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Tottenham Hotspur are now keen to snap up a rising star in La Liga for Ange Postecoglou, and a move may only be one step away according to a new report.

Tottenham looking for attacking options

Spurs are still on the hunt for attackers to bolster their frontline despite a summer window which saw two arrive. Dominic Solanke became the club’s record signing when he arrived from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth in a deal worth £65m and has hit the ground running at his new club as he looks to fill the shoes vacated by England teammate Harry Kane 12 months ago, form which has seen him recalled to the England set up for the first time in seven years.

Meanwhile, the club also signed winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley, with the French teenager seen very much as one for the future after impressing in the Premier League last season, though injury means that he will have to wait to really begin showing what he can do in north London.

But there are concerns over depth, with Dejan Kulusevski having been moved to a more central area in midfield alongside James Maddison, and Timo Werner only on loan for the 24/25 campaign, though there is an option to buy the German.

There are also question marks over Richarlison, who has failed to impress consistently since his £50m move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Everton, and Heung Min Son cannot continue to play every game for the Lilywhites. Now, Spurs are looking to freshen up their frontline and have turned to LaLiga in the hope to do so.

Tottenham eyeing Spanish forward

That comes as reports in Spain claim that Postecoglou’s side have joined the race to sign promising Valencia striker Hugo Duro. The 24-year-old has also been in the sights of West Ham United and has scored twice already this season including against league leaders Barcelona.

Tottenham scout £26k-p/w "monster" Chelsea target ahead of possible move

He would be another excellent young signing for Postecoglou’s side.

ByBen Browning Oct 6, 2024

He still has four years left to run on his £67,000 a week deal in Spain, but there are reports that he could be available for between €25m and €30m (£20.8m and £25m) in the upcoming transfer windows.

As per reports in Spain, Spurs have joined the race for Duro and they go as far as to suggest that Tottenham “could be one step away” from signing the striker.

Hugo Duro’s career at Valencia

Appearances

116

Goals

27

Assists

10

Yellow cards

12

Minutes per goal/assist

206.1

That comes with Tottenham being the “most interested in securing his services” and Daniel Levy, Postecoglou and co have identified him as someone who can “add dynamism and youth” to their squad. Valencia for their part do not “rule out a possible exit”, though the step that is still required is an offer being made for the striker, which Spurs are still yet to do.

Any move for another striker could likely need to come after a departure, with both Richarlison and Will Lankshear among the options Postecoglou can call on at present. However, with Richarlison failing to convince and Lankshear unexposed, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

Newcastle United are set to speak with the agents of a £60m-rated player who’s one of the best ball-playing defenders in world football, according to a new transfer rumour.

Newcastle manager & transfer news

It’s all go at St James’ Park at the moment, with plenty of drama surrounding the relationship between manager Eddie Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell. The pair have reportedly failed to see eye to eye since the latter arrived from Monaco in the summer, following a frustrating transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether the duo can patch up their differences and enjoy a good working relationship, but if things continue the way they are, it is difficult to see both men remaining in their respective roles for much longer. Howe finds himself under an element of pressure after a slightly disappointing start to the season, with Newcastle’s points tally masking some poor performances, but he appears to be safe in his job for the time being.

In terms of potential transfers, Lille striker Jonathan David has been strongly linked with a move to the Magpies, as they look for a long-term replacement for Callum Wilson, as well as hope to ease the burden on the slightly injury-prone Alexander Isak. Talks with the 24-year-old Canada international are even being planned, in what could be a brilliant piece of business.

Burnley youngster Luca Koleosho has also been mentioned as a possible target for the Magpies, having enjoyed a promising start to the season for the Clarets, scoring twice in five Championship appearances.

Newcastle battling rivals to sign huge talent

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are among a host of clubs keen on completing the signing of RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba. He is rated at £60m by the Bundesliga club, with the Magpies’ Premier League rivals Aston Villa also thought to be in the mix to snap up the 21-year-old. Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are mentioned, too, summing up how highly-rated the Frenchman is.

Lukeba could be a signing of serious intent by Newcastle, at a time when they have missed out on Marc Guehi and need a top-quality centre-back to come in. The 21-year-old is such an exciting talent, with former Lyon captain Leo Dubois saying of him: “He’s a young player, though there’s a lot of maturity in his game. He’s a great listener, he’s hungry to learn. He’s a player that’s showing his qualities, I’m happy for him.”

Lukeba is in the 90th percentile when it comes to pass completion rate among centre-backs (vs others in top five leagues), and the 96th for successful take-ons, not to mention being in the 63rd for progressive passes, showing that he isn’t just playing it safe at the back, instead looking to pick holes in the opposition press. These are elite-level ball-playing numbers.

Howe must finally ditch Newcastle star earning as much as Gordon

He’s reached the end of the line…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 27, 2024

At 21, the one-cap France international is already a major talent who is proving that he can shine at the highest level, and Newcastle pipping the likes of City and Madrid to his signature would feel huge, given his generational level of ability.

Chelsea have been handed another injury boost ahead of their trip to West Ham United this Saturday, with another star returning to training after his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea as Maresca continues promising start

It’s been a promising start to the Premier League season for new manager Enzo Maresca, who has guided his side to two wins, one draw and a single defeat to English champions Man City so far this term.

Chelsea now planning to accept permanent offer to sell £100k-a-week player

His time at Stamford Bridge could rapidly be coming to a close.

1 ByBen Browning Sep 16, 2024

A defeat to Pep Guardiola’s imperious title-winners aside, Chelsea have performed in brilliant fashion over their trio of other clashes, and were very unlucky not to come away from their 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace with all three points.

After sharing the spoils with their London rivals at Stamford Bridge over a fortnight ago, Maresca’s side got back to winning ways in their first game back after the international break – clinching a 1-0 victory away to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Chelsea dominated possession at the Vitality Stadium, but Andoni Iraola’s Cherries gave them a lot of trouble. The Blues were under the cosh for a good portion of the 90 minutes, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez even saving a penalty. However, Chelsea battled hard for all three points, with Christopher Nkunku sealing all three points through his smash-and-grab winner just before added time.

While Axel Disasi and Pedro Neto were criticised for their Chelsea performances against Bournemouth, with the former playing out of position before he was hauled off just past the hour mark, summer signing Jadon Sancho enjoyed a lively debut and provided the assist for Nkunku’s late winner.

Stat

Neto

Sancho

Minutes played

45

45

Touches

23

37

Accurate passes

10/15 (67%)

24/26 (92%)

Key passes

1

2

Dribbles completed

0/1

2/4

Duels won

0/3

2/4

Possession lost

9x

7x

It was a crucial, hard-earned victory for Maresca’s men – who now prepare for a tough to trip to the London Stadium this weekend to face West Ham next.

Chelsea given West Ham injury boost as Romeo Lavia trains at Cobham

A quartet of players missed the game on Saturday, with Malo Gusto out alongside Reece James to leave Maresca’s desperately short of right-backs over the weekend.

Luckily for the Italian, it appears Gusto has returned to training in a real boost for Chelsea, and he isn’t the only one. Midfielder Romeo Lavia missed their trip to Bournemouth with a hamstring injury, but the Belgian is now also back in contention.

As per Standard Sport, Lavia returned to Cobham training as well on Monday, following his recovery from a hamstring problem. He could therefore be available to play West Ham alongside Gusto, but defender Reece James remains sidelined.

Having the 20-year-old back will be a welcome boost for Maresca, despite Moises Caicedo’s excellent performances lately, and supporters will be hoping that Lavia can eventually become the “shining star” he was at Southampton (Sam Tighe).

It seems Chelsea and its new chaotic ownership are addicted to the headlines.

Relentlessly lurching from one transfer to the next, their commitment to constantly improving is fascinating.

Predominantly, the club has targeted the world’s most exciting young players, with the occasional, more experienced player also added into the mix.

"They've got a twin-track policy," explains Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol. "They go around the world buying up the best young players and they're going to carry on doing that but they want to buy ready-made players as well."

With this in mind, Boehly has done it again, and in an attempt to award Mauricio Pochettino the best chance of progression, he is eyeing a sensational reunion with Neymar.

What’s the latest on Neymar to Chelsea?

According to Le Parisien, the Blues are interested in signing the former Barcelona trickster this summer.

It has been suggested by a different outlet in Spain that Paris Saint-Germain may listen to offers of around €60m (£52m) for the Brazilian.

The soap opera that constantly envelopes the French juggernaut has been heightened in recent weeks due to Kylian Mbappe’s ongoing disputes with the club’s hierarchy. Whilst he reportedly refuses to sign a new deal but wants to stay for another year, the board has ruled out the possibility of losing him on a free transfer.

It remains to be seen how Neymar will react to the fanfare surrounding the loss of arguably the greatest player in the world. The 31-year-old has already seen his two-time former teammate Lionel Messi depart after receiving a torrent of abuse from a fractured and unpredictable fanbase.

Somehow, PSG has done the unthinkable – they have managed to make Chelsea look like a more stable environment and if a deal materialised for Neymar it would be one of the most eye-catching transfers in Premier League history.

Who can Neymar replace at Chelsea?

In an injury-hit season, the winger still retained his impeccable consistency, as he notched 35 goal contributions in just 29 appearances in all competitions.

Meanwhile, the term ‘consistency’ and these sorts of numbers are two things Raheem Sterling could only dream of as he endured the most miserable time of his senior career.

After comfortably surpassing double figures for league goals in each of his last five campaigns, the Englishman scored just six times in his debut campaign for the west Londoners.

In terms of creativity and productivity, the former Santos star massively outperforms the Englishman – the notable metrics are shot-creating actions per 90 (6.18 vs 3.14), progressive passes per 90 (9.41 vs 3.39), progressive carries per 90 (4.58 vs 3.71), successful take-ons per 90 (2.25 vs 1.54), and assists per 90 (0.56 vs 0.14).

It is a damning reflection of the steep decline that Sterling has experienced in recent times and a clear indication of Neymar’s ridiculous quality.

Whilst it likely remains just a sensational dream for the latter man to play English football, he would undoubtedly add a new level of flair and skill to a hugely underperforming frontline.

Described as “unstoppable” by Messi, it would be mouth-watering to see how Premier League defences would cope with one of football’s most dazzling technicians.

Sunderland impressed by wrapping up the majority of their transfer business early in the window, but manager Tony Mowbray has made it clear the club are still in need of another striker.

Who have Sunderland signed?

The Black Cats have targeted youthful players so far this summer, with Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham, Luis 'Hemir' Semedo and Jenson Seelt all joining so far.

However, while Hemir arrives with a reputation of being a hugely talented striker following his time at Benfica, he has yet to play any senior football.

Factor in Amad Diallo's return to parent club Manchester United, plus the fact Ross Stewart is going to miss the start of the new season, and it is clear why Mowbray has publicly stated his desire to bring in another attacking player.

Ellis Simms looked like being the ideal man to lead the line for Sunderland next season after his hugely successful spell on loan in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign – when he netted seven goals in just 17 games – but Championship rivals Coventry City got to the Everton striker first.

That leaves Sunderland looking far and wide for another striker, and it may be that they turn to one of their previous targets, with the East Anglian Daily Times reporting earlier this year that Mowbray is a fan of Peterborough United's Jonson Clarke-Harris.

How many goals has Jonson Clarke-Harris scored?

Clarke-Harris does not exactly fit the profile for the type of player Sunderland have previously targeted, given the £6.1k-per-week striker will turn 29 later this month.

However, that is arguably the peak age for a striker, while Clarke-Harris's experience – and not least his goalscoring ability – could be a huge factor in what Black Cats supporters will hope is another promotion push this coming season.

Indeed, Clarke-Harris has twice won the Golden Boot award in League One – a division he is clearly too good for.

The one-cap Jamaica international jointly-led the scoring charts again in the third tier last season with 26 goals in 46 regular-season games, yet Peterborough somehow missed out on promotion after capitulating in their play-off semi-final with Sheffield Wednesday.

Clarke-Harris has over 400 senior appearances to his name, having started his career by becoming Coventry's youngest-ever player aged 16 in 2010, and has scored 138 times.

The Leicester-born striker averaged 0.59 goals per 90 minutes during the regular League One season last time out, as per FBref, which is a tally only Stewart (0.86) can better among Sunderland players, albeit in a division higher.

It would be easy to dismiss Clarke-Harris as a player who can perform in League One but is unable to take the step up to the Championship, yet he scored 12 goals in a poor Peterborough team the last time he played at that level. To put that in some perspective, only Diallo (13) bettered that among Sunderland players last season.

Hailed as a "special talent" during his time at Rotherham United by then-manager Steve Evans, it may well be that Clarke-Harris now has a chance to show exactly what he is capable of for a team battling to earn promotion from the Championship.

Such a signing would then be a solution to the Black Cats' problem position…

Tottenham Hotspur seem unwilling to slow down in their quest for a revolution this summer, as another report emerges detailing fresh interest…

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham Hotspur?

This latest claim comes from journalist Sami Mokbel, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast about their interest in Leicester City's Harvey Barnes.

Having prised James Maddison from their clutches only earlier this week, it seems Ange Postecoglou now has the £40m winger in his sights once more. Although, it might not prove as straightforward as the aforementioned deal.

The writer stated: "You mention Harvey Barnes there, and there is an interest in Harvey Barnes. But equally, Harvey Barnes has a number of options and while he would be attracted to Tottenham he may look at that and think ‘wait a minute how often am I going to play here?”

"You have Son there, you have Kulusevski there and you have Richarlison there. He may look at that situation and think he may be better off elsewhere."

How good is Harvey Barnes?

Although this may be a dilemma for the one-time England international, he could join safe in the knowledge that he presents a far greater goal threat than both Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison given recent performances.

Given neither the Foxes nor Spurs performed particularly well last season, as the former were relegated and the latter failed to secure European football for the first time since 2010, the respective underperformance of the players can at least be dispassionate and without the bias that a purple patch can bring.

Their most recent campaigns showcase exactly how a player will deal with tough situations. Whilst the former Juventus ace and Brazil international went into hiding, with the latter scoring just one league goal all year, Barnes instead thrived.

Notching an impressive 13 from the wing, with a goal conversion rate of 18% (via Sofascore), his figures far outperform that of the struggling Sweden international. It seems he is finally growing into the claims of journalist Adam Bate from 2019, as he had branded him as "special" and a "huge talent".

Kulusevski even admitted earlier this month: "Of course, I’ve been disappointed personally. After the World Cup, I didn’t think I played well enough."

Having burst onto the scene with 13 goal contributions in his first 18 Premier League games during his first loan spell, it seems the expectation that he would mimic these figures weighed heavily on the 23-year-old.

He would score just twice last season, assisting seven and maintaining an abysmal 5% conversion rate in front of goal, via Sofascore. Even during that aforementioned blistering six-month period, which few would have been able to maintain, his conversion rate of 19% only slightly outperforms the 25-year-old's recent performances.

In an effort to add more cutting edge to his squad, Postecoglou could return to the King Power Stadium to secure Maddison's former teammate and bolster his own ranks further.

Transfer journalist Dean Jones believes Fabio Silva has lost his confidence since his move to Wolves from Porto back in 2020.

Silva could potentially be on the chopping block as Wolves look to sell players due to Financial Fair Play stipulations.

Wolves transfer news – Fabio Silva

It’s been a struggle for the Portuguese forward since his move to England.

Silva has scored just four goals in 62 appearances for Wolves, per Transfermarkt. And his poor form and lack of confidence has led to two loans spells away from the club at Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven respectively.

Silva’s agent, Carlos Oliveira has stated his client would like to leave the club and start afresh.

Oliveira stated: “The idea will not be to continue at Wolves, we are on the same wavelength to see what the best solution is for Fabio.

“We are working on bringing bid to sell, will depend on Wolves. For our part we want definite exit, let’s see the availability and willingness of Wolves.”

Silva could join multiple players on the chopping block following Ruben Neves’ move to Saudi Arabia and the potential sale of Nathan Collins to Brentford.

What has Dean Jones said about Fabio Silva?

Jones feels sympathy for the £79k-per-week Silva, believing a new environment could benefit his career when looking long term.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "It's such a shame when a player goes through something like that at such a young age, so I feel for him and I can totally understand why there might be psychological scars. It's very difficult to overcome, and your confidence is rocked by moments like that.

"As a football player, that's the last thing you need. Your mental space is as important as what you're able to do physically when you're a forward for sure.

"I could understand why if he wanted to change environment he might feel that could be beneficial to him."

Will Fabio Silva leave Wolves?

It feels like a formality that the Portugal international will leave Wolves this summer.

The move makes sense for both parties – Silva can have a fresh start at another club and Wolves can recuperate some of the money that paid for the youngster back in 2020.

Having originally signed the youngster for a whopping fee in the region of £35m, it is difficult to see how Wolves would be able to recuperate that sort of money if they are to sell him this summer.

But it is perhaps time to just cut their losses and admit this is a player who may not have a future at the club.

He is receiving interest from abroad which is certainly a promising sign if both parties are keen to secure new paths.

Liverpool will continue to monitor the market as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild after a challenging campaign, and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch is one young talent who they are 'pushing' to sign.

What's the latest on Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool?

That's according to the Mirror, who state that Klopp has received the green light to complete a move for the Dutchman, who has endured a frustrating maiden term in the German Bundesliga with the formidable champions.

The player is said to be 'keen' on a move to Anfield and, while in an ideal world he would remain at the club he chose to kickstart his career one year ago, a lack of minutes and the offer of prominence at Liverpool could result in a transfer, with a fee of around £25m enough to prise him away.

Especially considering that James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left the club; Alexis Mac Allister has been signed for £35m but the robust Gravenberch could be new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke's masterstroke this summer.

Should Liverpool sign Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch forged 103 appearances for Ajax and was a key component of an outfit that gleaned the Eredivisie thrice and the KNVB Cup twice across three campaigns, catching the eye of many an outfit across Europe and subsequently earning a €24m (£20m) transfer to Bavaria.

However, five starts from 33 matches across all competitions in Germany this season will do little to convince the precocious talent of committing his future to the club despite winning the title this year, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka unlikely to fall out of favour any time soon.

Previously hailed as the Netherlands' "greatest talent" by ex-Ajax ace Wim Kieft, the £152k-per-week machine ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 23% for progressive passes, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 27% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, which emphasises the dynamism of his trade and hints at a future as one of Europe's most destructive conductors.

If Klopp succeeds in signing the 21-year-old, he will strengthen the Dutch spine Anfield currently boasts, with Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo occupying prominent roles either side of the centre of the park, where Gravenberch could pull the strings and inject the unrelenting intensity to send the Kop into rapture.

He could forge a distinctively slick partnership with Gakpo, who has impressed since signing from PSV for an initial £35m last winter and scored seven goals and three assists as he ostensibly slots into the departing and iconic Roberto Firmino's all-encompassing frontal role.

Adept and weaving the threads of Klopp's hundred-hued tapestry together with his creative ingenuity, Gakpo ranks among the top 10% of forwards for rate of assists, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 1% for tackles per 90.

Such metrics play into Gravenberch's favour – and indeed vice versa – because of his role in tethering the midfield to the attack, opening space for the inversions of wide forwards such as Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, and keeping the robustness intact with his multi-faceted approach.

Lauded for his "dominant" demeanour on the pitch by his former youth coach Brian Tevreden, the confidence that exudes from Gravenberch's tenacity in the middle will keep the system ticking, and the countrymen could play significant roles in the next phase of Klopp's dynasty in Liverpool.

No matter the success of the Spanish national team, the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid will never diminish as shown by fans in Madrid hurling abuse at Gavi following the celebrations of Spain’s Nations League victory.

What did fans shout at Gavi?

The teenage midfielder starred in a Spanish side that defeated Croatia on penalties on Saturday evening to lift the Nations League trophy in Rotterdam.

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal scored the winning spot kick, while Gavi did not take on in the shootout in which Spain won 5-4.

The victory meant Spain secured their first trophy since winning Euro 2012 and the side returned to Madrid to celebrate with their adoring fans. The warm reception, however, was not extended to every team member on their arrival back in the Spanish capital.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi was subject to some nasty chants from fans in Madrid, showing the rivalry between Barca and Real will never be forgotten, even in the face of national team success – as seen in the Twitter footage below.

As he took to the stage he was immediately greeted with chants of “P*ta Barca”. Gavi handled it well though and signed off on the mic in style by stating: “Viva Espana’”.

What has been said about Gavi?

The chants were condemned on Twitter by the well-respected Spanish Football Podcast, who noted: “Anti-Barca chants aimed at Gavi during Spain’s Nations League celebration this evening. Depressingly predictable.”

It seems particularly silly from the Madrid fans, especially considering Gavi’s importance to the Spain team was emphasised by manager Luis de la Fuente in the lead-up to the Nations League final,

He said: “Gavi is a player with many resources, versatile, useful all over… he feels more comfortable playing interior, but football can take you to other positions. He is a fantastic player at all levels. We haven’t seen his best version of what he will be in the future.

“Gavi, in this process of maturity, one of the virtues he has is courage, genius and energy. However, he understands that now he is showing “some behaviours that are not beneficial for him and the team”, although he has no doubt that “with maturity, he will understand that.”

No matter the abuse for the young Barca midfielder, Gavi’s stock is rising. The youngster will no doubt be an important figure in the midfield for Spain in the years to come.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Leicester City's most coveted asset James Maddison for over one year now, and could craft a devastating midfield duo by securing his signature.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

That's according to a recent report from the Telegraph, claiming that with Newcastle 'close' to signing Inter Milan maestro Nicolo Barella, the signing of the England international is concurrently being explored as the Toon 'edge closer' to an agreement over a fee.

Leicester, who were relegated from the Premier League this year, are demanding £60m to facilitate the departure of the playmaker, but Newcastle and further suitors are not willing to meet such an exorbitant valuation.

The 26-year-old does only have one year left on his current deal, and as the window rages on and the Foxes are forced to allow their asking price to depreciate, the Magpies could complete their midfield with a first-rate acquisition.

Should Newcastle sign James Maddison?

With divisional rivals Tottenham Hotspur also holding a vested interest in the Leicester ace, Newcastle will need to ensure they act swiftly to tie up a deal this summer, though manager Eddie Howe boasts the allure of Champions League football and the prospect of cementing a starting berth in one of Europe's most affluent outfits.

Quite simply, there are scant few players who would overtly turn their noses at a move to St. James's Park following the lucrative PIF takeover in 2021, with the formerly relegation-threatened team now a cohesive squad with an exciting vision and a winning mentality.

Maddison would enrich this ambitious team, despite suffering the drop, he is one of the few City players to emerge relatively unscathed, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists from just 28 starting top-flight appearances.

Hailed as "world-class" by England manager Gareth Southgate, the £110k-per-week gem would certainly add something new to the industrious Magpies midfield, deployed closer to the offensive third than his positional peers on Tyneside.

Joe Willock and Joelinton thrive astride Bruno Guimaraes, the kernel of the system and a superlative and dynamic deep-lying option, and while both are excellent ball carriers with goals and assists in their lockers, neither possess the prolific brilliance of the multi-faceted Maddison.

And considering the two-cap maestro ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, his dynamism in both creativity and tenacity underscores just how much value he could be to Howe as he seeks out silverware and sustained European campaigns.

And if the Toon are successful in their bid to sign Barella too, a remarkable new partnership could be born, with the Italian star, who is more of an orchestrator than a No. 10, earning acclaim for his ability to take his outfit into "different gear" – as praised by presenter Jack Collins – after pulling the strings on countless occasions.

The 26-year-old Serie A machine ranks among the top 19% of midfielders for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 8% for progressive passes received per 90, meaning he flourishes both spraying passes from deep and gallivanting forwards to wreak havoc from a frontal position.

The versatility in transition from both the "magician" – as heralded by Statman Dave – that is Maddison and the "genius" – as described by editor Mike Piellucci – of Barella could whip up a brilliant blend of abilities, two shining stars attacking from alternating angles like light refracting against glass.

Howe simply must attempt to sign both players this summer, consolidating his club's newfound power and crafting a midfield capable of rivalling any across the continent in both quality and determination.