Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly remain in the chase for a teen sensation, in a player that could turn the fortunes in front of goal around for Julen Lopetegui.

The Midlands side were the Premier League’s lowest-scorers last season, and will aim to bolster the strike area this summer while remaining on a tight budget.

The Old Gold could achieve both by making a swoop for the latest link, in a deal that could prove to be an overwhelming success in years to come.

What’s the latest on Adama Bojang to Wolves

As reported by Evening Standard this week, Wolves remain in the race for The Gambia and Steve Biko FC striker Adama Bojang.

The striker is reportedly wanted by a ‘raft of European clubs’, with Wolves listed as one of five representing the Premier League.

Evening Standard revealed that the Gambian teenager is valued by Steve Biko FC at £2.6m, making him an attractive prospect for Wolves.

What could Adama Bojang offer to Wolves?

The 19-year-old’s agent is a name familiar to English football, with former Millwall and Plymouth Argyle striker Cherno Samba mentoring the young talent.

Speaking about his client via talkSPORT, the former player lauded the teen as being a starlet “destined for greatness”, making his journey one to watch in world football.

The youngster has rightfully earned his praise, shining in international competition so far this year acting as a talisman for The Gambia in both the U20 African Cup of Nations and the U20 World Cup.

Named in the U20 AFCON team of the tournament, Bojang led his team to a second-place finish in the competition, scoring four goals and assisting one in six games, via Sofascore.

A similar feat has been evident at the U20 World Cup, where the 19-year-old scored two goals in four games, averaging two shots on target per game for his country.

Hailed as an “insane talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the teenager could follow in the footsteps of a Premier League great, who was given a slim chance as a rotation player that allowed him to pass through a door that opened record-breaking status.

Harry Kane burst onto the scene in 2014 in his first full season in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals in 34 appearances for Spurs in a feat that redefined the meaning of taking your chance.

The now 29-year-old has never looked back from the campaign that he was nurtured into the first team by Mauricio Pochettino, and now leads as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 280 goals so far.

Kane’s story is an admirable one for rising stars to aim to follow, and with the England skipper listed as one of the players young Bojang “looks up to”, the Gambian is showing signs of having the potential to hit the ground running in the Premier League like his idol.

Lopetegui is desperate for a goalscorer, and in the 19-year-old he could deploy a hungry-to-succeed talent that undoubtedly has an innate eye for goal, as highlighted by his scoring records this year.

In giving such a young player creative freedom when leading the line, the Spaniard could unearth one of The Gambia’s biggest talents, in a side that isn’t short on creativity.

Molineux could pose to be the perfect place for the teenager to flourish, in an environment that could allow him to make a significant difference to his and Wolves’ future.

ICC Americas registered their first win since entering the Regional Super50 competition in 2016, beating Combined Campuses and Colleges by 72 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method at Windward Park. It ended a streak of ten losses – five matches in 2016 and their first five matches in 2017 – for the squad comprised of Bermuda, Canada and USA players.Captain Nitish Kumar top-scored with 80 off 100 balls for ICC Americas in their total of 265 after choosing to bat first. Two others also crossed 50 in the innings for ICC Americas, beginning with opener Kamau Leverock’s 55 and ending with Timroy Allen’s 69 off 73 balls before he fell in the second to last over. Kumar bridged both ends of the innings with his knock, adding 77 for the second wicket with Leverock after the early loss of Akeem Dodson.Offspinning allrounder Vikash Mohan removed Leverock in the 18th over, then rattled the middle-order with a double-strike in the 26th over by claiming Srimantha Wijeratne and Hamza Tariq in the space of three balls to make it 121 for 5. A 97-run stand between Kumar and Allen for the sixth wicket righted the ship for ICC Americas, one which was interrupted by an hour rain delay at 186 for 5 in the 39th over. The pair stayed aggressive after play resumed, adding another 32 in 3.4 overs before Kumar fell but not before helping to forge the two biggest partnerships for ICC Americas in the entire tournament.Allen fell to Nino Henry in the 49th and Jermaine Levy wiped out the tail with three wickets in the 50th to end with figures of 4 for 22 in five overs. However, the late collapse wound up not hurting ICC Americas in the end thanks to a superb performance from their spin attack, sparked by Kumar.Amir Jangoo and Mark Deyal got CCC off to a brisk start in reply, adding 41 in 7.3 overs before Kumar struck to dislodge Jangoo for 16. Mohan and Deyal added 54 for the second wicket before Mohan fell for 30, with offspinner Nikhil Dutta inducing a return catch. Three balls later, play was halted at the end of the 20th over for another rain delay at 97 for 2 and CCC ahead of the D/L par score of 89.However, the delay only lasted for 18 minutes with two overs deducted and a revised target of 260 for CCC. Legspinner Timil Patel struck on back-to-back balls in the 25th over to remove Kyle Corbin and Cassius Burton, putting ICC Americas in front on the D/L calculation in the event rain returned. Dutta struck again in the 26th to remove Ryan Hinds before Timil delivered a major blow in the 31st, knocking over Deyal for 66 to leave the tail exposed at 133 for 6.Dutta took one more to finish with 3 for 32 and left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar wiped out the tail with two wickets as CCC were bowled out for 187 in the 44th over. Kumar was named Man of the Match for his efforts while Timil ended with figures of 3 for 38.Jamaica moved closer to a semi-final berth with a 20-run win over Guyana at Kensington Oval. The result eliminated by CCC and ICC Americas from semi-final contention while Guyana’s loss means that their only path to the semi-final is a bonus point win in their final Group B match against ICC Americas combined with a pair of Jamaica losses against both ICC Americas and Barbados to round out group play.American Steven Taylor produced his highest List A score in his fourth match with Jamaica, making 86 in a total of 255 after Jamaica chose to bat first. Taylor struck five fours and six sixes in his knock before he stumbled attempting a single and was runout by Leon Johnson in the 30th over. Jamaica also got key contributions from Andre McCarthy, who added 99 for the fourth wicket with Taylor before falling for 45, and 42 by eventual Man of the Match John Campbell at No. 6. Raymon Reifer took two wickets with the new ball and came back with two more to knock over the tail, finishing with 4 for 38 for Guyana.Guyana got off to a confident reply behind opener Assad Fudadin and Reifer at No. 3, with the pair adding 90 for the second wicket to take the score to 124 for 1 in the 29th over. Fudadin was runout for 57 to trigger a slide for Guyana and Reifer became the first of Campbell’s four victims in the 37th for 54. Campbell burrowed through the middle order to remove Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs and eventually Shiv Chanderpaul to make the score 165 for 7 in the 41st over as Campbell ended with figures of 4 for 43.Anthony Bramble and Veerasammy Permaul hit seven sixes between them during a 59-run stand for the eighth wicket in a furious rally that took Guyana close to pulling off an outlandish heist. But the stand was broken by Jerome Taylor two balls into the 48th when he had Permaul edging behind for 30 off 21 balls to leave Guyana needing 32 off the final 16 balls to win. Devendra Bishoo was runout by Taylor off his own bowling three balls later and Bramble was last man out for 39 four balls into the 50th over to Rovman Powell.

Liverpool are looking to make tweaks to their successful squad this summer following a disappointing season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Pau Torres?

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are one of the many clubs who have been admiring Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.

As per the report, Aston Villa are working hard to get a cut-price deal done for the talented defender, whilst Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and the Reds are named as admirers of the player.

Would Pau Torres be a good fit for Liverpool?

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp's top priority this summer has been a midfield rebuild, however, the Reds are also seemingly on the hunt for a left-footed centre-back who can offer balance in the back-line as the current crop of central defenders at Anfield are all right-footed.

Liverpool have been linked with VfL Stuttgart ace Micky van de Ven and RB Leipzig titan Joska Gvardiol, both of whom are dominant on their left foot with the latter now reportedly agreeing on personal terms for a potential €100m (£86m) deal to join treble-winning Manchester City.

As a result, the signing of Torres could be an opportunity for Klopp to secure a centre-back with an extremely similar profile as Gvardiol but also would be much cheaper than his Croatian positional peer, with Villarreal possibly considering a fee as low as €40m (£34m), per some reports.

According to FBref, Gvardiol is named as the third most comparable player to Torres over the last 12 months, and it's not hard to see why when you consider their vast similarities.

When comparing the defensive duo, the pair shared resemblances in many key attributes last season including aerial duels won (55.1% v 55.8%), ball recoveries (195 v 167), blocks (36 v 34), shot-creating actions (1.21 v 1.20) per 90, tackles and interceptions won (56 v 57) and pass accuracy (85.1% v 85.9%).

Not only that, Torres – once hailed as an "extraordinary talent" by former Villarreal star Javi Calleja – is one of the most progressive defenders in the top five European leagues, ranking in the top 7% of his positional peers for progressive passes, progressive carries and shot-creating actions per 90, demonstrating unrivalled ability in his ball-playing role in Villarreal's defensive set up.

With that being said, if Liverpool could table an attractive offer to rival their competitors for Torres this summer he could be a fantastic signing for the club and provide Klopp with the profile of centre-back that he clearly desires to acquire ahead of next season.

Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh said that time out of the Test side, during the home series against South Africa last year helped him work on a few aspects of his game, which he feels will be beneficial

Melinda Farrell in Bengaluru02-Mar-20171:16

‘Want to continue our winning ways at this ground’ – Marsh

It’s an odd anachronism that 21 is still considered such an important age.In Australia, for example, 21st birthdays are widely celebrated much the same as 18th birthdays, even though minors legally become adults once they turn 18. Cards are adorned with keys, cakes are baked in the shape of them, symbolizing the bestowing of the keys of adulthood to people who have been adults for three years.For whatever reason, turning 21 remains a mystical moment. The coming of age.If Mitchell Marsh plays in Bengaluru, his Test career will turn 21. But it feels as though he’s been coming of age for a very long time.Consider Marsh when he first hit adulthood. After captaining Australia to victory in the U19s World Cup, he was playing for Deccan Chargers in the IPL as an 18-year-old alongside Adam Gilchrist in a team coached by Darren Lehmann, a fact that seems almost ridiculous in its generational incongruity.Seven years and 20 Tests down the track, Marsh has a batting average of 22.79 and 29 wickets at an average of 37.27. That he is blessed with an abundance of talent is undeniable; that talent comes with expectations his critics feel have not been met.Marsh-bashing is a frequent occurrence on social media and the selection of brothers Mitchell or Shaun is guaranteed to spark a new round. The younger brother has the added burden of being an Australian allrounder, a position that attracts more scrutiny and criticism than most.Just ask Shane Watson.In fact, Marsh does just that. Heralded as the natural replacement for Watson at the end of his Test career, Marsh now seeks him out for advice.”I’ve spoken to Watto,” Marsh said. “Since he’s retired he’s been fantastic. He’s always been open to me giving him a call or a text. I could use him a little bit more, he’s always open for a conversation which is great.”Watson could no doubt give just as much advice on how to cope with flak off the field as he could on how to perform on it. When he passed the allrounder’s mantle on to Marsh it came with a target attached, something that unsettled Marsh to the extent he stopped reading comments about himself on social media altogether.”I try not to look too much into it,” said Marsh. “I wouldn’t have too much confidence if I read all the comments on Facebook. That’s part and parcel of playing cricket for Australia at the top level. People are always entitled to their opinion, that’s fine by me. It doesn’t stress me out. I used to read a lot of it then I had 10 innings where I didn’t get over 30, I didn’t have much to read so I stopped reading it.When the selectors cut a swathe through the Australian squad in the wake of the humiliating loss to South Africa in Hobart they didn’t miss Marsh. He had played only the Perth Test and was left out of the Hobart match in favour of Callum Ferguson. With no opportunities available to play first-class cricket, he returned home to join up with the Perth Scorchers.”In a way it was probably a good thing because I just went back to the Big Bash and enjoyed myself, tried to slog a few and managed to get a few out of the middle,” said Marsh. “But away from the game I worked on a few things that I feel will hold me in good stead if I can play in Australia again or play in other conditions. Sometimes it’s nice to get out of the spotlight. I was obviously under a lot of pressure for a while so in a way it was nice to get back to play with the Scorchers and here I am.”Marsh wasn’t required for bowling duties in the first Test but he applied himself for a watchful 31 runs on the crumbling pitch. For a powerful, attacking batsman, it was a commendable show of restraint in such conditions. It was followed by dressing-room celebrations that Marsh described as the best four hours of his life.”It was good, it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Marsh. “Even though I made only 30, being out in the middle for 80 balls certainly gave me a lot of confidence. Hopefully this wicket is a little better and I can turn it into a big score for us.””I think it’s just about adapting. That’s something we always speak about, Steven (Smith) always talks to us about it. In these conditions you’ve got to earn the right to attack and that’s by having a solid defence. That’s what I’ve been working on.”Marsh has also been working on gaining the trust of his brother. Shaun’s nine-month old son, Austin, is on the tour and Uncle Mitch is being allowed to babysit his nephew for the first time.”You earn your trust,” said Marsh, while conceding he wasn’t very confident on nappy-changing.”It’s taken me a while but I’ve got there now.”If he can produce his best in India, that’s a statement he may make for many Tests beyond his 21st.

Chelsea's desperation to land top midfield target Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion could come at a particular cost for academy product Conor Gallagher.

Brighton's insistence on Chelsea paying £100m for a player who has four years to run on his recently-signed contract may see the Blues offer a player in part exchange.

According to The Mirror, Gallagher could be the fall guy, with Chelsea potentially set to give the long-serving midfielder – thought to be worth £30m – to Albion plus a fairly sizable sum on top.

Should Chelsea keep hold of Conor Gallagher?

Selling a player of Gallagher's quality, who has been shaped by the club during his 15 years in West London, could be the first howler of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure.

Gallagher starred on loan with Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 season, earning the first of his six England senior caps in the process, before being given a chance to impress in a tumultuous season for Chelsea last time out.

The 23-year-old made 35 appearances in the Premier League – the joint-most of any Chelsea player, along with Kai Havertz – while no Blues player won WhoScored's Man of the Match award on more occasions.

Gallagher's 0.14 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes over the past 12 months ranks him in the top 13% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, meanwhile, and he is in the top 4% for progressive passes received (6.09 per 90), which records completed passes of at least ten yards towards the opposition's goal.

With figures like that, FBref's comparison model adjudges Jude Bellingham to be the player most like Gallagher in terms of statistical profile. For example, Gallagher's 0.17 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes last season was similar to that of Bellingham's 0.23 at Borussia Dortmund.

Gallagher and Bellingham also find the target from a near identical number of their shots (39.3% and 34.8% respectively), and likewise when it comes to passes completed – 81.1% v 81.7%.

The similarities do not stop there, as Gallagher and Bellingham touched the ball in the opposition penalty box 3.28 and 3.51 times respectively per 90 minutes last season – showing a knack to get themselves in dangerous positions.

Factor in the defensive side of their games, with Gallagher averaging 2.56 tackles per 90 last season compared to 2.54 for Bellingham, and Chelsea may just have a future £100m player on their hands – the fee Real Madrid were happy to splash out for the England international.

It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino once dubbed him "Kante with goals."

Gallagher has been hailed plenty for the way he goes about his business, with then-Palace boss Patrick Vieira describing him as "really humble" after scoring twice in a 3-1 win against Everton in December 2021.

Vieira also predicted Gallagher would continue to improve throughout his career, yet the Blues will not reap the rewards of that if they are to let him leave this summer.

Caicedo would be a superb and potentially transformative signing for Pochettino, but it should not come at the expense of letting such a superb homegrown talent in Gallagher leave.

كشفت تقارير صحفية أنه سيتم اليوم الثلاثاء، تقديم مشروع قانون تاريخي إلى البرلمان الخاص ببريطانيا، سيمثل تغييرًا جذريًا في عالم كرة القدم الإنجليزية.

وذكرت وسائل إعلام إنجليزية مختلفة أنه سيتم تقديم مشروع قانون تاريخي، إلى برلمان المملكة المتحدة، لإنشاء هيئة مستقلة تنظيمية لإدارة نشاط كرة القدم.

وستكون لدى تلك الهيئة صلاحيات لمنع المسابقات الانفصالية مثل دوري السوبر الأوروبي، وتعزيز اختبار المالكين والمدربين، في محاولة لمنع وقوع الأندية في الأيدي الخطأ، بينما ستخضع جميع الفرق من الدرجات الأدنى إلى الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز لنظام ترخيص.

كما ستعمل الهيئة على الحفاظ على صلاحيات الدعم حول التوزيع المالي بين الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والدرجات الأدنى.

وستكون الهيئة التنظيمية مستقلة عن الحكومة وسلطات كرة القدم، وستكون مُجهزة بسلطات قوية تتمحور حول ثلاثة أهداف أساسية: تحسين الاستدامة المالية للأندية، وضمان المرونة المالية عبر الدوريات، وحماية تراث كرة القدم الإنجليزية، حسبما ذكرت شبكة “ذا أثلتيك” العالمية.

اقرأ أيضًا | فزع وحزن ورسالة شكر.. نوتينجهام فورست يصدر بيانًا بعد عقوبة خصم النقاط

وتأتي هذه الخطوة في وقت يخوض فيه الدوري الإنجليزي ورابطة الدوري الإنجليزي حربًا بشأن إعادة التوزيع المالي، حيث لا يزال الاتفاق بشأن هذه القضية بعيدًا.

وبموجب التشريع الجديد، سيتم حظر المسابقات المنفصلة والمغلقة مثل دوري السوبر الأوروبي، البطولة التي أثارت جدلًا واسعًا عبر السنوات القليلة الماضية، وانضم إليها في البداية الأندية الإنجليزية الست الكبار قبل انسحابهم تدريجيًا.

وستكون لدى الهيئة المستقبلية القدرة على تغريم الأندية بما يصل إلى 10 % من حجم إيراداتها المالية في حالة عدم الامتثال للقواعد التي سيتم إقرارها.

وهذا يعني عقوبات ضخمة محتملة، حيث يبلغ إجمالي أرباح الأندية الستة الكبار (ليفربول، مانشستر سيتي، مانشستر يونايتد، تشيلسي، آرسنال وتوتنهام) أكثر من 500 مليون جنيه إسترليني كل عام.

Manchester City were dealt a huge blow at the end of last month as midfielder Ilkay Gundogan departed upon the expiry of his contract with the club.

The German has signed for Spanish giants Barcelona on a free transfer after captaining the Citizens to the treble last season.

This has left Pep Guardiola without one of his trusted midfield options heading into the 2023/24 campaign, which could tempt him into the transfer market in the coming weeks.

Mateo Kovacic has joined on a permanent deal from Chelsea but his six goals in 221 competitive matches for the Blues does not suggest that he has the goalscoring ability to adequately replace the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace.

Gundogan found the back of the net 11 times in all competitions for City last term, scoring crucial goals in vital games – including two in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Who could replace Ilkay Gundogan at Manchester City?

Guardiola could forget all about the now-Barcelona dynamo by securing the signing of Celta Vigo prodigy Gabri Veiga, who is a reported transfer target for the club.

He has a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract with the Spanish side and City are said to be willing to match it, although they face competition from a host of European clubs – including Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea from the Premier League.

Like Gundogan, the 21-year-old magician, who was once hailed as "dangerous" by journalist Euan McTear, is a central midfielder with an eye for goal and his exploits in the final third could make him the dream replacement for City.

The Spain U21 international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96 across 36 LaLiga outings last term and contributed with 11 goals to go along with four assists from the middle of the park, which came after he managed nine goals in 31 outings for Celta B in the 2021/22 season.

Veiga, who predominantly plays as a number eight or ten, is not a seasoned campaigner who would come in with a guarantee of success but his impressive goal return from his position at the age of 21 suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent addition for Guardiola.

Gundogan averaged a goal every 5.06 matches on average throughout his City career (60 in 304) and the Celta Vigo starlet has averaged a strike every 3.35 league games on average for the first-team and reserve sides combined over the last two years (20 in 67).

Only Erling Haaland (36) scored more league goals for the Citizens than Veiga's tally of 11 in LaLiga, indicating that the Spanish maestro could provide the manager with an excellent goalscoring option from midfield, as the Germany international did during his time at The Etihad.

Northamptonshire have confirmed the signing of former England batsman James Taylor as part of their coaching team. Taylor, who was forced to retire from a playing career at 26 when he was diagnosed with a heart condition known as ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy) at the beginning of the 2016 season, will work as a consultant throughout the club’s Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.Since his enforced retirement, Taylor has worked as a pundit on television and radio, alongside various coaching commitments, which have included regular sessions with the academies at Nottinghamshire, his former club, and Yorkshire. Last October, he was invited to a training camp at the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough to share his expertise with England’s most promising talents as part of the Young Lions programme.”I’m excited,” Taylor said of his role with Northants. “They are a skilful side who have clearly done well in one-day cricket in the past. I spent a bit of time commentating at the County Ground last season and am keen to offer up my expertise to the squad. Whilst my focus will no doubt be on the batsmen, I will be on hand to assist across all areas. I can’t wait to get started”In the limited-overs formats, Taylor’s ability to assess conditions, analyse risk and play to the situation saw him excel as a captain and batsman. He averaged 43.23 in a 27-match ODI career, which included scoring a match-winning century against Australia in the summer of 2015, batting smartly on an Old Trafford pitch on which only three others passed 50 and no one else passed 63. On his last appearance for England, against South Africa A, he scored 116 (only two others passed fifty). He was unlucky not to register a century against Australia at the 2015 World Cup after a botched umpiring decision left him stranded on 98 not out.Domestically, there were few better. Taylor, who came through at Leicestershire, averaged above 50 in all but one of his eight English summers – the exception coming in 2009, when he averaged 46 – and he was a vital cog in a dynamic Nottinghamshire side that won the YB40 in 2013, contributing 585 runs at 73.12. Taylor’s List A career average of 53.11 from 131 innings, which included 15 centuries and five fifties, is the fourth highest of all time.Northamptonshire captain Alex Wakely was effusive in his praise for Taylor. “He’s played all around the world and is one of the best players there is,” Wakely told ESPNcricinfo. Many of the Northants squad are familiar with Taylor, having played with and against him. Wakely also captained Taylor at England Under-19 level.James Taylor averaged 43.23 for England in ODIs•Getty Images

Northants’ white-ball success has primarily come in Twenty20 cricket, with the club winning the NatWest T20 Blast in 2013 and 2016, and finishing as losing finalists in 2015. While they did reach the quarter-final of the Royal London Cup last year, losing to Surrey off the final ball by one wicket, they have struggled to translate their 20-over form into 50-over success.But with the Royal London Cup now in a block at the beginning of the season – the group matches will be played between April 27 and May 17, with the knockout stages taking place at the beginning of June and the final on July 1 – Northants are keen to give the competition their undivided attention. They hope Taylor’s nous, added to an already vibrant and effective white-ball squad, can help win their first piece of List A silverware since the 1992 NatWest Trophy.”One of the things we, as a club, want to get better at is our 50-over cricket,” Wakely said. “Our record over the last 10 years is not great. We believe now we’ve got decent depth in all departments to be successful in all three formats.”Taylor will be with the club for most of their Royal London Cup programme and will work alongside former Northants stalwart David Sales, who took on a role as batting coach over the winter. Sales, who spent almost 20 years at the county as a player and is regarded by many as one of the finest English batsmen to never win an international cap, will work on a part-time basis over the summer alongside his commitments as coach at Wellingborough school.Northamptonshire’s head coach, David Ripley, said: “James has a fantastic 50-over record, averaging over 50 which is obviously outstanding. It’s very unfortunate for James not to be playing anymore, but it’s great to see his desire to still be involved with the game. I believe he can offer good advice, and relay his one-day cricket experiences on to our batsmen.”David has been working part-time with the batters since January focusing on improving more of the technical aspects of their game. I believe his cricket brain and experience are a real positive for the squad and will go a long way to improving their overall game.”

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in West Bromwich Albion youngster Rico Richards, as Unai Emery plots to steal a rising star from the club’s rivals.

It’s expected to be a busy summer at Villa Park, as both Emery and Monchi aim to take the side to the next level following on from last season’s highs.

The Spanish duo will be hoping to bolster the squad with depth in all areas, as Emery explained to The Athletic in April, which is something they could do by introducing the talent of West Brom’s Richards.

What’s the latest on Rico Richards to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider, Villa are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the 19-year-old talent who will leave West Brom this summer at the expiry of his contract.

The report states that talks are ‘well underway’ and making good progress, with Villa ‘confident’ in reaching a full agreement with the player.

Who is Rico Richards?

Hailed as a “technician” by analyst Tom Williams, the teenager has shone for the Baggies’ academy sides and made his Championship debut earlier this year, playing ten minutes against Hull City.

Deployed primarily an attacking midfielder, the 19-year-old is versatile in his position behind the striker, with the ability to play on either flank as well as centrally.

In 19 Premier League 2 Division 2 appearances last season, the 6 foot Englishman contributed to nine goals, scoring four and assisting five in an impressive feat in the final third for the skilled teenager.

Described as a player that “loves dribbling” by Williams, the youngster could offer a lot to Emery’s side, and would follow in the footsteps of academy stars that have made the cut to the first team, including the likes of Jack Grealish and a certain Jacob Ramsey who transitioned into being a regular starter.

Possessing the ability to play centrally and on the flanks like Richards, Ramsey initially filtered out Bertrand Traore with his top performances over the past few seasons, a trend that Richards could follow as he bids to dislodge someone of Emiliano Buendia's standing.

Signed from Norwich City in the summer of 2021, the Argentine playmaker secured 32 goals and assists in his final Championship campaign with the Canaries, however, has failed to show his full potential as of yet in the Midlands.

The 26-year-old has registered just 18 goal involvements in the entirety of his Villa career which has spanned over 78 appearances so far, showing his struggle for form in the Premier League.

With the "splendid" Richards – as dubbed by Joe Chapman – potentially arriving at Villa Park, the youngster could target Buendia’s spot in the starting 11, just as Ramsey did in claiming the right-flank as his quarters.

As per The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, the teen has been described by unnamed coaches that have worked alongside him as being an individual with an ‘eye for a goal-creating pass’, to a level that is ‘rarely seen in players his age’.

With his composure on the ball and in the final third, Emery could discover a revelation in Richards, in a talent that could grace his side for years to come and emulate the success of youngsters that have excelled before him at Villa Park.

Manchester United may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a striker with the news from O Jogo, via Man United News, that Goncalo Ramos may now be available for cheaper than initially thought.

How many goals has Goncalo Ramos scored?

The Portugal international has really come into his own this season for Benfica and has had by far his best campaign yet in terms of his output. Prior to 2022/23, the player's best league goal tally was seven.

This year though, the youngster has thrived in attack for his team and has gone on to bag 19 goals in the league, with a further two assists. That took his goal contribution rate to 21 in just 30 starts, or a rate of 0.83 goals and assists per 90. It went a long way towards helping Benfica reclaim the league title.

The 22-year-old's impressive performances have led to interest in his services from the Premier League and, most notably, Man United.

The Red Devils are on the hunt for a striker and one of the names on their list has been Ramos. However, they were initially quoted a fee of around £80m to land the international forward – and told that Benfica were not prepared to sell him for any less than that amount.

Are Manchester United signing Ramos?

However, according to a report from O Jogo, via Man United News, that fee may now have changed. That's because their information claims the Portuguese outfit are prepared to flog the striker this summer but for 80 million euros, rather than pounds, which brings it down to about £68m.

That's a discount of roughly £12m on the initial fee and might be more appealing to United, who do still have an interest in signing the player – although it adds that no official bid has been made for his signature yet. With this new amount cheaper than originally thought however, they may soon be tempted into making a formal offer.

It could be quite a coup for United if they manage to sign Ramos, especially when you consider how impressive he has been for Benfica. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example stated that the striker has been "outstanding" in 2022/23 for his club, and the aformentioned numbers certainly back that up.

It shows that he is a player right at the top of his game currently – and that the Red Devils would be getting a very exciting player if they do opt to now bring in the player this summer window.