-back.
His head could potentially be turned by a new challenge this summer. Interest from the Saudi Pro League has emerged, with Steven Gerrard reportedly eyeing him for Al-Ettifaq, and huge wages could appeal to the Englishman, joining up with his former manager in the process.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jack Butland also had interest from clubs in January, but ended up remaining at Ibrox, saying that leaving was never in his thoughts. That could change this summer, however…
Rangers fighting off interest in "fabulous" ace
According to a fresh transfer update from Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are still interested in signing Rangers hero Butland in the summer transfer window.
Forest saw a bid for the Englishman rejected back in January, but they are still keen on snapping him up, as are two other unnamed Premier League clubs.
Jack Butland
Losing Butland this summer would be an almighty blow for Rangers, considering what a great season he is enjoying, arguably standing out as one of his side's most influential performers. Gers legend Ally McCoist has been hugely impressed by what he has seen from the 31-year-old this term.
Given his age, Butland is still far from old when it comes to goalkeepers, so Rangers should be looking to retain his services for as long as possible. A return to the Premier League could easily appeal to him, however, and the Gers just have to hope that he is genuinely happy to stay put for the foreseeable future.
Rangers are paying for when Michael Beale let £3m star leave Ibrox
Rangers may have fumbled with a former defender who is enjoying a new lease of life abroad
ByRoss Kilvington Mar 25, 2024
He has already kept 23 clean sheets for Rangers in 47 appearances, highlighting his expertise between the sticks, and his performances over the next couple of months could be so important, in terms of where the Scottish Premiership trophy ends up.
GOAL takes a look at the new Gameplay features to expect in EA Sports FC 25
EA Sports FC 25 will launch in September 2024 and excitement is building among the FC community about how the new game will evolve from FC 24.
Shop EA FC 25 on Amazon USPre-order nowShop EA FC 25 on Amazon UKPre-order now
As well as the natural augmentations in terms of new kits, ever more teams and leagues, EA Sports promises a leap in the Gameplay, with increasing realism – and enjoyment – the order of the day.
Here, GOAL takes a look at EA Sports' Gameplay Deep Dive to get a flavour of what lies in store in EA Sports FC 25.
FC IQ
In EA Sports FC 25, FC IQ is about finding the best combinations of three key components: Team Tactics, Player Roles and Smart Tactics.
"Success in FC is no longer just about putting the best player in a position, it's about putting in the right player for the system you want to run," says EA Sports FC 25 Gameplay Producer, Paul Parsons.
FC IQ has modernised tactics in FC 25, with your team-mates showing greater intelligence on the pitch, and it will allow you to emulate the tactical approaches of coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti or Pep Guardiola.
This means that tactics are now much more fluid, allowing you to alternate between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, say, depending on the context of the game. Player Roles are a crucial aspect of this fluidity, while Smart Tactics will help you switch up as needed during a match.
This aspect of in-game management will be a foundational feature of FC 25 across game modes and indeed the key parts of Career Mode, such as transfers, scouting and youth development.
AdvertisementEA SportsPlayer Roles
EA Sports built an out-of-game AI model to help identify which Player Roles best suit the players in the game.
Similar to that which exists in the Football Manager series, different Player Roles can be applied to specific players to maximise their impact within a particular tactical system.
So, for example, if Vinicius Jr is playing wide left in a 4-2-3-1 system, he can be designated as a winger or an inside forward, with the various roles resulting in different focuses in the game.
In order to help you figure out which role suits a player best, there is a rating system, with a plus (+) or plus-plus (++) signifying that a player is world-class in their role.
A striker, for example, might have the skills that suit being a poacher forward (strong movement and finishing, perhaps) or they might be better used as a target forward (attributes like strength, good heading ability and awareness)
EA SportsSmart Tactics
Helpfully, FC IQ's Smart Tactics means that the game will now make suggestions to players regarding potential tactical shifts during games, depending on the situation, whether you are chasing an equaliser at the end of the game or looking to close a game out – an FC assistant manager of sorts.
You will be able to toggle between the different options using the directional pad and if you find tactics that you are a fan of, you can save and share with your friends by using a tactic-specific code.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
HyperMotion
EA Sports has used HyperMotion volumetric capture to ensure that there are even more real-world movements, goals and styles of play present in the game, with unique celebrations naturally a part of that too.
Various breathtaking moments from last season – whether it's an outside of the boot pass into space, a bit of outrageous skill or a funny new celebration – will now be a natural part of the gameplay.
The tournament will also be aired on pay television starting this season
Firdose Moonda06-May-2020The third edition of the Mzansi Super League, South Africa’s premier T20 domestic competition, will feature eight teams and be screened on pay television, marking a significant shift from the first two seasons.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the six existing franchises will be joined by teams based in Bloemfontein and East London and that Cricket South Africa (CSA) is in negotiations with to air the tournament, which was previously on the public broadcaster, The rights deal will aim to secure highlights’ packages for the SABC.For the first time since launching the MSL in 2018, CSA is in a position to recoup some of the costs of staging the tournament, which has lost more than R200 million (US$10.8 million) in two years.The television rights to both previous editions went unsold after who have the deal to broadcast all other cricket in South Africa, refused to bid for the competition, believing it fell under the original contract they had with CSA. However, since the MSL was a new addition to the South African cricket scene, CSA sought an additional broadcast deal but was unable to secure one.The full competition was therefore aired on the SABC, who did not pay anything but have a much wider reach than their satellite counterparts. CSA is mindful of capturing the interest of as many people as possible and so, hope to continue offering the SABC some content that is most likely to come in the form of highlights.With two additional teams, the extra player contracts and new venues as well, the next MSL season may be the most expensive one yet for CSA. A limited player draft is expected to be held to allow the new franchises to acquire squads.The eight-team model is being considered as a solution for South Africa’s domestic system as well, which currently operates in two tiers, but is expected to be changed ahead of the 2020-21 summer.For the last 16 years, South Africa’s system has had six franchises playing four-day, one-day and T20 cricket and 14 provinces playing three-day, one-day and T20 cricket, which has created a significant cost. The most well-known proposal involves a 12-team provincial structure, but there is opposition to eliminating the franchise tier. An eight-team system is one solution and the MSL may be used to trial it.The MSL is scheduled for December 2020 but with uncertainty around when live sport can resume due to the coronavirus pandemic, it could be moved to later in the summer. A window in March 2021 is also being considered.CSA suspended all cricket activity for 60 days, on March 16, bringing the season to a premature end. Ten days later, South Africa went into a 35-day lockdown during which time all outdoor activity was prohibited. Since May 1, the lockdown has been eased to allow individual exercise between 6am and 9am but all group activity and organised sport is still not allowed.With the country anticipating the number of Covid-19 cases to peak in September, there is still no way to know if the cricket season will start on time. CSA is currently planning based on four scenarios which include the return of sport behind closed doors, the return with fans, an allowance for domestic travel only and an allowance for international travel, and hope to have more clarity in the next few months.
Aston Villa have reportedly stolen a march on Arsenal, Chelsea & Bayern Munich to snap £50m-rated Everton star Amadou Onana.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Villa swoop in for OnanaReady to shell out £50million for the BelgianHave agreed personal terms with the playerWHAT HAPPENED?
According to the 22-year-old Belgian is on the brink of completing a move to Villa Park, with the transfer fee expected to be around £50 million ($65m). Personal terms have already been agreed upon, paving the way for a long-term contract with the Midlands club.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Onana has emerged as a crucial target for Villa manager Unai Emery, who is keen to bolster his squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season. The young midfielder is said to be excited about the prospect of working with Emery and joining his ambitious project at Aston Villa.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since he arrived from Lille in the summer of 2022 for £30 million ($39m), Onana has become a pivotal player for Everton. He has made 72 appearances for the club, including 37 in the previous season across all competitions, which highlights that he is one of the most trusted lieutenants of Sean Dyche. His consistent performances have not gone unnoticed, attracting interest from several European giants like Arsenal and Bayern. However, the French outfit are entitled to 20 per cent of the profit from any future sale, which means the Toffees will not have the entire pie to show in their accounting books.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT?
Villa have been active in the transfer market, particularly in strengthening their midfield. The club has already signed Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus and Ross Barkley from Luton Town. However, the impending signing of Onana is set to be another major coup as they aim to compete among the best in Europe next season.