Leeds United could be set to finally push out an older figure, ushering in a new age of youth, energy and structure underpinned by Daniel Farke.

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

Journalist Sander de Vries took to Twitter to offer an update on SC Heerenveen player Milan van Ewijk.

He would write: "SC Heerenveen refused an offer from Coventry City last week. This club has wanted to capture Van Ewijk for some time. Leeds United are now also interested in the 22-year-old right back."

Football Transfers value the relatively unknown commodity at just €5.1m (£4m), but should he take to English football with ease and translate his current form across to the Championship, that is a figure certain to skyrocket.

Who is Milan van Ewijk?

The acquisition of the Dutch defender could spell bad news for Luke Ayling, whose powers have been noticeably waning in recent years as his age has increased.

Now 31 years old, he often plays without the experience that someone of his stature should bring, and naturally, his physical assets have somewhat deserted him too.

Back during their initial stint in the Championship, the Englishman actually starred as part of Marcelo Bielsa's all-action philosophy. Their promotion campaign saw him maintain a 7.26 average rating, as he recorded eight goal contributions, 17 clean sheets, an 80% dribble success and 1.8 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

However, since taking that step up to the Premier League, things have taken a turn for the worse.

In the 2021/22 season, as the Whites narrowly escaped relegation, Ayling was branded an "idiot" by Jamie Carragher for his wild lunge that saw him sent off in a crunch clash with Arsenal. This would compound a term where he averaged a 6.61 Sofascore rating in the league.

Then, in the campaign following, this figure would drop to 6.60, as he was dribbled past 1.5 times per game, kept just two clean sheets, and saw his successful dribbles drop to 43%, via Sofascore. He was the fourth-worst performer of those who started five or more league games.

There is little chance of him recapturing his form of old, even with the step-down their relegation poses. Plus, Farke will likely seek to build his new system on youth and a brighter future, rather than rely upon an ageing dud who has done little to merit a starting spot.

Instead, he would be better served putting his faith in Van Ewijk, as to allow him to acclimatise into English football in preparation for what will hopefully be a swift promotion.

After all, just last term in the Eredivisie saw him maintain a 7.01 average rating, bolstered by his six goals, ten clean sheets, 1.8 tackles and 2.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore. That rating would have made the 22-year-old Leeds' best-performing player last term, with his goal tally even surpassing Patrick Bamford's in the league.

The flyer clearly is in possession of the key assets to thrive as a modern-day full-back, with his presence set to make Ayling obsolete at last. He truly does seem like the "complete full-back" that Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig branded him.

Should he grow into his role, Van Ewijk could quickly become a star at Elland Road, with dynamism and athleticism sure to get the fans excited again. Meanwhile, his ageing predecessor would still likely remain as a fine backup asset to have around, given he is one of few who remain at the club from their 2020 promotion.

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier wants to complete a summer departure from Elland Road, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

When did Illan Meslier join Leeds?

The Whites shot-stopper put pen to paper on a permanent deal at Elland Road back in 2020 following a successful loan spell the season before from FC Lorient, and during his three years at the club, he’s gone on to firmly establish himself as number one between the sticks.

In the Premier League last season, the 23-year-old started 34 out of the 38 matches during the reigns of Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, but upon the arrival of Sam Allardyce, he was dropped to the bench for the final four games of the season and replaced by Joel Robles who has since departed.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…

The France youth international still has another three years to run on his contract in Yorkshire, but there’s a chance that he could secure an exit before the end of the ongoing window having caught the eye of several clubs in the top-flight following relegation to the Championship.

Chelsea are the side to have been the most heavily linked after the player himself publicly admitted that he would be open to joining them, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also believed to have held an interest, and it seems as if he feels like he’s destined to achieve bigger things.

Is Illan Meslier leaving Leeds?

According to Football Insider, Meslier is "keen to quit" Leeds this summer, though it is worth noting that "no offers have yet been made" by any potential suitors.

The LS11 star "does not want to play" in the second tier next season and is therefore looking for a move elsewhere, but with the above-mentioned clubs having since all recruited in their goalkeeping departments, he may have to "explore" his options in Spain, Italy or France. The Whites view their regular as a "sellable asset" and have placed a £20-25m price tag on his head.

Whilst Meslier only managed to keep five clean sheets last season in the Premier League, Leeds equally weren’t helped by their struggles in the backline and the goalkeeper receiving three man-of-the-match awards, via WhoScored, showed the individual impact that he had despite failing to avoid relegation.

The Lorient native ranked in the 93rd percentile for defensive actions outside of his area and the 87th percentile for crosses stopped, showing that he’s not afraid to leave his net and be commanding in the box to clear the danger, alongside making some “unreal” saves, as hailed by reporter Graham Smyth.

The Whites’ £30k-per-week earner also helped the side to achieve promotion when he was on loan so already knows what it takes to compete at the top end of the table in the second tier, meaning that he could be a perfect character to keep in the building as Daniel Farke looks to get the club back to the top-flight at the first time of asking, however, with Karl Darlow now signed from Newcastle, Meslier's days in Yorkshire could be numbered.

Leeds United are entering a new chapter this summer with a full takeover from the 49ers, a newly-appointed manager in Daniel Farke and a huge challenge ahead of them in the Championship.

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League after a struggle to find the recipe for success and consistency at Elland Road last season, with important players departing and three different managers trying to find a solution to the struggles on the pitch.

As a result, the supporters will be hoping that a fresh start is ahead of them and after many changes behind the scenes the main focus can return to performances on the pitch and earning an instant bounce-back to the top-flight over the 46-game campaign ahead in the second tier.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

In terms of the summer transfer window, following a number of departures there is still a lot of work to be done to get the terraces in West Yorkshire rocking by deploying a team that can compete from automatic promotion.

Who are Leeds' transfer targets?

Despite kicking off their opening game of the season this weekend, the west Yorkshire outfit are still linked to a number of players including Liverpool's Nathaniel Phillips, Manchester City's Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Swansea City's Joel Piroe.

However, there is one player who has been linked that would show the club's ambitious intent to not only secure promotion but challenge again comfortably in the Premier League beyond next season.

According to Mexican news outlet W Deportes, Leeds have been in talks to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano this summer, an incredible talent who could be Farke's very own Raphinha.

How good is Hirving Lozano?

There is no doubt that the signing of Lozano would a monumental achievement for Leeds given the situation they have found themselves in and considering the player is currently playing Champions League football with his Serie A side.

However, it is fair to say that a spark at Elland Road burnt out when Raphinha departed for Barcelona last summer, something that was painfully obvious last season with Leeds missing that huge quality and game-changer in their squad.

Now Farke could emulate the Brazilian's impact on Leeds by acquiring the services of Lozano and providing the squad with a creative talent and consistent outlet to serve in the attacking threat.

The Mexico international – who has a reported £13m price tag – ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive carries, interceptions and blocks, as well as ranking in the top 30% for successful take-ons and touches, as per FBref.

When comparing Lozano's output to Raphinha's last season, the pair shared many similarities in key attacking attributes including shots on target rate (31.7% v 31.6%), pass completion rate (75% v 72.3%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.45 v 0.65) and successful take-ons (48.7% v 42.5%).

Lozano has even been compared to Lionel Messi by former Everton sporting director Marcel Brands, who compared the 28-year-old's strengths to those of the World Cup winner:

"When you look at his playing style, without wanting to compare, you know, Lozano has what Messi also has – a centre of gravity low to the ground, the ball is usually quickly under control, very explosive and agile. Then your opponents automatically force mistakes."

With that being said, if an opportunity arises for Leeds to sign Lozano this summer it is one they should not miss, as his talent and quality would be an incredibly valuable asset to the team next season.

Everton are reportedly considering a move for Leicester City forward Patson Daka, with Sean Dyche keen to bolster his attacking ranks further this summer.

What's the latest on Patson Daka to Everton?

That's according to BBC Sport, who claim that the Toffees are targetting another forward before the transfer window closes, with a £15m deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Youssef Chermiti nearing completion.

While Southampton's Che Adams has been linked, the Foxes' Daka could prove to be the man to bolster the frontline, with journalist Alan Myers previously claiming that Everton are considering a bid for the Zambian ace.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Daka signed for Leicester from RB Salzburg for £23m in 2021, but the 24-year-old could now be poised for a departure following the club's relegation from the Premier League this year.

How good is Patson Daka?

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fitness levels not to be trusted and Neal Maupay's shooting boots simply undependable for the Goodison Park side – the Frenchman has scored once since arriving one year ago – fresh firepower is paramount, especially considering the club finished the 2022/23 league campaign as the division's second-lowest goalscorers.

Daka has not been particularly prolific over his two seasons with Leicester, scoring five goals from 23 outings during the 2021/22 term before plundering four goals and assists apiece from 30 outings last season, but he previously demonstrated his cutting edge in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 27 goals from 28 league matches.

The £79k-per-week forward boasts dynamism and a blistering pace to leave the opposition eating his dust, and if Calvert-Lewin can stay fit, a deadly partnership would be born.

But for Daka's own fortunes, on a singular level, the link-up with Alex Iwobi could prove to reap rewards and rekindle the 35-cap international's Midas touch in front of goal, having previously been lauded for his "electric pace" and "ruthless" finishing by reporter Ryan Taylor.

Iwobi flattered to deceive on Merseyside for much of his Everton career before Frank Lampard – Dyche's managerial predecessor – issued a tactical tweak to centralise the Nigerian winger and allow his creativity and directness to flourish in a playmaking midfield role.

Indeed, joining from Arsenal on an initial £28m deal, the 27-year-old was branded "embarrassing" by journalist David Prentice for his past displays.

It's paid dividends, with the £120k-per-week maestro having plundered two goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season, and it is this creativity that could play to Daka's strengths.

Iwobi ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, which showcases his skill at barrelling forward and placing passes from which strikers can latch onto.

Daka's pace and nimbleness would allow him to thrive with such a presence behind him, and given that the Leicester man ranks among the top 3% of forwards for assists per 90 himself, he could also contribute to the overall fluidity of Dyche's attack.

He also ranks among the top 13% of forwards for tackles, the top 3% for interceptions and the top 6% for blocks per 90, displaying a defensive work rate that will allow him to slot right into Dyche's system.

He would supplement the Toffees attack and rekindle the offensive verve, and Everton must ensure they get this one over the line to relight the fire that has waned on the blue half of Merseyside.

Manchester United are working to sign Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard, as Erik ten Hag looks to add another centre-back to his squad, and there has been a new update.

The Red Devils could be left short if Harry Maguire completes his reported move to West Ham United this summer.

What's the latest on Benjamin Pavard to Manchester United?

With Maguire reportedly set to make a £30m move to West Ham, Manchester United have submitted an offer to Bayern Munich for Pavard, according to Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, who reported that the bid has been rejected.

There is some positive news for United, however, with a verbal agreement in place over personal terms with the defender. Now, they must attempt to agree on a suitable fee with Bayern in order to complete the deal.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

The Bavarians may be keen to sell Pavard this summer, given that the Frenchman's contract expires in June of next year, making him a free agent. It remains to be seen just how much Bayern will demand for their defender, however, given that United's first offer was reportedly rejected.

As the summer transfer window nears its end, the Red Devils will hope to meet the Bundesliga side's valuation as soon as possible.

Should Manchester United sign Benjamin Pavard?

Signing Pavard could represent a smart piece of business from a Manchester United perspective, adding to the arrivals of Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojllund this summer.

It didn't take long for the defender to impress Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel, either, with the current boss saying, via Get Football News France:

“He is an underrated player.

“He can adapt to the highest level and he defends rigorously. He is a top team player, he immediately had my confidence and proved to me that I had been right.”

Meanwhile, former manager Niko Kovac said before welcoming Pavard, via Bulinews:

"He is a world-class footballer, a young player who will certainly be even better. Many clubs are looking at him – let's see if we will too."

Statistically speaking, Pavard would hand Ten Hag an improved option to call upon in the coming season.

According to FBref, the Bayern man outperformed Maguire in most aspects in the last campaign, whilst also performing better than right-backs Diogo Dalot, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Given that Pavard can play both centre-back and right-back, the numbers are a positive sign.

The Manchester United target made more progressive passes, was involved in more goals, and won more tackles per 90 than Ten Hag's current options last season.

Everything seems to suggest that Pavard is a player worth pursuing for United, who will need another centre-back should Maguire leave, as is reportedly expected.

Adding the Frenchman to Ten Hag's options in the backline would undoubtedly help the Red Devils to compete on all fronts as they step back into the Champions League this season.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the move takes place, but it is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, as United attempt to agree on a fee with Bayern Munich for their defender with an improved bid.

West Brom have set their focus on bolstering their attack this summer, doing so with the signings of winger Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Brighton and striker Josh Maja on a free transfer from Bordeaux.

With that said, the Baggies have neglected other areas of their squad as demonstrated by their struggles defensively, conceding five goals in their first three Championship games.

The departure of star centre-back Dara O'Shea to Burnley in June, without replacing him, has been the main reason for their downfall, but news has thankfully emerged that Carlos Corberan is chasing a replacement for the Republic of Ireland international.

What is the latest West Brom transfer news?

Looking to improve upon their leaky defence, West Brom are believed to be chasing a move for former Reading centre-back Liam Moore, who departed the club this summer following the expiry of his contract, as per FootballTransfers.

Despite showing promise earlier on in this career, Moore's time at Reading was blighted by injury setbacks, although he still managed to make 219 appearances in the Championship for the Royals, scoring eight goals.

With the 30-year-old returning to full fitness and ready for his next challenge, this has piqued the interest of clubs in the second tier, so those at the Hawthorns will need to act fast if they want to secure Moore's signature.

Should West Brom sign Liam Moore?

Even though he suffered several injuries at Reading, signing Moore on a free transfer would be a relatively low-risk move with potentially high rewards.

After departing Leicester in 2016 following their miraculous Premier League title triumph, the "super" 6 foot 1 centre-back, as dubbed by Paul Ince, has since excelled at Championship level, becoming a stalwart at the heart of the Royals defence.

He featured 40 times during the 2016/17 season as Reading reached the play-off final, losing to Huddersfield Town on penalties before making at least 38 appearances in each of the three seasons that followed.

With his relentless consistency, tremendous defensive capabilities and organisational skills coming to light during this period, Moore was rewarded for his performances by picking up the club's coveted Player of the Season award in 2018 – but Reading's star defender was hungry for more success.

A move to the Premier League was his dream and in his attempts to facilitate that, Moore handed in a transfer request. But despite the best efforts of Brighton, who were keen to prize him away from the club, Reading held firm in their valuation of the player.

Five years on and Moore remains without a club but during his best seasons in Berkshire, the centre-back's key defensive metrics imply that he could be an ideal replacement for O'Shea.

According to FBref, the veteran's stats across the 2021/22 season rank high when compared to other Championship defenders, particularly with his tackling, interceptions and threat from set-pieces.

With that said, Moore ranked in the top 3% for shots blocked (1.29), top 8% for blocks (1.55), top 15% for short passes completed and top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.10) having scored twice in 17 appearances.

Although when compared against O'Shea's stats from last season, it's clear to see why a Premier League club came calling, with the Republic of Ireland international recording 4.24 aerials won, 1.81 interceptions, 54.05 passes completed and 3.84 progressive passes, all per 90 via FBRef.

While the loss of O'Shea is a huge void to fill, former Reading boss Paul Ince did offer words of encouragement in February when Moore was waiting patiently to make his return.

He said: “His numbers have been absolutely fantastic."

If Moore can recapture the form he showed earlier on in his Reading career, he could prove to be a bargain signing for the Baggies.

A big update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to bolster the playing squad before the summer transfer window slams shut next week.

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, the Whites have agreed a deal to sign a central midfielder after the official confirmation of Joel Piroe's arrival from Championship rivals Swansea on Thursday night.

The reporter has claimed that the club have reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to bring in German maestro Nadiem Amiri for an initial fee of £5m as manager Daniel Farke closes in on his sixth signing of the window; following Piroe, Karl Darlow, Sam Byram, Joe Rodon, and Ethan Ampadu.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Hay has stated that there is still work to be done before the move is finalised but the 26-year-old dynamo is expected to be the team's next arrival if he agrees to the switch.

How good is Nadiem Amiri?

The Leverkusen maestro has endured a difficult couple of years in the Bundesliga.

Still, his form throughout his career prior to this recent sticky spell suggests that the potential is there for him to be Mateusz Klich 2.0 at Elland Road.

Amiri has only started nine league games for the German side over the last two seasons and has, therefore, been unable to showcase his quality on a regular basis due to a lack of consistency in his minutes.

However, the right-footed magician started 42 Bundesliga games over the previous two campaigns and caught the eye with his performances in the middle of the park.

During the 2020/21 term, the £5m-rated talent scored two goals and provided six assists from midfield whilst also being able to provide 1.3 key passes per match across 20 starts.

This came after Amiri created nine 'big chances' and produced 1.9 key passes per game for his teammates over 22 top-flight starts throughout the 2019/20 season.

Last term, no Leeds player. let alone attacking midfielder, managed more than 1.5 key passes per match in the Premier League, which illustrates how impressive the German hotshot's production was that year.

Since moving to Leverkusen in 2019, the 26-year-old whiz has scored 12 goals and assisted 19 in 138 competitive outings – an average of one goal contribution every 4.45 matches on average.

This shows that he is a central midfielder who has the potential to chip in with goals and assists throughout the season in the same way that Klich did during his time in Yorkshire.

The Poland international, who now plays for D.C. United in the MLS, racked up 24 goals and 21 assists in 195 games for Leeds, which works out as a direct involvement every 4.33 clashes on average.

These statistics show that the former White star provided a semi-regular threat from midfield with an almost equal amount of goals and assists to his name.

Therefore, Amiri – who was hailed as "exciting" by AllLeedsTV presenter Oscar Marrio – could be a Klich-esque figure for Farke in central midfield due to his ability to make an impact at the top end of the pitch at a similar rate to the Polish ace.

The German head coach will be hoping that the drop down to second-division football, away from the top-flight in his home country, will allow the Leverkusen midfielder to return to his best form, from the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, which could make him a terrific asset for the club.

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly looking to bring in two new players before tomorrow evening’s deadline.

What’s the latest West Brom transfer news?

The Baggies and Carlos Corebran have enjoyed a solid start to the new Championship season on the pitch, picking up seven points from a possible 12. However, off the pitch, it has been a struggle for those at The Hawthorns to bolster the squad, with just two new players arriving so far.

Brighton & Hove Albion attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento arrived at the club on loan, whereas centre-forward Josh Maja signed on a free transfer after leaving Bordeaux.

Speaking after the win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, though, Corberan addressed the need for late arrivals, saying:

"I think our future in the competition depends a lot on this week.

"I like to have a strong team in attack and strong team in defence. The fact we scored goals today doesn't mean anything. We still need one attacking player for me, to strengthen the squad. Also we need someone who can play as a wing back or full back to cover the options for the team at the back."

A fresh update has been shared by The Express and Star, and it looks as if the club are trying to give Corberan exactly what he wants. The report, relayed by West Brom News, stated that the Baggies have rejected offers from Stoke City for striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, whereas Grady Diangana is attracting interest from Burnley, Leicester and Leeds.

Should any player leave, it is claimed that they will be replaced, but even if the club don’t sell, they are looking at signing an “attacking midfielder or versatile option able to cover a couple of attacking roles”. Another area is at right-back, with USA international and free agent Reggie Cannon named as a potential target.

Who could West Brom sign?

It appears as if it could be a key couple of days at The Hawthorns, especially following Corberan’s comments on the weekend, so it’ll be interesting to see if the club can give him his wish before the window slams shut.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to the Championship is Newcastle United’s Jeff Hendrick. It has been reported that West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday have all registered their interest over a possible transfer after falling out of favour at St James’ Park.

The 31-year-old is primarily a central midfielder who can turn out in an attacking or right midfield role when required. He spent last season out on loan with Reading where he was praised by former manager Paul Ince, who said:

“He trains like a demon every day. He is very professional and I like professional players and he is one you can trust. The thing about football ultimately is that you’ve got to have 11 players you can trust. Sometimes you don’t pick the players with the most talent but ones you can trust week in, week out and Jeff is one of those."

Therefore, a move for the Irishman and defender Cannon could be ones to keep an eye on before tomorrow evening.

Aston Villa head into the international break off the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

How did Aston Villa lose to Liverpool?

The Villans were put to the sword by Jurgen Klopp's side as their sloppy defending allowed the Merseyside hosts to win the game with relative ease.

Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring in just the third minute as a simple corner into the box was not cleared away from danger and no one came out to close down the Hungary international on the edge of the box, which allowed him to fire a strike into the far corner with his left foot.

The second goal came in the 22nd minute as Darwin Nunez evaded attention from Villa defenders within the box and his shot came crashing off the post and then into the back of the net off the unfortunate Matty Cash.

Mo Salah wrapped up the scoring in the second half as Unai Emery's side failed to react to a flick-on from Nunez from a corner and the Egypt international tapped in from close range.

How did Pau Torres perform against Liverpool?

One player who should be ditched from the starting line-up after the international break is central defender Pau Torres after a poor display at the heart of the defence, something that could open the door for Clement Lenglet to come in.

Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox went as far as to describe his performance as a 'nightmare' due to his struggles throughout the game, handing him a rating of 4/10, which was the lowest of anyone in the team.

Torres' play for the second goal was particularly disappointing as the Spain international was slow to react to a ball over the top to Salah and then appeared to jog back as Nunez ran ahead of him, which afforded the striker all the time in the world to pick his spot from six yards out.

His sloppy marking almost led to another goal for the hosts shortly after that as an in-swinging ball went over his head and to Joel Matip, whose effort went just wide of the far post.

He also only completed 72% of his attempted passes and recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.2 as he lost 50% of his aerial battles throughout the match.

The Spaniard has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 across four Premier League games so far this season and won 57% of his duels in total, suggesting he has struggled to adapt to the rigours of English football. To make matters worse, Torres has also made 0.5 tackles and interceptions per outing for his side and has been dribbled past 0.8 times per match.

To put that into context, no other Villa defender has averaged fewer than one tackle and interception combined per game this term, which comes after no centre-back with at least five starts managed fewer than 1.8 per match during the 2022/23 campaign.

None of his central defensive teammates have been dribbled past at all this season and these statistics illustrate how poor the 26-year-old dud has started life in Birmingham, as he has struggled to win possession back for his side and opposition players have found it too easy to go past him.

This means that it could be time for new signing Clement Lenglet, who recently arrived on loan from Barcelona, to come into the side on the left of the defence.

How good is Clement Lenglet?

The France international spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and is, therefore, a proven performer at this level who could slot straight into the team alongside Diego Carlos, injury permitting, and Ezri Konsa.

As a left-footed defender, the 28-year-old is the perfect fit to replace Torres in order to provide balance in possession on that side of the pitch as he is comfortable playing the ball out from the back on his favoured left foot. Whereas, a right-footed centre-back who is not used to playing on the left may struggle to find the right angles to progress the play.

Last season, Lenglet played 26 top-flight games for Spurs and showed signs of promise with some of his work in and out of possession from defence.

The French titan made 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 56% of his physical contests for the London club, whilst he was also dribbled past 0.7 times per clash.

No Aston Villa centre-back managed more than 1.9 tackles and interceptions per match last season in the Premier League, indicating that Lenglet could be an outstanding option for Emery in terms of his ability to win possession back by reading the game or making a vital challenge on a regular basis throughout games.

These statistics also suggest that the former Tottenham defender has the potential to be a stronger defender than Torres, who was brought in from Villarreal for a reported fee of £35m this summer, due to his superior knack for cutting out opposition attacks.

The 6 foot 1 enforcer could also offer a similar level of quality when it comes to bringing the ball out from the back to progress the play for the team.

Over the last 365 days, Lenglet ranks within the top 6% of his positional peers among Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries per 90 (1.59). Whereas, Torres ranks in the top 2% for progressive carries per 90 (2.11) during that period, with the majority of his minutes coming for Villarreal.

This shows that they are both among the best in their position when it comes to carrying the ball forward to gain yards on the opposition.

These numbers prove that Lenglet, who was hailed as "very strong" by compatriot and former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris, would not be a significant downgrade on Torres in terms of what he offers in possession.

Therefore, Emery must ruthlessly ditch the Spaniard in order to start the loanee from Barcelona as he has the potential to provide more defensive steel whilst also being able to offer progression on the ball.

West Ham United have tried and failed on a number of occasions to find a star number nine to lead the line and consistently fire in goals at Premier League level over the years.

In January 2017, The Guardian pointed out that David Sullivan and David Gold had brought in 32 strikers during their seven-year stint as owners of the club, at that point, and they had managed a combined 128 goals in 643 matches in all competitions.

How much did West Ham sign Haller for?

The Hammers splashed the cash in an attempt to end their striker curse in the summer of 2019 as Haller was brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt for a club-record £45m but they ended up having a mare with the Ivory Coast international.

West Ham's five most-expensive number nine signings (excluding Haller):

Fees via Transfermarkt.

Manuel Pellegrini and the club must have been confident that the French-born centre-forward had the requisite quality to be a huge success at the London Stadium as they were willing to spend a record transfer fee to secure his services from the German club.

Why did West Ham sign Haller?

The Premier League side snapped him up after he enjoyed two impressive seasons with Frankfurt in front of goal after his move to the club from FC Utrecht in 2017.

He produced 13 goals and seven assists in 36 matches in all competitions throughout his debut campaign, which included nine goals and four assists in 31 Bundesliga matches.

Haller followed that up with 20 goals and 12 assists in 41 games for Frankfurt during the 2018/19 season, which included 15 goals and nine assists in 29 outings in the German top-flight.

The 6 foot 3 finisher only missed 13 'big chances' in total – to go along with his 24 goals – across the two Bundesliga terms as he rarely spurned good opportunities in front of goal.

His form in Germany came after a prolific spell in the Netherlands with FC Utrecht. The excellent marksman racked up an eye-catching 51 goals and 16 assists in 98 matches for the Dutch side – more than one strike every other game.

Interestingly, Haller came close to sealing a move to another Premier League club in January 2016 as Norwich City reportedly agreed a £6.5m deal with Utrecht for the young number nine.

However, the player decided against a switch to Norfolk despite traveling over for a medical and ended up staying in Holland before his transfer to Frankfurt 18 months later.

How many goals did Haller score for West Ham?

Haller's exceptional form for Frankfurt and Utrecht convinced Pellegrini and West Ham to make him the most expensive signing in the club's history but he was unable to live up to the hype.

The towering forward scored 14 goals in 54 matches for the Hammers in all competitions as he failed to offer a consistent goal threat that befitted his price tag and his performances in Germany and the Netherlands.

He scored seven goals and assisted one in 32 Premier League games during his debut campaign in England during the 2019/20 season. In that time, Haller only completed 66% of his attempted passes and lost 52% of his duels, as per Sofascore, as he struggled to be a reliable outlet at the top end of the pitch.

The Ivorian finisher followed that up with three goals and zero assists across 16 appearances in the English top-flight throughout the 2020/21 term. He averaged a pass success rate of just 64% and lost 56% of his physical contests in those matches, as per Sofascore.

No outfield player with at least one Premier League start for West Ham completed a lower percentage of their passes than Haller did throughout the first-half of the 2020/21 campaign.

This shows that the former Frankfurt star struggled badly in general play as he gave the ball away far too frequently whilst not making up for it by being a prolific scorer in the final third.

How much did West Ham sell Haller for?

West Ham eventually decided to part ways with the £45m addition in January of 2021, after 18 months at the club, for a reported fee of £20m as Ajax swooped in to secure his services.

This means that the Pellegrini signing's value plummeted by a staggering £25m in less than two years at the London Stadium as his less-than-impressive Premier League performers did not allow them to recoup anywhere near the club-record fee that they spent to sign him in the summer of 2019.

Therefore, the former Hammers boss and the club had a huge mare with their swoop to sign the 6 foot 3 titan from Frankfurt as he ended up being a big flop with his lack of goals and decreasing value.

Where is Haller now?

Haller has, however, revived his career since moving away from England. The giant striker became an instant star at Ajax as he produced 11 goals and five assists in his first 19 Eredivisie appearances for the Dutch giants.

His impressive form continued throughout his spell with the club as the French-born ace ended his time there with 47 goals and 16 assists in 66 outings in all competitions.

That led to a reported €34.5m (£29.6m) transfer to German side Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and the ex-West Ham flop has amassed 11 strikes and five assists in 26 games for them in all competitions to date.

These statistics show that the 29-year-old marksman, who was once described as a "handful" by former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith, has the quality to be a lethal and consistent goalscorer at the top level.

He has proven himself at four different clubs in Germany and the Netherlands but was not able to showcase the best of his abilities in England, whether that was down to the team around him or a struggle to adapt to life in English football.

Either way, West Ham had a mare with the £45m club-record signing as they made a staggering £25m loss on him within the space of 18 months and did not get much back in the way of goals on the pitch.