It was a highlight in an otherwise dreary day down in South Wales.
Although, if he keeps setting the bar like this, Birmingham City fans might just be in for a bit of a downfall if he starts scoring tap ins.
Ivan Sunjic came in with a bit of a reputation when he signed in the summer, with one Croatian journalist comparing the 23-year-old to Internazionale midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
Quite high standards indeed, and those standards only got higher after his first goal for the club against Derby County, earning him the Goal of the Month award in the process.
He’s since gone about trying to better himself, and his second goal for the Blues might have been more impressive than the first one.
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That’s why Bluenoses can’t seem to get enough of it, taking every opportunity to watch the goal over and over again whilst drooling over the strike.
Indeed there were some who were rather annoyed that it didn’t get more recognition from those outside the club.
If he can make it three like this, it would possibly be the three greatest goals to start a club career since Wayne Rooney’s first three for Manchester United.
Arsenal’s academy has impressed in recent years, producing talents who are edging ever closer to breaking into the club’s first team under Mikel Arteta.
Ethan Nwaneri is arguably the most promising, making his debut for the club in September 2022 as a 15-year-old against Brentford at the GTEC Community Stadium – making him the youngest-ever appearance maker in the club’s history.
The now 17-year-old has only made one more competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners since, but he has started in the Premier League 2 for the U21 side, registering 13 goal contributions in his 13 appearances last season.
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri
Midfielder Nwaneri has been a consistent goalscoring option for various youth sides in recent years, scoring a combined 26 goals from midfield for the U18 and U21 sides since his breakthrough a couple of years ago.
#1 Ethan Nwaneri
15 years, 5 months, 28 days
2022: Brentford
#2 Cesc Fabregas
16 years, 5 months, 24 days
2003: Rotherham
#3 Jack Wilshere
16 years, 8 months, 12 days
2008: Blackburn
#4 Jermaine Pennant
16 years, 10 months, 15 days
1999: Middlesbrough
#5 Paul Vaessen
16 years, 11 months, 11 days
1978: Lokomotive Leipzig
#6 Ryan Smith
16 years, 11 months, 18 days
2003: Rotherham
#7 Gedion Zelalem
16 years, 11 months, 29 days
2014: Coventry
#8 Armand Traore
17 years, 16 days
2006: West Brom
However, despite his consistent figures for the Hale End Academy, he’s yet to break into the starting team, with another European talent of a similar age already taking the world by storm at his club.
Lamine Yamal’s time at Barcelona
Like Nwaneri, Lamine Yamal is a player in the very early stages of his career, but the 17-year-old Spaniard has already announced himself as a key player for Barcelona after his breakthrough last season.
The forward made 50 appearances in all competitions for the LaLiga side, registering a total of 16 goal contributions – a stupendous figure for a player at such a tender age.
However, that would be just the tip of the iceberg for Yamal, with the youngster playing a huge part in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph this summer – featuring in every game, scoring a screamer against France whilst laying on four assists for his international teammates.
He subsequently was handed the Young Player of the Tournament award, a signal of his impact, with the talent continuing his impressive form into the new campaign.
Yamal already has five goal contributions in the opening four matches of the Hansi Flick era – aiming to claim another league title for Barça in the 2024/25 campaign.
Games
7
Goals
1
Assists
4
Shots taken
18
Pass accuracy
84%
Successful dribbles
12
Chances created
19
However, the Gunners could unearth their own version of the superstar, with one academy gem catching the eye in recent months.
The star who could be Arsenal’s own Yamal
Max Dowman may be a name unknown to many Arsenal supporters, but the young talent is making waves in the academy and progressing at a rapid rate.
The 14-year-old, who features internationally for England’s U17 side, is a regular performer in the club’s U18 squad – making his first appearance at that level at just 13. It’s a ridiculous fact.
Dowman, who’s been dubbed as “remarkable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, operates in an attacking midfield role – achieving a total of two goals and five assists – demonstrating his ability to create opportunities in the final third.
The youngster has already caught the eye of former player and current U18’s head coach Jack Wilshere, with the former Arsenal talent saying:
It’s unfair to load expectations on such a young talent to impress, but given his rapid development and the qualities displayed, Dowman has all the tools to be the next player of a long list to break into the club’s first-team after spending numerous years in the academy setup.
Barça forward Yamal is just one example of a player who can thrive against Europe’s elite, with Dowman needing to remain focused and determined to continue on his upward trajectory before replicating the impact of the Spaniard at the Emirates.
Sold for £35m: Arsenal's record sale is now worth just £14m
The talented star hasn’t kicked on as people thought he might.
West Ham United fans are itching to see the back of the September international break and see Julen Lopetegui's project hit its stride.
Technical director Tim Steidten certainly demonstrated financial ambition, spending in excess of £120m, but after two losses from three opening Premier League fixtures, there's plenty to work on.
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui
Albeit, those defeats came in a hard-fought game against Aston Villa and, latterly, Manchester City, who were supercharged by the ridiculous ball-striking of Erling Haaland, but chequered form in the weeks to come would probably ignite concern.
Lopetegui wields some high-quality cogs, but what he would give to a linchpin in the mould of Declan Rice, who has now been gone for little over a year…
Why West Ham sold Declan Rice
West Ham sold Rice to Arsenal in a £105m transfer that was a record for both clubs. He had since through the ranks in east London after being picked up as a wandering youth, nurtured and guided toward the limelight.
james-ward-prowse-declan-rice-west-ham-opinion
Rice completed 245 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 15 goals and supplying 13 assists, and was promoted to official club captain following Mark Noble's retirement in 2022, though he had donned the armband numerous times before.
Club chairman David Sullivan confirmed before the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign that he would be sold, and while it was a bitter pill to swallow, watching him make the cross-London switch, the England international is one of the finest midfielders in the world and deserved his move to Arsenal, especially after helping West Ham to win the Conference League in his final appearance, defeating Fiorentina in the final.
He's since gone from strength to strength with the Gunners, failing to win any silverware beyond the FA Community Shield but proving to be a cardinal piece in Mikel Arteta's ongoing conquest against his former master, Pep Guardiola, fighting tooth and nail to end Manchester City's Premier League dynasty.
But do West Ham really rue his departure? Of course, watching a homegrown superstar ply their trade elsewhere is a bitter feeling, especially given that he scored during a 6-0 drubbing at the London Stadium last year, contributing toward the end of David Moyes' tenure.
Declan Rice for Arsenal
But the £105m figure recouped was used wisely, invested across the pitch to refine a talented team. Indeed, Rice might have conquered the Conference League before leaving east London, but he was unable to help West Ham to a respectable finish in the Premier League, with patchy domestic form consigning the club to 14th place.
West Ham’s “unplayable” star could already have a bigger legacy than Rice
He’s one of the club’s modern greats…
ByAngus Sinclair Sep 7, 2024
Last year, however, West Ham made improvements in the wake of the 25-year-old's sale, fizzling out toward the end of the term but still finishing eighth in the top flight and reaching the quarter-final of the Europa League, defeated in a competitive two-legged affair against indomitable Bayer Leverkusen.
Edson Alvarez impressed as the more-or-less direct replacement, bringing tough-tackling expertise to the engine room. James Ward-Prowse's set-piece speciality also aided the Irons, while Konstantinos Mavropanos' arrival from Stuttgart contributed toward shoring up the backline.
Edson Alvarez for West Ham
The real cream of the purchased crop, however, has got to be Mohammed Kudus, an electric winger who continues to inspire awe and, perhaps, has now surpassed Rice in regard to his financial value.
Muhammed Kudus's transfer value in 2024
West Ham signed Kudus from Ajax for a £38m fee in late August 2023, beating the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea to his signature.
West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus
He was rather good last year, gliding past opponents and causing all kinds of chaos through his darting runs and snap-jerk motions, second-guessing defenders and basically just wreaking havoc.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 3% for tackles made per 90, illustrating his tenacity and multi-skilled approach.
Matches (starts)
33 (27)
3 (3)
Goals
8
0
Assists
6
0
Shots (on target)*
2.0 (0.5)
2.3 (0.00)
Pass completion
84%
89%
Key passes*
0.8
0.7
Dribbles*
3.8
3.7
Ball recoveries*
6.4
3.3
Tackles + interceptions*
2.0
1.7
Total duels won*
8.5
8.0
Kudus hasn't quite found his shooting boots yet but the Ghana international's underlying statistics are more or less the same as last year. His dribbling and ferocious athleticism mark him as one of Europe's most exciting wide players, and it's no surprise that teams such as Liverpool took an interest during the off-season.
Indeed, as per well-respected Hammers source Claret & Hugh, Liverpool had been lurking around during July, with an eagerness to raid their divisional rivals and bring the winger to Anfield, but any notion of his sale was laughed off by West Ham bosses, debunking rumours that he was set to join Arne Slot's team for a £85m figure.
In actual fact, West Ham would not consider doing business with any party unless the figure paid for Rice (£105m) was eclipsed, something that just wasn't going to happen. This truly underscores how highly regarded Kudus is, with his unique skillset irreplaceable and thus best served at the London Stadium, for as long as possible.
To be fair, the £90k-per-week talent did have an £85m release clause embedded into his Hammers contract, but this expired back at the start of July, now giving Steidten and the powers that be in east London to dictate conditions, should a party declare their interest.
Described as a "generational talent" by journalist Gary Al-Smith, Kudus is one of the most breathtaking footballers to ever don a West Ham shirt. There are no two ways about it: whatever happens, the outfit has hit the jackpot with this one.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
Sean Dyche and Everton are on the verge of completing the signing of a £30 million+ midfielder, according to a new report from a Sky Sports journalist.
The Toffees have made a dismal start to the new Premier League season, as they have suffered back-to-back heavy defeats against Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur, which has already seen pressure mount on Dyche.
However, he will be hoping that his new arrivals soon start to settle down and adapt to their new club, while also hoping that between now and the deadline on Friday, they can possibly add one or two more players to his squad.
Everton hold talks to sign £30,000-a-week striker to replace Neal Maupay
Talks are underway over a move.
ByHenry Jackson Aug 27, 2024 Everton transfer news
Everton have brought in six new players in this transfer window so far, with their biggest capture being defender Jake O’Brien from French side Lyon. But Dyche will be keen for the club to not end there, as he tries to get the Merseyside club to avoid a repeat of last season.
Jack Harrison
Leeds United
Tim Iroegbunam
Aston Villa
Iliman Ndiaye
Marseille
Jesper Lindstrom
Napoli
Jake O'Brien
Lyon
Asmir Begovic
QPR
As well as Everton closing in on the signing of a midfielder, they are also potentially looking at other areas and, therefore, other players they could pursue before the deadline. One player that is said to have emerged on Everton’s radar is Chelsea striker Datro Fofana, with the Toffees reportedly holding talks with the London side over a possible loan deal. The report states that work is being done behind the scenes for Everton to sign the striker, with the Merseyside club looking to move current striker Neal Maupay on as well.
As well as looking at Fofana, Everton have also been linked with a move for West Ham United target Carlos Soler. It was claimed that the Toffees were “exploring” a deal for the PSG midfielder, with the French giants either wanting a loan for the player or a £20 million transfer fee.
As well as fighting the Hammers for Soler, Everton could also be in the race to sign Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier, a player that Dyche knows very well from their time at Burnley.
It has been claimed that Everton have been in contact with the Magpies over a potential loan deal, as the England international wants to leave the club before the transfer window closes. While these may be deals that occur closer to the deadline, it appears Everton are closing in on a signing now.
Everton on the verge of £33 million loan to buy deal
According to journalist Hugo Guillemet, relayed by Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Everton are on the verge of signing Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala.
He reports that the midfielder will join the Toffees with immediate effect, after Everton agreed a deal with the French side to sign Mangala. The deal is said to be a one-year loan with an option to buy at €40 million, which is roughly £33 million.
Furthermore, he goes on to add that a total verbal agreement is done, and the player will finalise his medical on Wednesday before the deal is completed. The 26-year-old only joined Lyon last summer from Nottingham Forest, but he failed to appear regularly for them, featuring in just eight Ligue 1 games as well as four in the Coupe de France.
Lyon midfielder Romain Faivre has the potential to be a shrewd summer signing for Crystal Palace, according to journalist Dean Jones.
Who is Romain Faivre?
The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at FC Lorient, scoring five goals in Ligue 1, as well as chipping in with a further three assists in the competition. He is permanently registered at Lyon, however, where he has made 28 appearances to date, netting three times along the way.
It could be that Faivre looks for a new challenge during the summer transfer window, however, and a move to the Premier League certainly doesn't look to be out of the question. Palace are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, as they look to make positive progress in the transfer market before the start of the 2023/24 season.
Everton and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix, though, with it looking increasingly likely that the midfielder will depart Lyon, even though his current deal there doesn't expire until the summer of 2026.
Would Faivre be a good signing for Crystal Palace?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones talked up the idea of Palace completing the signing of Faivre in the summer transfer window:
"I think he’s a good level of player to be looking at. He's very confident on the ball. He’s very confident in his decision-making. He's got a bit of cheekiness about him too."
Faivre could be a really strong option for Palace this summer, coming in as someone who can provide various different attributes in the middle of the park. Last season, the £18,000-a-week midfielder averaged three dribbles per game, highlighting the attacking quality and risk-taking ability that he possesses, but he also made 0.8 tackles per match, which while far from earth-shattering, still shows that he can do a job defensively.
Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that the Eagles could do with improving, as Roy Hodgson looks to bring in the right players after committing his future to the club for another season, with Faivre providing more of a creative spark than someone like Will Hughes, for example, who only chipped in with one goal and assist apiece in the Premier League last term.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has said that "Romain Faivre has something few players have – he breaks lines", which is high praise from such a legendary footballing figure, and it is that ability to provide that extra spark in the middle of the park that could help take Palace up a level moving forward, also getting even more out of attacking stars such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
There is clearly strong competition for Faivre's signature, so it won't be easy for the Eagles to get their man, but the lure of moving to London could as a potential advantage, given the appeal of living in and around the city, and Palace could also be considered less of a relegation-threatened candidate than Everton and Fulham in 2023/24.
Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Monaco star, Axel Disasi, with Erik ten Hag plotting alternatives to Napoli's Kim Min-jae.
What's the latest on Disasi to Man United?
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils "remain keen" on signing the towering centre-back ahead of next season, with the Frenchman reportedly set to be available for a fee of around €50m (£43m) this summer if he is to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.
In a further update from Romano, the respected insider went on to add: "Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal]."
As the Italian journalist noted, it would appear that Kim could be on his way to Bayern Munich over the coming weeks, despite recent reports that the South Korean brute had reached an agreement with United regarding a move to Old Trafford.
Should Man United sign Axel Disasi?
The signing of the 25-year-old could potentially allow Ten Hag and co to forget all about the aforementioned Kim, with the 6 foot 3 ace having been hailed as a "complete" and "dominant" asset by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Also previously described as a "hidden gem" by Kulig in the past, Disasi notably helped to keep nine clean sheets in 38 league games last season, while also making an impact in an attacking sense after chipping in with three goals in that time.
Napoli's Kim Min-jae
The former Reims titan's quality in the final third would add a real bonus to Ten Hag's side, with the four-cap international seemingly proving far more dangerous than Kim as he ranks in the top 7% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his Napoli counterpart ranks in just the bottom 41% in that regard.
Perhaps more importantly, however, is Disasi's superior knack for being able to play out from the back, with the one-time Paris FC man offering a real threat with his ability to spark attacks from deep as he ranks in the top 4% for both progressive passes and progressive carries – with Kim ranking in just the top 12% for both those two metrics.
The Monaco man could also prove rather dangerous for any opposition striker due to his ball-winning brilliance as he ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, with that far greater than the Serie A-winning sensation, who ranks in just the top 27% for interceptions.
As such, while all the talk has been about Kim potentially making the move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, Ten Hag would be wise to consider the 'hidden gem' that is Disasi instead.
An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest on Kings Kangwa to Celtic?
The Guardian journalist Ed Aarons has revealed that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop for Red Star Belgrade ace Kings Kangwa this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to improve his team.
The reporter tweeted: "Nottingham Forest have held talks with Red Star Belgrade over signing Kings Kangwa. The centre midfielder scored in Zambia's win against Ivory Coast in Afcon qualifying last week and is likely to cost €3m. Celtic, Fiorentina, Lille and Montpellier also interested in 24-year-old."
However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants will formalise their interest with an official bid to land the £2.6m-rated talent given the stiff competition that they would seemingly face for his signature in the coming weeks.
What is Kings Kangwa's style of play?
The Red Star hotshot, who was described as a "great ball-carrier" by player analyst Chris Kearney, is an all-action midfielder who can make key contributions at both ends of the pitch.
Earlier this year, Football Insider claimed that current Hoops ace Matt O'Riley would be open to an exit this summer amid interest from English Premier League teams, and Kangwa could be the dream heir to the Denmark international at Parkhead.
The former MK Dons dynamo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.30 across 38 Scottish Premiership outings in 22/23 and showcased his ability on and off the ball.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
In possession, O'Riley chipped in with three goals and 2.2 chances created per match for his side, which resulted in an eye-catching 12 assists.
The Danish maestro also put the hard work in defensively to make 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match, although he struggled in physical battles, with a duel success rate of just 44%.
Kangwa, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 32 Superliga matches for Red Star in 22/23 and made his presence felt in the final third with eight goals and 1.4 key passes per outing.
These statistics indicate that, provided he can replicate his form from the Czech top flight, the 24-year-old could provide a similar level of attacking threat in comparison to the Celtic star, albeit that it may come more in terms of scoring goals than creating them.
The Zambia international displayed strength in the middle of the park with a duel success rate of 55% and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per match, which suggests that the talented ace could even be more efficient than O'Riley out of possession.
Therefore, Rodgers could land a dream heir to the ex-Fulham midfielder by beating off interest from the host of other clubs eyeing Kangwa to land his services this summer, as he is another box-to-box gem who could provide quality across the park.
England manager Gareth Southgate has warned Jack Grealish over his antics during the Manchester City celebrations after winning the treble.
What did Gareth Southgate say about Jack Grealish?
The winger has made plenty of headlines over the past week or so as he's widely enjoyed letting off some steam after Pep Guardiola and his team secured the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup over the course of the past season.
For instance, he was even spotted on camera drunkenly begging City teammate Bernardo Silva not to leave in the summer, while more footage has seen him ambling around Manchester, often with Champagne in hand.
Despite all this, Grealish's season isn't tenchially over as he's part of the England squad which will play Euro 2024 qualifiers over the next few days – first against Malta, and then North Macedonia.
With this in mind, manager Southgate has been talking to the press about the player's off-field antics, suggesting that he best not cross the line.
He told the press (via TalkSport): "There is a line but in our head we weren't thinking of including the City players for this game.
"I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that's for me to manage.
"A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything [on social media]. I wouldn't have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems."
Will Grealish play for England against Malta?
It's nice to see that Southgate at least understanding Grealish's behaviour and not coming down too hard on him – admitting that his on genertation would have been worse. Although, he did also suggest that none of the City players will featute against Malta.
And for the most part, it seems most of the footballing community has been able to enjoy the Man City man living it up, even if he has looked a bit worse for wear at times.
Man City's Jack Grealish
Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor explained on TalkSport why the former Aston Villa captain has every right to let off a little steam.
He said: “You’ve done the work, played in multiple games this season, had the sleepless nights after games – people don’t see that part of it where you’re shattered, you’re dehydrated, you can’t eat after games, people don’t see the side of footballers where they’re putting the work in and how difficult it is to be a professional footballer.
“They’ve done and now it’s time to celebrate. The celebrations are on hold for England duty and they’ll continue after England duty because he’ll have more time off and it’s deserved.
“I just see a lad who is living the dream. He’s won the treble and he’s celebrating as he should do.”
Newcastle United will be looking for new additions that can add quality to the squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.
What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Conor Gallagher?
According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this summer.
As per the report, the Magpies have identified a number of targets ahead of the summer transfer window and Gallagher is among several Premier League players that the club's hierarchy are considering.
Would Gallagher be a good signing for Newcastle?
Whilst securing the services of a defensive midfielder should be the highest priority for Newcastle this summer, there is no doubt that Gallagher can offer the club another young, hard-working and explosive player for Eddie Howe to deploy in the centre of the pitch.
The Newcastle boss has unlocked the full potential in his impressive squad this season with a League Cup final at Wembley and Champions League qualification making dreams become a reality for the St James' Park faithful, but now it will be important to keep building and adding quality to find success in the next steps of their journey.
Having strong depth in every position will be hugely advantageous when it comes to competing on the domestic and European stage next season, allowing Howe to rotate with confidence and without compromising on the quality of the performance.
Indeed, Gallagher – dubbed "Kante with goals" by talkSPORT's Tony Cascerino – could be the perfect player to add competition to Joelinton's position with the Brazilian midfielder named as the second most comparable player to the Chelsea talent, as per FBref.
The positional peers have shared a number of similarities in their output this season including shots on target rate (39.3% v 37.3%), pass completion rate (81.1% v 81.6%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.61 v 2.71) and successful take-ons (42.6% v 47.7%).
Due to the fact that Joelinton often drops into the left-wing role, Gallagher – who has a reported price tag of £44m – could even find himself playing alongside the Newcastle talisman and if they could form a good connection on the pitch together by doubling up on their similar attacking attributes, it could cause chaos for opponents.
With that being said, the signing of Gallagher would be a great way to bolster one of the most important positions in Howe's successful team and would give the manager a player he can trust to rotate into the team next season when competing in multiple competitions.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.
The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.
Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.
The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).
How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?
Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.
In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.
The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.
Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia.
Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.
Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.
Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.
There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.