All posts by z3u9t.icu

It could be said that Arsenal have had the perfect summer so far, welcoming the majority of their key targets, impressing in pre-season, before gaining a crucial edge over Manchester City by winning the Community Shield.The Gunners matched the treble winners all over the pitch to stay in the game, before Leandro Trossard’s deflected strike levelled things up for Mikel Arteta’s side, cancelling out Cole Palmer’s earlier goal.Down to penalties, it was Aaron Ramsdale with the heroics, saving Rodri’s spot-kick, before Fabio Vieira had the chance to seal it for Arsenal, which he did in emphatic fashion as he found the top corner.The North London side celebrated with the passion of a side who know just how important even the tiniest of mental gains can be against this Manchester City side.Declan Rice, winning his first trophy for the club, particularly impressed throughout, even displaying a key trait which shows why Arsenal splashed out for his signature this summer.

What did Declan Rice do vs Man City?

In ruthless fashion, as shared on the official Arsenal Twitter account, Rice sprinted back a great distance to dispossess Bernardo Silva with ease, who thought he had control of the ball, before the England international came striding in to win back possession.

It’s the type of recovery that could be so important for Arsenal, who do some of their best work in transition. If they can win the ball back quickly, and suffocate sides with constant pressure, then the Gunners could become even more dominant. And Rice would be a large part of that.

The defensive foundation that Rice and Thomas Partey provide together, too, should only boost Arteta’s side going forward, too, given the freedom that the likes of Martin Odegaard would suddenly receive.

Winning the Community Shield could only be the start for Rice and his new teammates, who will be gunning for the Premier League title in the coming season.

Who joined Arsenal in 2023?

Arsenal have had quite the summer of arrivals, signing Rice, Jurrien Timber, and Kai Havertz for a reported combined €232m (£200m). All three new arrivals started for the North Londoners in their victory over Manchester City, signalling a solid start to life for all of them.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Speaking after the game, Rice was left delighted with his first trophy for his new club, saying, via BBC: “I am buzzing, this is what I visioned when I joined.

“City gave us what we expected, but I am buzzing – so happy. You have to have the patience against them, you have to have mini games within the game against them like the manager said to us before.

“I feel I’ve grown a lot in the last three weeks. There’s a lot of information to take in of what the manager wants. I’m eager to learn and keep improving.

“I’m sure we can achieve anything this season – we just need to remain focused.”

Arsenal can now turn their attention to the opening day of the Premier League season, where they will square off against Nottingham Forest. They will hope to get off to the perfect start, as they look to compete on all fronts once again in the coming campaign.

Fans have been reacting to Rice’s recovery over Silva, some of which you can see below:

Arsenal have been dealt a sizeable blow in their preparations for the new Premier League season, with manager Mikel Arteta set to have to make do without centre-forward star, Gabriel Jesus in the early knockings of the campaign.

Following what has been a largely positive summer for the Gunners thus far – with the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber having all been brought to the club – the loss of the Brazilian will be an unwanted headache for the former Manchester City assistant.

What's the latest on Gabriel Jesus' injury?

As confirmed by Arteta, the 26-year-old is set to be out of action for "a few weeks" after recently undergoing knee surgery, with the ex-City striker having seemingly been impacted by the same issue which kept him on the sidelines for much of the second half of the season.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

While not a "major" concern – in the words of the Gunners boss – it will be of real frustration to have to make do without the 59-cap international yet again, with Jesus having already missed 15 games during his debut season at the club last time out.

Who will replace Gabriel Jesus?

The question now will be as to just how Arteta will go about dealing with the loss of the 5 foot 9 sensation, with the Emirates outfit forced to fill the void of a player who scored 11 goals and contributed seven assists in just 26 league outings in 2022/23.

The obvious choice for the role would be Jesus' usual understudy, Eddie Nketiah, although the Englishman was hardly prolific when given an extended run in the side, having scored just four goals in 30 league games last season.

Equally, while exciting prospect Folarin Balogun – who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals last season while on loan at Reims – is currently part of the first-team squad, Arteta appeared to hint that the 22-year-old's future won't be impacted by the injury to Jesus, with a move away from the club looking likely.

Suitors appear to be lining up to land the United States international – who has been valued at around £50m by the Arsenal hierarchy – hence ensuring that the club may need to look elsewhere to find someone else to lead the line in Jesus' absence.

One perhaps left-field option could well be that of 19-year-old academy star, Khayon Edwards, with the teenage marksman having proven rather prolific in the youth set-up of late.

Who is Khayon Edwards?

The £5k-per-week starlet is yet to make a competitive senior appearance for the Gunners to date, although he was previously drafted into the first-team squad by Arteta last season after being named on the bench for two Europa League group stage ties.

That promotion had no doubt been deserved as the Hale End gem boasts a tally of 23 goals and nine assists in just 41 games for the U18s, while also making a promising start to life at a higher age group with five goals in 21 games for the U21 side.

Described as "deadly" in front of goal in the past by football.london's Kaya Kaynak, Arsenal's official website also states that the local lad is 'a hard-working, natural goalscorer with pace to burn'.

That work ethic could well make Edwards a dream replacement for Jesus through the middle, with the one-time Palmeiras ace also rather relentless when leading the line, ranking in the top 3% for tackles and the top 9% for interceptions made per 90 among his European peers.

Equally, much like the latter man is able to bring others into play – as he ranks in the top 6% for assists – Edwards also seems to possess that creative prowess, with the club's official website writing that: 'Khayon also showed he was able to play deeper as a No. 10, impressing with his link-up play.'

Those shared traits between the Englishman and the Brazilian would indicate that if handed the chance, young Edwards could certainly have a good crack at filling the shoes of the stricken Jesus.

Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho could be 'on his way' out of Villa Park this summer as Unai Emery streamlines his squad, according to Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor.

Is Philippe Coutinho leaving Aston Villa?

Last month, The Daily Mail reported that Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq are keen to bring Coutinho to the Middle East this summer as manager Steven Gerrard seeks a reunion with his former teammate.

The report states that Gerrard hopes to bring the Brazilian midfielder to the Gulf region and he had identified Coutinho as someone who could add strength to his squad.

Al Ettifaq have already made some high-profile pursuits this window and are closing in on Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele and Scotland international Jack Hendry.

Coutinho has been in and out of Aston Villa's starting lineup over the past year and made just 22 appearances in all competitions last term, registering a solitary goal, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Sport.ES via Birmingham Live, Besiktas have also expressed an interest in the £125k-a-week ace and would be keen to take him on a loan basis with the option to purchase the playmaker for a fee of just €8 million.

The 31-year-old joined Aston Villa permanently in 2022 for a fee of £17 million following an initially successful six-month loan spell at the West Midlands-based outfit, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Daily Express reporter Taylor has indicated that the likes of Morgan Sanson and Leander Dendoncker could join Coutinho by departing from Villa Park.

Taylor stated: "There’s a lot of players that could leave. Leander Dendoncker is one that could depart, Morgan Sanson’s heading for the exit door, Philippe Coutinho could be on his way. So, I think Villa would be open to it.

“And you know, the business they’ve done so far, I can’t talk highly enough of it. I think, in my view, Villa are going to be up there for top four this season.”

What else has been happening at Aston Villa this window?

Aston Villa have ramped up the quality in their squad already this window by finalising the additions of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby, as per Transfermarkt.

Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is still being courted by the Villans and it is said that bringing in another striker and a full-back are now other transfer priorities for Spanish coach Emery, according to The Guardian.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea, is another player who has cropped up on Aston Villa's radar alongside West Ham United.

The report states that Juventus would be looking for a fee of roughly £15 million to sanction an exit for the Switzerland international this summer.

Viola News via TEAMtalk indicate that Aston Villa are keen on pulling off an ambitious deal to sign Fiorentina enforcer Sofyan Amrabat, who has further admiration from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Serie A outfit Fiorentina will ask for around €30 million for the Morocco international, who could add further competition to Emery's talented engine room.

Manchester United are still interested in signing Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina this summer but reports of an official bid have been dismissed by Fabrizio Romano.

Is Amrabat joining United?

While not the most glamorous signing of the summer, a deal for Fiorentina's Amrabat would certainly be an excellent piece of business for any side willing to make a move for the defensive midfielder.

Having excelled at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco, helping his nation become the first African team to ever make a semi-final of the competition, Amrabat continued his fine form heading into the second half of a hectic campaign.

Fiorentina reached both the Coppa Italia and Europa Conference League final, losing both 2-1 as their first piece of silverware since the 1996/97 season narrowly evaded them.

Amrabat was crucial to La Viola's success and looks set to finally move onto bigger and better things this summer with a host of Europe's top clubs circling the 26-year-old.

The midfield enforcer has been long linked with Erik ten Hag's Man United and journalist Romano believes that the Red Devils retain a strong interest in him, albeit dismissing any rumours suggesting an official bid has been placed.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano stated: "Also important guys to mention about midfielders – Sofyan Amrabat. Many of you asking me about reports of a bid from Man United. Guys, from what I'm hearing, Man United have not made an official bid for Sofyan Amrabat yet.

"Because as I told you days ago, I told you here on my platforms, Sofyan Amrabat is on the list at Manchester United. They like him, they want to negotiate for Sofyan Amrabat, but they know that Fiorentina want something around €40-35m [£34-30m].

"So, at the moment the priority at Man United is the new striker and then, after the Hojlund deal, they will focus on potentially new midfielder and new centre-back."

He added: "Outgoings are crucial. Man United are convinced that Fred will leave the club and so this could be the first step, and then they can have conversations for Sofyan Amrabat."

Given United are unlikely to move for a midfielder until they have sorted their striker situation, a deal for Amrabat could be some way off.

Fred has been linked with a move to Fulham and such a move could pave the way for Amrabat to make the switch to Old Trafford. Scott McTominay has also been linked away which would free up even more space for the Moroccan in midfield.

Who are Man United signing?

Now that deals for Mason Mount, Andre Onana and somewhat surprisingly Jonny Evans have been finalised, United are eager, as mentioned by Romano, to add Rasmus Hojlund to their ranks.

The 20-year-old Atalanta forward appears to be the Red Devils' priority but a potential fee of £86m means a deal is not nearing completion at present. Ten Hag is not willing to sanction such an expensive move for a relatively inexperienced player, with United hopeful of reducing La Dea's asking price.

Randal Kolo Muani or Dusan Vlahovic could be alternatives, although both would likely command similarly high transfer fees. However, both strikers offer more top-flight experience to Ten Hag than Hojlund.

There are of course other midfielders on Ten Hag's wishlist, with a bold move for Joshua Kimmich having even been touted, while his Bayern Munich teammate Leon Goretzka is also reportedly being followed by the Red Devils in what would prove to be a similarly difficult transfer to pull off.

It has been a summer of significant change for Celtic since they beat Inverness at Hampden to secure the domestic treble for the 2022/23 campaign at the start of June.

Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou decided to depart shortly after the end of the season to join Tottenham Hotspur and has been replaced by Brendan Rodgers, who is now in his second spell at Parkhead.

There have also been alterations within the squad as Jota completed a permanent move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, whilst Aaron Mooy confirmed his retirement from football.

The club have reacted to those departures by completing deals for a host of fresh faces, including Hyun-jun Yang, Marco Tilio, and Odin Thiago Holm who bolster their options in midfield and out wide.

Another change that could take place heading into next season is a switch from Postecolou's preferred 4-3-3 system to Rodgers' favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

This could open up the door for Scotland international David Turnbull to return to prominence as the 24-year-old, who is a number ten by trade, only started six Scottish Premiership matches throughout last season.

The ex-Motherwell ace averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.47 – the highest at the club – during the 2020/21 campaign as he produced nine goals and 12 'big chances' created whilst mainly being deployed in his favoured position.

Further to this, the 4-2-3-1 set-up could also provide a pathway for B Team star Rocco Vata to make his breakthrough at first-team level as an attacking midfielder and ultimatelly Turnbull's heir.

What is Rocco Vata's style of play?

The 18-year-old maestro, who has been capped by Ireland's U19 side, is a number ten who likes to find the back of the net on a regular basis, whilst also being able to play out wide or through the middle as a number nine.

Vata has been in senior training with Celtic this month and Rodgers commented on his talent by stating: "He's strong, quick, he wants to score goals."

This is backed up by the teenage wizard's form for the academy team last season. He racked up nine goals alongside one assist in 16 Lowland League matches, which proved that the promising technician can compete against senior professionals, albeit at a fifth-tier level.

His B Team form caught Postecoglou's eye as the Australian handed him four Scottish Premiership appearances last term, in which the Hoops prodigy was able to showcase his creative ability with two 'big chances' created in just 44 minutes of action.

Youth coach Dara O'Dea claimed that Vata has a "killer attitude that never stops" which bodes well for his chances of eventually breaking into Rodgers' squad on a regular basis with it looking as though he boasts the mentality ito keep pushing himself to develop.

Therefore, the Irish youth international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig stated has an "exciting future", could grow into a dream Turnbull heir for Rodgers at Celtic.

Indeed, the potential is there for Vata to be an attacking midfielder who can make a big impact at the top end of the pitch as a crative magician possessing the quality to score goals and create 'big chances' week-in-week-out for his side.

Celtic officially confirmed that captain Callum McGregor put pen to paper on a new five-year contract with the Scottish giants earlier this week.

The 30-year-old central midfielder has been with the club since the age of nine, when he joined the academy, and has won 20 trophies at Parkhead, including a world-leading five trebles.

McGregor should be an inspiration for players coming through the youth team set-up in Glasgow as he has proven what can be accomplished if you put your head down and remain loyal to the Hoops throughout your career.

He is not the only academy graduate in the first-team squad, though, as right-back Anthony Ralston has played 85 senior matches since breaking through.

The Scotland international, who enjoyed three loan spells away from Paradise before making his mark at Celtic, has made 44 Scottish Premiership appearances since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers is seemingly using pre-season to see if he can spot the next talent to emerge from the youth team as the likes of Josh Dede, Daniel Kelly, Mackenzie Carse, and Bruno Davidson have all been spotted training with the senior group.

What position does Josh Dede play in?

The 17-year-old prospect previously played as a right winger but is now predominantly deployed as a right-back, with the Celtic's official website having him down as a defender.

Journalist Lewis Laird claimed that the full-back has an "exciting future" ahead of him in the game, which is backed up by his emergence for the B team in spite of his young age.

Manager Tommy McIntyre stated at the end of the 2021/22 campaign that the talented gem has a "big future" and said that Dede, along with his teammates, will play if they are good enough, irrespective of their age or experience.

The right-back seemingly did enough to convince his coach that he was good enough to play for the B team as the teenage prodigy racked up 15 Lowland League appearances, which means that the youngster has played men's football in the fifth tier of the Scottish pyramid.

Only 16-year-old Corey Thomson played in 15 or more matches below the age of 17, with a number of 18 and 19-year-old starlets competing for positions across the team, which highlights how impressive Dede's emergence in the side was.

The 17-year-old battler has also done enough to become a regular for Scotland at U17 level, with 11 caps since his debut in March of last year, which shows how highly he is rated by his coaches on the international scene.

His form for the academy has clearly caught the eye of Rodgers as the Northern Irish tactician has brought the promising defender into the first team for pre-season training, potentially with a view to using him in one of the friendlies to see how he fares in a senior environment.

Therefore, the Celtic head coach could unearth the club's next Ralston as Dede is an emerging right-back who could make the step up if he is able to continue his development in the months and years to come, given his impressive progression so far.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to 90min, the Hoops are one of the clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign Manchester United central midfielder Donny van de Beek during the summer transfer window, with Brendan Rodgers keen on a deal for the Red Devils outcast.

His club have decided to sanction an exit after the Netherlands international made seven league appearances, including two starts, throughout the 2022/23 season.

The report claims that Premier League sides Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, along with Inter, Milan, and Roma in Italy, are also in the race to land his signature.

It states that Erik ten Hag's team would like to cash in by selling him over the coming weeks but that a loan is a more likely option at this moment in time – three years on from his £35m switch to England from Dutch giants Ajax in 2020.

How much is Donny van de Beek earning at Manchester United?

The 26-year-old dynamo is reportedly earning £140k-per-week with the Champions League side and this could make a deal difficult to complete for Celtic as their top earner is Callum McGregor on £32k-per-week.

Unless they are willing to smash their wage structure to pieces, the Hoops would need United to subsidise a large chunk of his salary in what would be an ambitious swoop for the midfielder.

It is a move worth pursuing for Rodgers, though, as the Netherlands maestro, who was once hailed as "unselfish" by ex-England international Owen Hargreaves, has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the squad to partner Matt O'Riley in the middle of the park.

Van de Beek should not be judged on his rather difficult spell in England as he has only started 11 Premier League matches in three years, which means that the 19-cap gem has not been given enough of a chance to prove himself with an extended run in the side.

However, his form at Ajax suggests that there is an excellent talent for Rodgers to unearth.

He averaged a sublime Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 23 Eredivisie starts in his final campaign with the Dutch giants, which was the 2019/20 season.

During that time, the Dutch dynamo scored eight goals and created 1.8 chances per game for his teammates, which came after the 6-foot technician plundered nine goals to go along with ten assists over the course of 28 league starts throughout the previous term.

No Celtic central midfielder managed more than six Premiership goals last season and O'Riley (2.1) was the only player in that position with an average of 1.5 key passes per match or higher.

The former MK Dons star also ranked second in the squad with his average Sofascore rating of 7.30 – only behind Jota's 7.45 – and this means that the Manchester United flop would have slotted between them based on his form at Ajax during the 2019/20 campaign.

Therefore, the potential is there for the talented Dutchman to be an exciting addition to Celtic's squad if Rodgers can get him back to the levels he displayed in his home country.

Van de Beek and O'Riley could be a nightmare for opposition midfielders to deal with next season as they are both capable of delivering consistently brilliant performances whilst also being able to offer excellent creativity, along with the former's goalscoring threat.

Manchester United are yet to confirm their first signing of the summer with Mason Mount's arrival at Old Trafford set to be announced imminently, but now the club have agreed terms with another transfer target.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Sofyan Amrabat?

According to La Nazione (via Sport Witness), Man United have agreed personal terms with Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

As per the report, it is claimed that the Red Devils are strongly interested in signing the player this summer and have already found an agreement with Amrabat but will need to convince his Serie A club to part ways with their star, which would cost €30m (£26m) this summer.

Who would Amrabat replace in the Man United team?

Whilst Erik ten Hag's top priority will be to strengthen the centre-forward role ahead of next season, there is no doubt that the midfield personnel could benefit from a refresh this summer.

Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Fred are all in their 30s at this point, so injecting some more youthful long-term prospects in the centre of the pitch would be advantageous in the manager's pursuit to get Man United consistently winning trophies and challenging for the Premier League title again.

As a result, the signing of Amrabat would be a great piece of business for Ten Hag if the club can reach an agreement with Fiorentina, as he could be a worthy competitor for Fred in the deep-lying role alongside Casemiro next season.

When comparing the Serie A star with his Brazilian positional peer last season, Amrabat comfortably outperformed Fred in a number of key attributes including pass completion rate (88.8% v 79.1%), percentage of tacklers dribbled (55.2% v 39.5%), successful take-ons (70.6% v 37.5%), progressive passes (176 v 76) and ball recoveries (157 v 127), as per FBref.

This demonstrates that the ball-playing defensive midfielder – hailed "outstanding" by Joe Cole – would provide Ten Hag with a much more solid and consistent option to bring into midfield next season and a player who can build a much-needed partnership with Casemiro in front of the back four that can be trusted.

According to WhoScored, Fred was the seventh lowest-rated player (6.48) in the entire squad last season and was slammed by Roy Keane after his lack of discipline gave Kevin de Bruyne a free-kick in a dangerous position which ultimately killed their hopes of winning the FA Cup at Wembley last month.

"Fred had Kevin De Bruyne where he wants him," the former Man United captain told ITV Sport.

"De Bruyne has his back to goal and then Fred fouls him. It's the height of stupidity. But we've seen that from him so many times over the years."

With that being said, it would be a major coup if Man United could secure the services of Amrabat to bolster the midfield options, as he is the exact profile of player that the team is crying out for and could significantly improve how clinical the midfield needs to be when it matters most.

Newcastle United are one of a number of top clubs who are interested in signing Fenerbahce youngster Arda Guler in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

How good is Arda Guler?

The 18-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting young players in Europe at the moment, already producing a string of impressive performances for Fenerbahce.

Last season, Guler scored four goals and registered three assists in the Turkish Super Lig, also chipping in with one apiece in the Europa League, becoming a regular despite still being such a young player.

It is no secret that there is a huge amount of interest in the teenager this summer, with many top Premier League sides interested in signing him due to a relatively low £15m release clause. Newcastle are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move, as the Magpies look to complete some exciting transfer business ahead of their return to the Champions League.

A fresh update suggests that their interest isn't going away, although it may not be easy for them to acquire the services of the £2,500-a-week ace.

Could Newcastle sign Guler this summer?

According to TEAMtalk, Fenerbahce are desperately trying to persuade Guler to stay put this summer, but Newcastle are falling in love with the player after their scouting trips:

"Newcastle are huge fans of the player and have tracked him for a number of months. But they are not alone as several other Premier League clubs are keen too. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton were also in attendance for Turkey’s victory.

"Major European sides Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Inter, Juventus, Dortmund, Leipzig, Benfica and Porto watched Guler’s brilliant goal as well."

Guler is clearly a special prospect, with Italian legend Andrea Pirlo claiming there is "no limit to his potential", as well as hailing his "great technique", so Newcastle signing him could feel like a massive coup.

At just 18, he is already a four-cap Turkey international, scoring once in that time, and he is only going to mature further as a player as the years pass, starring in a central midfield role and being able to take up a more attack-minded position, too.

It is vital that Newcastle sign both players for the present and the future, ensuring they continue to grow into a major force in English football, and Guler is someone who could arrive as an exciting squad player to begin with, before eventually becoming a genuine star and one of the first names on the team sheet.

Leeds United's search for a new manager nears its conclusion, with a recent update detailing those most likely to get the job…

What's the latest on Patrick Vieira to Leeds United?

That's according to Sky Sports, who emphasise this notion, with the 49ers having narrowed down their search from a list containing dozens of names.

The use of data analytics aided this process, which saw around ten different coaches interviewed across Zoom last week.

However, one of those who were fortunate enough to get a face-to-face interview was Patrick Vieira, who retains his presence on that final shortlist.

It seems the Frenchman stands a strong chance at being offered the post, however, will battle with promotion specialist Daniel Farke for the role.

Would Patrick Vieira improve Leeds United?

Whilst it might be tough to opt against the German, who has enjoyed two successes in guiding a team out of the Championship, it could be argued that opting for the former Arsenal midfielder places more of a focus on the long-term.

His experience in the Premier League surpasses that of the 46-year-old, having managed 65 games to dwarf the 49 of his rival. Whilst the latter might ensure a speedy return to the top-flight, history suggests he offers little once he reaches that level.

After all, his points-per-game average of 0.53 is abysmal, and a far cry from Vieira's 1.15.

Whoever is chosen to fill the vacancy must fix the glaring issue in Yorkshire though, by plugging up one of the most threadbare backlines around.

Last term the Whites conceded 78 times, the most of anyone in the league, and the year prior would ship a further 79. Whilst on paper some of their players might be talented, a lack of confidence and direction has stifled their progress.

Pascal Struijk is one such name whose form has faltered lately, maintaining a 6.75 average Sofascore rating last campaign as they fell to the drop, the sixth-best of anyone in the side.

However, his debut season at the age of just 20 saw this figure rise to 6.94, upheld through his 86% pass accuracy and 80% dribble success rate alongside 1.7 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Despite his youth, he showcased bravery on the ball that had many fans thrilled at the bright future he promised for their defence.

Mismanagement following Marcelo Bielsa's sacking quickly saw him prioritised to fill gaps though, and soon he was forced to feature at full-back, undoing all his work building a solid reputation.

Vieira could well be the man to revitalise the 23-year-old, given how his first year at Selhurst Park saw him get the best out of two young lesser-known centre-backs in Marc Guehi and Joachim Anderson.

The former in particular maintained an impressive 7.03 average Sofascore rating during that fine first campaign for the inexperienced manager, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most impressive young defenders, and even earning an England call-up.

Pundit Clinton Morrison sought to praise their head coach during that year too, branding him "outstanding" for his work in defying the odds.

It is clear that Vieira knows exactly how to manage defensive youth, and his 4-3-3 philosophy and infectious passion for the game could help finally direct Struijk back on the right path towards being the future of a successful new defensive dynasty at Elland Road.