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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

England will face Montenegro and Kosovo in their next two Euro 2020 qualifiers as they attempt to secure qualification for next year’s tournament. Whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold may be standing out offensively, Kieran Trippier is the best option for Gareth Southgate at right-back.

On the chalkboard

Last Thursday, Southgate announced his Three Lions squad for the all-important upcoming fixtures. For the slot on the right side of the defence, Alexander-Arnold and Trippier have been selected.

The latter left Tottenham to join Atletico Madrid in the summer for £20m and has already started 10 La Liga matches. The former, meanwhile, has been an ever-present in the Premier League for Liverpool. Whilst he may be one of the first names on the team-sheet at Anfield, it is the 29-year-old who should start for the national side.

Defensive solidity

Going forward, Alexander-Arnold is the more creative force, even if Trippier does not do too badly himself. The 21-year-old has made 3.6 chances per match in the Premier League, providing three assists, whilst he has averaged two per match in the Champions League.

That is compared to the former Burnley man’s 1.4 in La Liga. He does have four per match in Europe, but that is across just two matches, whilst he has two assists in all competitions compared to his rival’s four.

However, in a team that does not create too many chances – they have the 12th most in the league per match with 11.1 – he is the third-best playmaker, with Koke and Santiago Arias – who has played just three matches – creating more.

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Defensively, though, there is a clear winner so far this term.

Los Rojiblancos are arguably the best defensive side on the continent. In La Liga no team has conceded less than the eight goals they have in their first 13 matches. In the Champions League, too, they are solid, having shipped just four goals, with just as many teams having conceded less.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have kept just two clean sheets in the 17 games Alexander-Arnold has appeared in this season, whilst they have conceded seven goals in Europe. 11 teams have a worse record.

England have impressed going forward – only Belgium and Russia have scored more in Euro 2020 qualifying – but defensively there have been issues. They conceded three against Kosovo despite being 5-1 up at half-time, whilst they also lost 2-1 against the Czech Republic. They have kept just three clean sheets in a relatively easy group, and this comes after they were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semi-final.

With 2.4 tackles per match compared to Alexander-Arnold’s 1.3 per game, Trippier will contribute more defensively, which is exactly what England need right now. For the future, the £72m-valued Liverpool star – as per Transfermarkt – will need to improve on his game going forewards if he wants to prove himself indispensable to Southgate.

On Sunday afternoon Ange Postecoglou was convinced Tottenham would win a trophy this season. It’s what I do in my second season, mate.

Well, he didn’t quite put it like that but the Australian boss was stern with his words. However, as Paul Merson said, he probably has more chance of winning Strictly Come Dancing than that eventuality happening. Harsh? Yes. Funny? Yes.

It’s true that Postecoglou has turned Spurs into a more exciting team, there is no denying that. But, their summer of spending went by without strengthening the starting XI too much and they look like they’re now paying for that.

The north Londoners have won just one match in the Premier League this season, losing to Newcastle and Arsenal, drawing with newly-promoted Leicester and only defeating early relegation-threatened Everton.

That said, despite a topsy-turvy start to the new term, there was optimism on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal were missing Declan Rice through suspension, Mikel Merino through injury and skipper Martin Odegaard was also absent having injured his ankle on international duty. What an opportunity this was for Spurs, but they could not take it.

It was Gabriel, mighty Gabriel who thundered a header home unmarked from a Bukayo Saka corner. A corner. Of course, it was. The Gunners are the set-piece kings of English football.

So, for Spurs, it will be back to the drawing board for a team that needs to quickly work out where it’s at. That should start by addressing a couple of enigmatic players in the team.

Where it went wrong for Spurs

Last week the Lilywhites were undone in strange circumstances and it was largely due to Cristian Romero’s defending. For both goals he was caught out of position, charging up the field to press and leaving space for Newcastle’s offence to capitalise.

Well, he didn’t quite come charging out on this occasion but it was the Argentine who left Arsenal’s centre-back unmarked from the corner.

Straying away from Gabriel, the Brazilian titan was left with acres of space in which to steady himself, jump and then hammer the ball past Guglielmo Vicario in the hosts’ net.

Romero will, of course, keep his place for the next league outing but the same may well not be said for some of Postecoglou’s attacking crop.

One of their worst performers on the day was Brennan Johnson, a spritely, exciting and rapid young winger who is rather flattering to deceive in Spurs colours.

He toiled with Jurrien Timber down Tottenham’s right-hand side but failed to really provide the spark that Postecoglou was craving, eventually hauling him off on the 68-minute mark.

Johnson left the field having produced just one key pass, taken four shots and succeeded with 50% of his dribbles.

To make matters worse, he had fewer touches (26) than the aforementioned Vicario (31) and lost four of his six duels.

Minutes played

68

Touches

25

Accurate passes

13/14 (93%)

Shots

4

Dribble attempts

1/2

Key passes

1

Duels won

2/6

Possession lost

3x

Expected goals (xG)

0.21

Handed a 5/10 match rating by the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, the journalist was apt with his description of the Welshman’s display, suggesting he “was well-handled by Jurrien Timber.”

As it happens, Arsenal’s Dutch defender was only dribbled past once during the whole game and completed three tackles, the joint-most of any player in black, just to sum up how little change Johnson got from the former Ajax player.

Johnson has been a regular player in Postecoglou’s attack this term but with no goal involvements to show for his efforts in 2024/25 to date, it surely won’t be too long before he finds himself on the bench.

Timo Werner and Wilson Odobert were both waiting in the wings yesterday and would be well-placed to replace the former Nottingham Forest man against Coventry in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

As bad as Johnson: 6/10 Spurs ace who lost possession 20x let Ange down

The talented international was far from his best against Arsenal.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 15, 2024

There are now whispers that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could actually start a highly-rated 17-year-old starlet in the North London Derby this weekend.

Team news ahead of Tottenham vs Arsenal on Sunday

Their first game back from the international break could hardly be a tougher test, with a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaiting an Arsenal side who are pretty short of numbers right now.

Arsenal could now sign 153-goal striker with offer above £96k-per-week

He’s a proven goalscorer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 12, 2024

Arteta will be without star player Declan Rice through suspension after the England international picked up two yellow cards in their last Premier League game against Brighton, and he won't be their only midfield absentee either.

Summer signing Mikel Merino has been sidelined by a shoulder injury, and may not feature for Arsenal until after the October international break. The Spaniard fractured his deltoid after a collision with Gabriel Magalhaes in training at London Colney, with Merino now forced to wait for his full Gunners debut after joining from Real Sociedad.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Fellow new recruit Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt for Arsenal's next game too, after the Italy international sustained a calf injury on international duty against France. The biggest worry of all, though, revolves around club captain Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard looks certain to miss the Tottenham game after he twisted his ankle in Norway's 2-1 win over Austria on Monday, with supporters now waiting for official confirmation on the severity of his injury.

This series of hammer blows means Arteta is planning to drop Kai Havertz back into midfield, despite the German shining in a makeshift centre-forward role. It is believed Raheem Sterling could make his Arsenal debut this weekend in a false-nine role, but the good news for Arteta is that Gabriel Jesus could be available to play against Tottenham following his comeback from fitness issues.

Arteta could start Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri against Tottenham

As Arteta ponders how best to set up his team in one of their biggest games of the season, BBC journalist Mark Chapman has now shared rumours he's heard that Arsenal could start teenage talent Ethan Nwaneri against Tottenham on Sunday, which would come as a bold move.

“They have some issues in midfield Arsenal, Declan Rice is suspended, Martin Odegaard picked up an injury during the week, their signing in the summer, Merino is already injured. So there are these rumours that they may start a 17-year-old, Ethan Nwaneri," said Chapman on the BBC Planet Premier League Podcast, relayed by Caught Offside.

The 17-year-old has played in two Premier League games, first making his debut with a one-minute cameo against Brentford two years ago. Since then, Arteta has handed him the nod on just one other occasion – with the attacker playing 13 minutes during Arsenal's thumping 6-0 win at West Ham last campaign.

Following Emile Smith Rowe's £35 million move to Fulham in the summer, journalist Charles Watts has tipped Arsenal to play Nwaneri far more often.

“Ethan Nwaneri is someone Arsenal fans will have been aware of for some time now and he really caught the eye for England Under-17s at this summer’s European Championships,” Watts said to CaughtOffside.

“So what next for the latest homegrown wonderkid to come out of Hale End? I think we’ll see Nwaneri stay at Arsenal next season and become more of a fixture in the first-team. I can’t see him being a regular, but I think we’ll see Mikel Arteta start to give him some minutes to ensure he continues to develop at the rate that Arsenal want him to.

“There are certain players that you look at and think that they can skip going out on loan and move straight into the first-team picture. Bukayo Saka was one and I think Nwaneri is another.

“If Smith Rowe goes, it could be the perfect chance to promote Nwaneri. He’s such a talent and it’s really important that Arsenal leave him a pathway to continue to develop."

The last few years have seen Tottenham Hotspur become far more competent in the transfer window.

Aside from perhaps Richarlison at £60m, the North Londoners have not made too many mistakes in the market, and even then, there were periods of last season in which the Brazilian poacher looked unplayable, racking up 12 goals and four assists in 31 games.

Even with the departure of Harry Kane last summer, the club have managed to remain relatively competitive and exciting to watch, thanks to additions like Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson. However, Ange Postecoglou's arrival and the incredible exploits of club captain Son Heung-min certainly helped last season.

That said, for as outrageously talented as the South Korean international is, one of the manager's own signings is now worth considerably more than him.

Son's valuation in 2024

Spurs completed the £22m signing of Son from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, and to say it was money well spent would be a mammoth understatement.

In the years since his arrival, the superstar winger has gone on to become one of the best attackers in European football and a modern-day Premier League icon.

For example, in 411 appearances for the Lilywhites, he's scored 164 goals and provided 84 assists, meaning that for the last nine years, he has averaged a goal involvement once every 1.65 games – talk about world-class.

Appearances

411

Goals

164

Assists

84

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

It's not just his raw output that makes him such an incredible player for the North Londoners, though, as after Kane's departure, the Chuncheon-born star has become the club's captain, showing that he can also be a leader when needed.

In all, Son has been an exceptional player for Spurs, and he still is, although at 32 years old, his valuation has started to decrease, with Transfermarkt now pricing him at just €45m, which converts to about £38m, which is lower than one of the stars Postecoglou signed last summer.

James Maddison's valuation in 2024

Yes, the signing in question is former Leicester City ace James Maddison, who joined Spurs for just £40m last summer.

Interestingly, in the year since, his valuation has shot up to €70m, according to Transfermarkt, which converts to around £59m, or about £21m more than Son's, and a couple of reasons might explain why.

The first is that while the Englishman didn't have an incredible campaign last season, he was not as underwhelming as some people seem to think he was.

In the 30 appearances he did make on either side of his injury, he scored four goals and provided nine assists, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement every 2.30 games.

So, with this level of output combined with the fact that he produced 19 goal involvements in 32 games for the Foxes the year prior and already has two assists in three matches this season, it's clear that the "incredible" midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is still able to have a significant impact on games.

Appearances

32

30

3

Goals

10

4

0

Assists

9

9

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.59

0.43

0.66

The second reason his valuation is so much higher than his captain's is simply down to his age.

While he's not a young up-and-comer anymore, at 27 years old, you would expect that he has another three to five seasons left in him at the very top.

Ultimately, Spurs are fortunate to have both Son and Maddison in their squad at the moment, but based on his overall form in the last few years and age, it makes sense to see that the latter is valued more than the former.

Spurs flop was sold by Conte in 2022, now he's outscoring Solanke

The attacking talent has just secured a lucrative transfer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 5, 2024

It was a disappointing season for Liverpool last year, and part of the reason for that was the lack of goals in the team, something Luis Diaz needs to work on in particular, claims RedMenTV presenter Paul Machin.

Liverpool – What's the latest on Luis Diaz?

Liverpool's £55k-per-week winger had a season to forget last term, more so than a number of his teammates, due to a combination of poor goal-scoring form and serious time on the sideline due to injury.

The Barrancas-born star had a decent start to the campaign, playing in all the team's opening eight fixtures, scoring three goals and assisting another two, but it all came apart at the Emirates.

During the game against Arsenal, Diaz went down in the 42nd minute following a knee injury.

After needing surgery, he would miss the next 21 games, not featuring again until April 17th against Leeds United.

His last nine appearances in the season only returned a single goal. However, it is worth noting he didn't play a full 90 once in those games.

What does Paul Machin think about Luis Diaz's lack of goals?

Machin was quick to stress his and the fans' love of the ex-Porto star for his exciting, attacking style of play but emphasised that he needs to add more goals to his game to kick on from here,

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I adore him. I think Liverpool fans absolutely adore him. He's one of the most electrifying players that I've seen at Anfield. 'It's can he score enough goals?' That's a big part, and that's the thing.

"I think stylistically a lot of the bits and pieces that he does are unique to Liverpool's squad, they are quite Mane-esque. He takes men on, he drives past people, he opens up space for others, things that Jota doesn't have, but Diogo Jota scores, lots and lots of goals, and presses brilliantly and wants to be in the 18 yard box. I think that's something that needs to be trained into Diaz."

How good is Luis Diaz?

People might look at his lack of goals over the previous campaign and conclude that he just isn't that good. Those people could, however, be incorrect.

As Machin points out, there is much more to the Colombian than just his goal-scoring. According to WhoScored, in his 11 starts in the league last season, he averaged a respectable match rating of 6.97 and, in his three Champions League appearances, managed a seriously impressive average of 7.23.

The underlying numbers help to show just how good of a player he really is as well.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the tricky winger is in the top 6% for touches in the opposition box, the top 11% for progressive passes received and aerial duals won, the top 12% for pass completion and successful take-ons, and the top 16% for non-penalty goals, all per 90.

Diaz is clearly extremely talented, and his manager Jurgen Klopp certainly seems to agree, saying:

"He's so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say."

With an injury-free run in the team next year, Diaz might rediscover his goal-scoring form again.

Nottingham Forest target Roman Saiss could add some much-needed leadership to the club's defence as they prepare for their second season back in the Premier League.

The latest Nottingham Forest transfer news – Roman Saiss identified

After a wild transfer window last summer, it seems the Midlands outfit aren't afraid to splash the cash again, with the club linked to a number of different players already.

With several key figures leaving the club, such as Keylor Navas, who will return to PSG following his loan spell, and Jack Colback, who hasn't been offered a new contract,

Steve Cooper's side have plenty of recruitment to do to replace the outgoing talent.

One name the side have been linked with is free agent Aaron Martin who could be a strong successor for Renan Lodi who has returned to Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniard isn't the only defender the club is interested in, though, with Forest identifying former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Saiss as a strong addition to their backline, according to reports in Turkey.

What would Roman Saiss bring to Nottingham Forest?

If Forest were to land Saiss, the club would secure a strong leader who would be vital in the side's bid to avoid relegation this season.

The defender has been hailed as "Maldini from Morocco" by his former manager Bruno Lage due to his incredible leadership at the heart of a team's defence, and it's an attribute Cooper's side would benefit tremendously from.

That ability to come up with the goods when his team needed it the most would be crucial for Forest if they're to stay up this year.

Not only would his Maldini-like leadership benefit Forest, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers titan's defensive ability would be a huge upgrade on the defenders currently at the club.

In a back line that struggled to stay fit, only Joe Worrall played as often as Saiss, who stands at 6 foot 3 in stature, last season.

It's been said that availability is the best ability, so adding the 33-year-old "leader" – as also lauded by Lage -, who has played at least 25 league games for four straight years, could bring a level of stability to a defence that was repeatedly chopping and changing last year, struggling to gain any level of consistency.

Furthermore, only Serge Aurier played as often as Saiss did last season, and had a better average WhoScored rating, with the £5.8m-rated Besiktas defender's rating of 6.83 dwarfing the rest of Forest's defenders.

Defence was a big issue for Cooper's team last season, but adding a leader like Saiss who has consistently stayed injury free in recent years could be a huge boost to the side and go a long way to helping their bid to avoid relegation next year.

Liverpool have enquired about a deal to bring Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams back to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Tyler Adams leaving Leeds?

The United States international only arrived at Elland Road from RB Leipzig last summer and made a total of 26 appearances during his debut season, but despite still having four years remaining on his contract, his future is already up in the air.

The Whites talisman was not only his side’s overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.73 which is bound to attract interest, but with Sam Allardyce’s former outfit suffering relegation, they will likely be forced to cash in on some of their prized assets during the transfer window.

Newcastle, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest have already been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old, but if the following update is to be believed, FSG and Jurgen Klopp are ready to enter the running to bring Adams to Anfield.

Are Liverpool signing Adams?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been “checking on his availability” and could be about to “join the race” ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Adams has already “told” Leeds that he wants to stage a return to the top-flight and is “aware” of the admiration he’s receiving. The Athletic have additionally stated that the Yorkshire club “want” a fee of £40m in order to sanction the midfielder’s sale.

Should FSG splash the cash on Adams?

Liverpool will be aware that with Adams being a defensive midfielder, he isn’t strong in the offensive aspect of his game, having failed to score or assist any goals in his opening season at Leeds, but he is extremely effective in his natural role.

The YMU Group client ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th percentile for blocks vs other midfielders in the top five European leagues, via FBRef, and his constant desire to get stuck in and amazing work rate has seen him dubbed the “heart and lungs” of a squad by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The World Cup participant would also add wonderful versatility to Klopp’s squad having operated in seven different positions since the start of his career, including four in the midfield and even everywhere across the backline, which is a great attribute for the manager to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur, therefore making this a no-brainer of a deal to wrap up over the summer if FSG can whittle the price down a bit.

Chelsea are interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder, Gabri Veiga, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

As the Mauricio Pochettino era gets underway this summer, the Blues are set to have a very busy transfer window.

Several key figures are set to leave the club, with Mason Mount potentially on his way to Premier League rivals, Manchester United and Kai Havertz rumoured to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge as well, while the club have also been linked to a number of exciting young prospects.

Having been linked to Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, the two-time Champions League winners have missed out on the Uruguayan, having been outbid by French champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea's priority is still to revamp the midfield, though, with the club also recently linked to Brighton star, Moises Caicedo and now, The Guardian reports that they have also joined the race for the Celta star, who has a release clause of €40m (£34m).

Will Veiga join Chelsea?

The Blues are far from the only side interested in the 21-year-old, though, with a number of Premier League sides already reportedly targeting him.

The Spaniard has enjoyed a breakthrough season in LaLiga this year, and both Liverpool and Newcastle have taken notice of him. It was recently revealed that Jurgen Klopp's side were the front-runners in the race to sign Veiga, but things might change now that Pochettino's side has entered the race.

Despite dominating on the ball this season, averaging the fourth-highest possession in the Premier League, Chelsea had one of their worst campaigns in recent years, and their inability to find the back of the net is largely to blame for that.

In fact, with just 38 goals scored this season, the Blues were actually outscored by all but four teams in the league, including Leeds United and Leicester City who were both relegated to the Championship.

Adding Veiga, who journalist Euan McTear lauded as a "dangerous" talent, to their midfield would go a long way to help solve their goal-scoring issues, though, with the Spaniard emerging as an exciting, prolific gem for Celta Vigo, with 11 goals and four assists in the Spanish top-flight this year.

In fact, the 21-year-old was the highest-scoring midfielder in the division.

Speaking to Estadio Deportivo, Celta chairman Carlos Mourino has revealed his reluctance to sell Veiga, admitting the club wouldn't negotiate any possible moves for the player, saying:

"We have always said from the beginning that no one has to negotiate with us because we are not going to sell it."

Due to a release clause in his contract, any move for the 21-year-old will cost the Blues around £34m, but having spent almost £600m since last summer, Chelsea have already shown their willingness to splash the cash, and adding Veiga to their midfield would get Pochettino's Stamford Bridge reign off to a very promising start.

Liverpool are ready to rival Barcelona for the signing of highly-rated Fenerbahce youngster Arda Guler this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Who is Fenerbahce star Arda Guler?

The Reds are looking to enjoy a hugely productive summer transfer window, with a lack of signings in recent years arguably holding them back. They endured a very disappointing 2022/23 season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and falling way below previous standards, and it showed why three or four significant additions are required before the beginning of next season.

Midfield is clearly the area that is being focused on most heavily, with Alexis Mac Allister already arriving from Brighton and more additions expected.

That's where Guler comes into play, with the 18-year-old already linked with a move to Liverpool in the past. He has caught the eye for Fenerbahce this season, registering seven goal contributions (four goals and three assists) in the Turkish Super Lig.

Guler is an attack-minded central midfielder with the ability to play as a number ten or in the false nine role, and has been likened to a young Mesut Ozil due to his silky feet and eye for a pass.

Are Liverpool signing Guler?

According to Aksam [via Sport Witness], both Liverpool and Barca "want" to secure the services of Guler during the summer window, and the pair have "stepped in" and "accelerated attempts" to make it happen.

The report states that he has also played on the right wing this season, suggesting he could be a good backup for Mohamed Salah, although he is more known for his exploits in the middle. Fenerbahce are keen to keep hold of him for another year, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2025.

Guler could be a really eye-catching signing by Liverpool – Andrea Pirlo has said there is "no limit to his potential" – not necessarily coming straight in as a key man, given his age, but proving to be a strong squad option and someone with a massive future in the game.

As mentioned, his versatility is a positive attribute, with Jurgen Klopp potentially liking the idea of using him in various positions, and he should only develop by training and playing alongside elite footballers at Anfield.

If Guler was to come in as an attacking option, it is still essential that two former central midfielders arrive at Liverpool this summer, with Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone two ideal additions, as the pair continue to be linked with moves to Merseyside.

Signing those three players alongside Mac Allister, with a left-sided centre-back also potentially coming in, would represent a top-class window for the Reds, strengthening their squad greatly in the process.

Everton are ready to look at the summer transfer window, as Sean Dyche aims to improve his squad following securing their Premier League survival.

The Toffees confirmed their top-division stay on the final day with a win over Bournemouth, while the celebrations were fuelled by relief, the club must look towards improvement during the break in issues both on and off the field.

Most recently, the Blues have been linked to a Bundesliga starlet, who could be on the move to Goodison.

What’s the latest on Tom Krauss to Everton?

As reported by Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzig midfielder Tom Krauss has gained interest from Everton following a successful loan spell at Schalke.

The 21-year-old also has interest from fellow German clubs Mainz and Borussia Monchengladbach, with the Toffees included as one party who could sign the youngster.

The report speculates that the defensive midfielder is expected to cost in the region of €5m-€7m (£4m-£6m) making him an affordable asset for the Blues.

What could Tom Krauss bring to Everton?

Hailed by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango as “outstanding”, the German has spent the season on loan at Schalke, which despite ending in relegation, allowed him to showcase his abilities in deep midfield.

The 21-year-old averaged a Sofascore match rating of 6.80, cementing himself as one of the club’s top ten performers this campaign.

With Everton’s reported interest comes an exciting prospect for the Blues, as there is a player with great potential in the Leipzig-born ace.

Dyche may opt to plan for the future this summer, with Everton almost replicating the disappointment of the season before, a reshuffle is expected to be made at Goodison.

Krauss could be a strong heir to Idrissa Gueye, who despite being commanding in midfield, is closer to the end of his career than his best at 33-years-old.

The two bear many similarities to their games, as reinforced through their statistics in attributes essential for a player in deep midfield.

As per FBref, Gueye averages 1.96 interceptions, 1.75 blocks and 1.19 clearances per 90 over the past year, with the German hitting similar levels with 1.29 interceptions, 1.40 blocks and 1.25 clearances per 90 in the Bundesliga.

What stands out for the 21-year-old is his rate of tackles, ranking him in the top 1% of players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, averaging a mammoth 4.01 per 90, with Gueye scoring 3.39 in this area.

Lauded as being capable of doing “almost everything” by members of the media, the young midfielder has earned his praise, and equally mass interest from both clubs within his home country and of course the Premier League.

Dyche could ease the transition in midfield when Gueye nears the end of his career at Goodison with the energy of the young maestro, and being available at such a low cost is a bonus in what could be a truly exciting link this summer.