All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Not since 2022 has a higher expected goals figure – 4.67 in this instance – been registered by an away team. Of course, it had to happen against Manchester United.

The last time it occurred was when rivals Manchester City defeated Norwich City. It was David against Goliath in that instance.

So, for it to happen against a great institution like United just about sums up the direction the club has been driven in by Erik ten Hag.

It’s slightly staggering that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co kept the faith with him over the summer if truth be told. For now, though, they are stuck with a man who evidently looks incredibly out of his depth.

It’s been another torrid start to the season for the Red Devils who are all the way down in 12th having already dropped points in four of their half-a-dozen matches.

Where do you go from here? It’s a question that no doubt sparks plenty of debate.

Man United's biggest underperformers against Spurs

Tottenham have hardly been a pillar of positivity this season either but they rocked up at Old Trafford and meant business. Within minutes they opened the scoring and eventually surged to a 3-0 victory.

How did they get there? Well, the tone was set early doors. Micky van de Ven, a centre-back by trade, galloped forward like Ryan Giggs against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final, darting down the left-hand side.

He nabbed the ball from Marcus Rashford and then surged forward to put the ball on a plate for in-form man Brennan Johnson.

The defending was dismal. Matthijs de Ligt was shown a clean pair of heals by his fellow countryman and then left-back Diogo Dalot was nowhere to be seen at the back stick as Johnson was left with an empty net.

Those two were much to blame for the loss. Dalot certainly doesn’t look like he’s up to the task of playing out of position on the left and De Ligt – who has actually been a solid signing since arriving from Bayern Munich – showed shades of Harry Maguire and Co in his lack of ability to keep up with some of the quickest around.

It was incredibly worrying. Then, there was the red card for Bruno Fernandes. Oh, Bruno, it simply isn’t your season, is it?

To be truthful, it was a harsh red. The club’s captain clearly slipped but in doing so raised a stud too high on James Maddison who collapsed to the ground. He was sent for an early bath and will now miss United’s next three games. Talk about compiling your misery.

The aforementioned Rashford hardly covered himself in glory either and must be dropped. He isn’t at the races.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rashford's performance in numbers

Are we really watching the same player as we saw throughout the 2022/23 season? The Englishman was absolutely incredible during that term, bagging 30 goals in all competitions.

Since then he’s been one of the most disappointing players in the Premier League. Rashford only netted eight times last season and was left out of England’s squad for Euro 2024 as a result.

You’d think he’d come back with a point to prove but he has been equally as dismal during the current campaign, scoring just once. His performance against Spurs – like the rest of his colleagues in all fairness – was one of the worst we’ve seen in recent times.

He was at fault for the opener, a moment that Gary Neville criticised as “awful” from the England international. United looked to break through Rashford but in doing so the winger took a horrific touch that landed right at the feet of Van de Ven. The wide man appeared to pull out of any sort of duel that might have taken place and up the other end went Spurs’ central defender to create the opening goal.

Beyond that, it didn’t get much better for the 26-year-old who looked so out of sorts and lacking any sort of confidence. In his 73 minutes on the field, he completed just 70% of his passes, had fewer touches (32) than goalkeeper Andre Onana (45) and failed to have a single shot. It’s pretty dismal stuff.

Minutes played

73

Touches

32

Accurate passes

14/20 (70%)

Key passes

1

Crosses

2/3

Long balls

0/1

Shots

0

Dribble success

1/1

Duels won

5/6

Possession lost

9x

Was fouled

2x

Clearances

1

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

It wasn’t just Neville who slammed the academy graduate with Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst particularly scathing.

Writing in his post-match thoughts, the journalist handed the United man a 4/10 rating, saying that he ‘was often on the back foot’.

These are the games that Rashford so often asserted himself in a few years back. Now he’s an anonymous figure. He’s a full-back’s dream. Watch him collect the ball and do nothing with it. It’s rinse and repeat right now.

There is hope that perhaps under a new manager the attacker can relive past glories but right now he is sinking without a trace, just as his employers are.

Ten Hag must drop 3/10 Man Utd star who was as bad as Fernandes vs Spurs

Manchester United were dismantled by Tottenham on Sunday.

ByMatt Dawson Sep 29, 2024

Leeds United maintained their place in the top six in the Championship with a comfortable and convincing 3-0 win over Coventry City at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites were looking to build on their 2-0 win away at Cardiff City last time out and did exactly that, keeping a fifth clean sheet in seven matches in the division.

Daniel Farke will be hoping that his team can push on and close in on the top two places in the league to avoid the play-offs in their promotion efforts.

The West Yorkshire outfit finished third in the Championship last season, missing out on the top two, and went on to lose 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final.

Their failure to earn promotion to the Premier League left them open to teams from top-flight clubs coming in to take their best players, as Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Archie Gray, and Glen Kamara all moved on to West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, and Rennes respectively.

Summerville was a particularly big loss after he won the PFA Championship Player of the Season award for his efforts in the 2023/24 campaign for Leeds.

Crysencio Summerville's form for Leeds

The Dutch forward, who cut in from the left wing, enjoyed a phenomenal campaign in the second tier after the Whites had been relegated from the Premier League.

Summerville stepped up after the likes of Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra left on loan and emerged as the star of the show for Leeds on a weekly basis.

He stepped out of their shadow to rack up 28 goals and assists combined in 41 starts during the regular season in the Championship, as the electric forward showcased his ability to provide regular quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Starts

41

Goals

19

Conversion rate

15%

Assists

9

Big chances created

17

Dribbles completed per game

2.3

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old sensation had reason to be frustrated with his teammates because they did not make the most of the quality opportunities that he created for them.

They only scored nine times from the 17 ‘big chances’ that the former Feyenoord man put on a plate during the season, which suggests that they were wasteful in front of goal as a team.

Whereas, Summerville scored 19 goals from 16.41 xG and this shows that he was a clinical finisher who made the most of the chances that were created for him.

The Dutch star ranked within the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.39), and the top 4% for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.30).

This shows that he was among the best in his position in the Championship at both scoring goals from open play and creating high-quality chances for his teammates.

His move to West Ham was, therefore, a big blow, but it also provided others with an opportunity to step out from his shadow to shine, which is what Wilfried Gnonto is now doing.

Wilfried Gnonto's performance against Coventry

The Italy U21 international was pivotal to Leeds’ success against Coventry with a sublime performance on the right flank for Farke on Saturday.

Gnonto, who was handed a player rating of 8/10 by LeedsLive, scored the opening goal in the game with a terrific finish into the top of the net from Junior Firpo’s pullback. He timed his run into the box to perfection and met the cross brilliantly to beat Ben Wilson.

The former Inter youngster then produced the cross for Joel Piroe’s goal to make it 3-0 to the Whites in the second half, which meant that he ended the match with a direct involvement in two of the club’s three goals.

Shots

2

Goals

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Tackles + interceptions

2

Possession lost

13x

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto offered up an incredibly effective display for Leeds, with one goal from two shots and one assist from one ‘big chance’ created.

He was able to showcase his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, despite losing possession 13 times, and appears to have stepped out of Summerville’s shadow this season.

Wilfried Gnonto's improved performances

In the 2023/24 campaign, the 20-year-old forward only started 19 of his 36 appearances in the second tier as he failed to nail down a regular starting berth throughout the entire season.

In those 36 outings in the Championship, Gnonto provided the team with eight goals and two assists, just about hitting double figures for goal contributions, and this shows that he was not quite at the same level as Summerville – who was involved in 28.

Now that the Dutchman has moved on from Elland Road, the electric Italian winger has stepped into the spotlight and has been a key player for Farke, starting all seven of the club’s league matches so far.

Appearances

36

7

Key passes per game

0.6

0.7

Big chances created

5

3

Assists

2

1

Touches per game

31.1

49.4

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto has taken more responsibility on the ball in matches for Leeds since Summerville left the club, taking around 18 more touches per game on average.

This has helped to unlock the best of his creative quality after the forward had only managed to create five ‘big chances’ in 36 appearances last season. He has already created three ‘big chances’ for his side this term and is showing that the quality is there for him to be a scorer and a creator for the Whites.

Gnonto has stepped out of Summerville’s shadow and now looks set to be the star of the show for Leeds this season, as he was against Coventry on Saturday, by providing regular goals and assists on the flank as the key man for Farke out wide.

Sold for £7m: Leeds played a blinder with star who's now worth just £800k

The Whites seemingly cashed in on the centre-forward at the perfect time.

2 ByDan Emery Sep 26, 2024

Following the news that Friedkin Group have reached an agreement over the terms of their deal to buy a majority stake in Everton, reports have emerged over the first big move that they want to make.

Friedkin reach agreement to buy Everton

Whilst the deal is still subject to the approval of the Premier League, FA and Financial Conduct Authority in a position that Everton have, of course, been in before with 777 Partners, Friedkin Group look set to complete their takeover of the club. The deal will finally end the Toffees’ wait for new owners and will see Farhad Moshiri step aside as Everton look to take a crucial turn away from relegation troubles and financial instability.

Releasing a statement after news, A spokesperson for The Friedkin Group told Everton’s official website: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football club.

“We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction.We look forward to providing stability to the club, and sharing our vision for its future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.”

Not just Ndiaye: Everton ace who lost the ball 15x showed he's undroppable

Everton were so close to picking up their first three points of the Premier League season away at Leicester City.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 22, 2024

What is good news for Everton, however, may be the opposite for Sean Dyche and his job security. Recent reports have instantly linked the likes of Gareth Southgate to the Goodison Park role, with Dan Friedkin and Co keen to make their mark from the off.

Southgate has been out of a job since leaving England at the end of Euro 2024, in which the Three Lions fell short at the last hurdle once again. Now, he could be in line for a return to club management, but he’s not the only name that’s been mentioned, as the new owners have apparently already made their decision on Dyche’s future.

Friedkin eyes new Everton manager and fitness coach

According to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness, Friedkin are plotting a move to hire both Maurizio Sarri and fitness coach Daniele Tognaccini, putting their Italian connections to good use in the process. The pending new owners already own AS Roma and reportedly wanted to bring Sarri to the Serie A club after sacking Daniele De Rossi. In the end, however, they were forced to settle for Ivan Juric thanks to Sarri’s previous role at rivals Lazio.

The Italian would be quite the addition at Goodison Park in a role that would be a contrast to his last Premier League position at Chelsea, in which he guided the Blues to a Europa League win.

Games

38

Wins

21

Draws

9

Losses

8

As things stand, Sarri would have a tough task ahead of him, given that Everton are without a Premier League win in their opening five games amid a developing habit of conceding two-goal margins to make matters even worse.

As those results continue to arrive, there’s no doubt that the pressure will only increase on Dyche and rumours will begin to mount up over his Everton future.

David Moyes has rightly earned another season in charge of West Ham United after guiding the club to Europa Conference League success in May.

However, having struggled in the Premier League last season, an underwhelming transfer window to date has left the Scotsman on the back foot with a month to go until the new campaign begins.

Are West Ham United signing a striker?

Replacing Arsenal-bound Declan Rice will be Moyes' top priority at this stage, but that seems to be covered as Denis Zakaria looks set to join from Juventus.

Next on the list of Moyes' targets should be a striker, given Gianluca Scamacca struggled badly in his first season at the club and there are no alternatives, other than shoving winger-cum-striker Michail Antonio up top.

Rather worryingly for West Ham supporters, however, journalist Paul Brown has told GIVEMESPORT that the club are really determined to try and make a success of Scamacca.

Moyes is said to be intent on getting the best out of the 11-cap Italy international, who this week admitted he would love to join Roma, but that could spell bad news if it comes at the expense of bringing in a new striker.

How many goals has Gianluca Scamacca scored?

Scamacca arrived at West Ham in a £35.5m transfer from Sassuolo 12 months ago and scored just three goals in 16 Premier League appearances last season, whilst failing to assist any.

According to FBref, Scamacca ranks in the bottom 41% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals (0.29 per 90 minutes) over the past 12 months, with that dropping to the bottom 17% when it comes to non-penalty expected goals (0.24 per 90).

That second figure suggests the £90k-per-week Italian dud did not even look like scoring on a regular basis for United last season, so it is difficult to see how Moyes can change that with what is effectively an even weaker squad on the face of it as things stand.

As Chris Sutton put it last season, Scamacca looked "miserable" and, in the view of the BT Sport pundit, had "let David Moyes down in a way" with his lack of impact.

In Scamacca's defence, he was often left out of the side for a run of games and substituted off when he did get a start, but it is clear he did not fit Moyes' system – in fact, team-mate Michail Antonio said as much on his podcast.

News of Moyes possibly showing more faith in the 24-year-old comes at a time when West Ham have been linked with highly talented Sassuolo striker Habib Diallo and Arsenal star Folarin Balogun, who lit up Ligue 1 with Reims last season.

Between them, the energetic pair scored 41 goals in the French top flight last season at an identical rate of 0.63 goals per 90 minutes.

To put that into some context, Scamacca scored 0.29 goals per 90 in the Premier League.

West Ham do not have a great recent history when it comes to signing strikers – Scamacca was brought in to replace fellow flop Sebastian Haller, after all – but the Hammers could pay the ultimate price should they stick with what they have rather than looking for another option to lead their line.

Liverpool have had their opening offer for Torino defender Perr Schuurs immediately turned down, however they are set to return to the negotiating table with a new bid, according to reports from Italy.

Are Liverpool signing a defender?

Jurgen Klopp has already made two new additions to his squad this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai being brought in to bolster the midfield, and he is also eager to strengthen his defence.

Football Insider report the Reds are set to turn their attention to signing a centre-back, with Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio on the shortlist, and it has recently emerged they are one of the favourites to sign the 21-year-old, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven has also been named as a target for Klopp, however Tottenham Hotspur are now close to completing a deal for the 22-year-old, currently in the process of finalising an agreement over a £30m move.

As such, Liverpool may well go back in for Marc Guehi, with reports suggesting they are ready to battle Newcastle United for the Crystal Palace star, however he will not come cheap, with the Eagles now holding out for a fee of £60m.

Schuurs is another key target for the Reds, however their opening offer of €30m (£26m) for the Torino defender has been rebuffed by the Italian club, who are holding out for a fee of around €40m (£34m), according to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness).

Despite Torino's refusal, FSG are set to return to the negotiating table with another offer, as Klopp has made it clear he wants them to sign the 23-year-old "at any cost" this summer.

There may be competition for the centre-back's signature, however, as Napoli have also made an offer amounting to €28m (£24m).

At the moment, the Dutchman is in no hurry to decide his future, despite the growing interest in his signature, but he may find it difficult to turn down a move to the Premier League.

Is Perr Schuurs going to Liverpool?

It is clear that Klopp is determined to sign the former Ajax man, with a new offer already in the works, but Torino are in a very strong negotiating position, as his contract is not set to expire until 2026, and they have the option for an extra year.

As such, Liverpool may have to match the Serie A club's asking price, but there are indications he could be worth it, given the level of his recent performances for Torino.

Over the past year, the 6 foot 3 defender ranks in the 81st percentile for tackles completed per 90, when compared to his positional peers, while he averaged 3.4 clearances per game last season, the highest figure of any Torino player.

Not only that, Schuurs could also make a positive influence in the dressing room, having been hailed as a "leader" by former Manchester City goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus, so his arrival would be a boost for the Reds both on an off the pitch.

Leeds United are interested in signing former Thorp Arch youngster Charlie Taylor in the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Phil Hay.

When was Charlie Taylor at Leeds?

The Whites are looking to turn their fortunes around after the disappointment of being relegated from the Premier League back in May, with the arrival of Daniel Farke as manager hopefully a positive step in the right direction, in thay respect.

The new boss also needs to be backed in the transfer market for their improvements to continue, though – hopefully, 49ers Enterprises' takeover of the club will be completed in the near future, generating more money – with additions required all over the pitch.

One player who could be a contender to come in is Taylor, who spent many years at Elland Road early on in his career, firstly in the youth team and then making the grade in the senior setup. The 29-year-old made 104 appearances for Leeds in total, scoring three goals and registering 13 assists in that time, before joining Burnley in 2017.

Taylor remains with the Clarets currently, but with his current contract at Turf Moor expiring next year, they may feel that now is the best time to sell him, instead of losing him for free in 2024.

With Junior Firpo moving on after a really poor spell as a Whites player, a new left-back will be required, and it looks as though the former Leeds man is a candidate to come in.

Are Leeds signing Charlie Taylor?

According to The Athletic's Hay, the Whites could look to bring Taylor back to the club this summer, as he provided a fresh update on potential transfer targets in that area of the pitch:

"Defensively, Leeds require a left-back having decided to listen to enquiries for Junior Firpo. They have been repeatedly linked with Ryan Manning, who is on a free transfer after parting company with Swansea City, and they are pondering bidding for Burnley’s Charlie Taylor, the defender who came through the academy at Elland Road."

Taylor could be a really shrewd investment by Leeds this summer, with the Englishman knowing the club inside out, and therefore unlikely to take time to settle in as Farke's first signing.

At 29, he is now an experienced head who has become accustomed to life in the Championship, appearing 126 times in the competition down the years, and he could bring a mix of defensive stability and attacking nous, with the latter highlighted by his aforementioned assist tally for Leeds.

He also impressed Burnley manager Vincent Kompany in a centre-back role last season, with his boss saying: "If he has never played there, I can’t say why. But he looked like a centre half. I have been in the position for a few years of my life, and I saw a centre half.”

That level of versatility could be an added bonus for Farke moving forward, giving him more options in his squad, so it is a move that makes a lot of sense, especially as the Clarets could be willing to sell for a cut-price amount, given Taylor's contract situation.

Rangers have lined up a move for Ecuador international Jose Cifuentes amid reports they're closing in on Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers.

Who will join Rangers this summer?

It's been a busy summer transfer window for the Gers and manager Michael Beale, who have already seen five major signings come through the Ibrox door.

Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima are all now Rangers players as the Ibrox side look to wrestle back Scottish football dominance from their arch-rivals.

The Hoops sealed an impressive domestic treble last season, but following the departure of Ange Postecoglou and re-appointment of Brendan Rodgers, it will be interesting to see if Rangers can usurp them.

Beale's side have held no shortage of ambition when it comes to transfers and reliable media sources claim that they're closing in on another major deal in potentially signing Dessers (as per Fabrizio Romano).

The 28-year-old is apparently on the verge of joining Rangers, and that is echoed by journalist Scott Burns in a piece for The Daily Record.

However, dropping another line in his piece, Burns claims that the Glasgow giants have "also lined up a move" for Los Angeles midfielder Cifuentes.

In a further bit of good news, it's added that the move is "expected to be completed" in this window.

Cifuentes has been heavily linked with a move to Rangers this summer and it appears they're still very much interested in signing the 24-year-old for Beale.

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

The South American ace apparently "starred" for Los Angeles over his most recent season, and with Cifuentes out of contract in December, Rangers could seemingly strike a cut-price move.

Cifuentes, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, has also been praised by Tim Vickey for his exploits across the Atlantic.

Vickery, an expert on all things to do with South American football, called Cifuentes a "terrific" player after his 2019 exploits at the Under-20 World Cup.

"He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder," said Vickey on talkSPORT (via footballscotland).

"He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.

"This fellow Cifuentes strikes the ball well, moves across the field, strong in the tackle, strong on the ball, I like him a lot."

Liverpool are among the suitors for one of Europe's most prodigious talents in Fenerbahce star Arda Guler, who has blitzed into prominence after a remarkable breakout campaign in his homeland.

What's the latest on Arda Guler to Liverpool?

That's according to a report from TEAMtalk that underscores the Yellow Canaries' desire to retain the services of their starlet for at least one more year, tieing him down to a new deal that will allow a more lucrative future sale.

Guler has a €17.5m (£15m) release clause in his contract, which is an attractive element to consider given that Liverpool are looking to complete astute deals on the market, having already tied up Alexis Mac Allister for a bargain £35m.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds are joined by Arsenal, Bayern, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain in their interest in the fleet-footed phenom.

How good is Arda Guler?

Hailed as a "magician with a wand of a left foot" by one European scout, Guler is one of the most exciting players on the scene right now, boasting a wealth of skills that tantalise a career at the very forefront of the game over the next footballing era.

Despite his youthful age and inexperience, he produced displays of exceptional quality in the Turkish Super Lig this year, earning a stunning average Sofascore rating of 7.48 after starting just 11 matches, scoring four goals, supplying three assists, completing 85% of his passes and averaging two key passes per game from the offensive right flank.

Given the "serious talent" – as he has been described by Duncan Castles – possesses an innate cutting edge and tendency to drift inwards and wreak havoc from the box, he could be viewed as the dream heir to Mohamed Salah's pre-eminent role at Anfield, with the Egyptian sensation registering 265 direct goal contributions from 305 appearances since signing from Roma for £34m in 2017.

Liverpool fell by the wayside this term but it mattered not to the £350k-per-week forward's individual success, posting 30 goals and 16 assists from 50 appearances – with a return to fluidity when football resumes, there is no telling how destructive Salah's displays might be.

Technically a winger but reaping the fruits of his labour through his remarkable ability to cut inside, Salah ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 13% for assists and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref, heralded as "lightning" by Reds historian Carl Clemente.

With Guler boasting a similar skill set and with Andrea Pirlo saying there is "no limit to his potential", securing his services as Salah's understudy before nurturing him to a starring role in the Merseyside giants' system could be the perfect way to ensure the club remain in contention for the biggest honours on offer for a lasting period.

Everton are reportedly interested in a Premier League gem, as the Blues aim to turn their fortunes around after two dreary seasons threatened relegation.

Sean Dyche will hope for a busy summer at Goodison, with the Toffees requiring reinforcements to pull them away from the lows of the table to get things on the pitch ticking again.

The latest link could emerge as a potential heir to a club legend, in a player that possesses core attributes.

What’s the latest on Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Everton?

As reported earlier this week, Everton have emerged as one of the clubs interested in Arsenal gem Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The versatile defender will be released by the north Londoners at the expiration of his contract, with the report claiming that ‘several’ clubs from the Premier League are ‘keeping an eye’ on his movements.

After spending the season on loan at Southampton, the Englishman returned to his boyhood club where contract talks failed to progress, which has revealed a potential bargain for Sean Dyche.

What could Ainsley Maitland-Niles offer to Everton?

Despite undergoing a tough season at St Mary’s, the 25-year-old has proven himself as a player with innate versatility through the years in his career.

Playing primarily at right-back, the defensive-minded ace could equip Everton with a skill set familiar to that of Seamus Coleman, who at 34 years old could have an heir to his services provided this summer.

Lauded as a “huge talent” by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, the Londoner worked through the ranks with the Gunners, representing the club for a total of 19 years.

The Englishman could ease the transition should Everton opt to fade out the presence of their dedicated servant, as Coleman’s contract officially expires this summer with a new deal offered.

Maitland-Niles possesses talents similar to those shown by the Irishman, as displayed through his statistics, making him a potentially strong addition to Dyche’s side.

When comparing the two on their respective 2022/23 Premier League campaigns, the numbers show that the 25-year-old could be the perfect heir to the 34-year-old.

As per FBref, the former Arsenal gem averaged 2.88 tackles and 1.79 blocks per 90 this term, with Coleman averaging slightly lower with 1.90 tackles and 0.76 blocks over the same period of time for Everton.

Playing as a full-back requires abilities on the ball and going forward also, with Maitland-Niles averaging 1.09 successful take-ons and 3.65 progressive passes per 90 to the Merseyside veterans 0.87 take-ons and 3.32 progressive passes, via FBref.

The numbers convey that Dyche’s side could adapt and progress with the versatile former Southampton star in their ranks, with a player that could ease the transition when Coleman eventually departs.

Manchester United have approached Inter Milan over a move for left-back Federico Dimarco, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Dimarco?

The Red Devils previously made a midfielder and attacker their top transfer targets ahead of the summer, with Erik ten Hag looking to build on a positive first season at Old Trafford.

There has been no shortage of transfer rumours, either, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount appearing to be a top target. Despite the ongoing takeover saga in Manchester, the Red Devils made a £40m offer for the England international and a new £50m bid, both of which have been turned down.

Another target in the middle of the pitch appears to be Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, with a phone call made from Old Trafford to the San Siro over a move for the Italy international.

However, Barella doesn’t appear to be the only Inter Milan star United are keen on, with an update emerging on Dimarco, dubbed as “the left-footed Italian Beckham” by reporter Carlo Garganese.

According to The Independent, Manchester United have been in contact with Inter Milan and expressed a concrete interest over a move for Dimarco.

Described as one of the Champions League's revelations during the 2022/23 season, Dimarco is also wanted by Real Madrid, but Erik ten Hag thinks he can use the player in a number of different positions.

Who is Federico Dimarco?

Dimarco is primarily a left-back but can also turn out as a left midfielder or centre-back if needed. The 25-year-old is a product of Inter’s youth system but has played for numerous Italian clubs.

Over the last two years, the versatile full-back has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket to a career-high €35m, and he has made 98 senior appearances for Inter Milan, 50 of which came during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Adidas-sponsored ace, called '"world-class" and a "goal threat"' by members of the Italian media, was Inter’s best-performing defender last season, as per WhoScored, averaging a better score than any Manchester United defender, including left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

Therefore, even though United are well-stocked at left-back, Dimarco could prove to be a shrewd signing at Old Trafford, with Ten Hag having the option to use him in multiple areas, something that could be handy as United prepare for life back in the Champions League.