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After a disappointing campaign which meant that Liverpool finished outside the top four for the first time since 2016, Jurgen Klopp is entering a new era at Anfield where much of the squad that conquered Europe and won the Premier League is being replaced.

The Merseyside outfit’s downturn in form last term was largely attributed to their underperforming midfield, which many felt was in desperate need of a rebuild. So far in this transformative window, the club has expertly addressed this issue, with the acquisitions of the intelligent Alexis Mac Allister and the scintillating Dominik Szoboszlai. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia has been heavily linked with a move to join Anfield, in what would complete a dreamy triumvirate of new additions.

However, Liverpool’s defence was also an area that drastically declined last year and is yet to undergo any change. Domestically, the six-time European winners conceded the most goals in a season (47) for seven years, and their displays were often littered with individual errors and a lack of cohesion.

The England U21s are currently in action European Championship and have executed a flawless run that will see them play Spain in the final. One of the brightest performers in this run and someone who has enjoyed a special and meteoric rise to international stardom is Levi Colwill. The impressive youngster would be another glittering signing within their defensive upheaval.

Can Liverpool sign Levi Colwill?

The Chelsea man is currently away on international duty with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot left a comment on his Instagram post which read “Let’s have a chat.”

This has followed rampant speculation that has linked Colwill with a move to the north-west as the prodigy is waiting to converse with Mauricio Pochettino to find out his role in the manager’s plans before committing his long-term future to Stamford Bridge.

Brighton are weighing up a £40m bid as the Blues remain desperate to keep him within their ranks.

Who can Levi Colwill replace at Liverpool?

The 20-year-old is suddenly rated as one of the country’s most promising and exciting talents, thanks to his performances for Brighton and England.

The centre-back has featured in four of the five games at the tournament as Lee Carsely’s team is yet to concede and has coasted into the final.

Colwill has been an imperative component within this superiority as he’s not made any errors leading to a shot, averaged 93% pass accuracy, 3.8 clearances per game, and won 77% of his aerial duels, as per Sofascore.

He generated eye-opening acclaim from Roberto Di Zerbi after completing 12 accurate long balls in a 3-0 win over Arsenal, who said: “I would like to work with him for another two, three, four years because it’s difficult to find another left centre-back with his qualities.

“He’s a good guy, he’s improving a lot. This year his improvement has been fantastic.”

Colwill could be the perfect replacement for Joel Matip. The Cameroonian only made 21 appearances last season, compared to 43 in the 2021/22 season, as his average Premier League rating decreased from a monstrous 7.36 to 6.50.

Nevertheless, Matip still retains a ruthless competence to orchestrate attacks from the back as he and Colwill both rank within the best 10% in Europe’s top five leagues among their positional peers for passes attempted, progressive passes, and progressive carries per 90. Therefore, the former Seagulls loanee is more than capable of replacing his elder in that respect.

The 6 foot 5 man is now 31-years-old and his contract expires in 2024, so it could mark a suitable time to find a younger and more dynamic alternative.

أكد أحمد دياب رئيس رابطة الأندية أن الرابطة حققت جزءًا كبير من أهدافها في السنوات الماضية، مؤكدًا أن انتهاء الموسم في مايو هو الهدف الرئيسي.

وقال أحمد دياب في تصريحات لقناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “رابطة الأندية نجحت بنسبة 60 أو 70%، نعرف حجم الصعوبات التي كنا سنواجهها، التحدي الأكبر بالنسبة لنا كرابطة أندية هو انتهاء مسابقة الدوري شهر مايو وهذا الموعد الطبيعي”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أحمد دياب يكشف انتماءه بين الأهلي والزمالك ويؤكد: الرابطة طورت الكرة المصرية

وأكمل: “تم عقد الاجتماع الأول بين مجلس إدارة الرابطة والجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر، لمناقشة طلبات حسام حسن وجهازه بشأن التوقفات، من الطبيعي أن تدعم رابطة الأندية المنتخب باستمرار، ولا أتدخل في أختصاصات أحد”.

وتابع: “تأجيل مباريات الجولة 17 من الدوري المصري؟ هذا ليس تأجيل ولن يؤثر على جدول الدوري بشكل يؤخر نهايته بل هو مجرد تعديل داخل نفس الجولة بسبب أمور تخص البث في التلفزيون المصري”.

وزاد: “ما الذي ستفعله مع حسام حسن في معسكر يونيو المقبل؟ اتفقنا مع حسام حسن على كافة تفاصيل المعسكر ونشرنا جدول الدوري بناءًا على الاتفاق الذي تم معه، ولن يكون هناك تعديل”.

وأضاف: “قصة صلاح وحسام حسن؟ محمد صلاح كابتن منتخب مصر واحد اساطير الكرة في العالم ونتشرف به، وهذا منتخبنا الوطني وحسام حسن اسطورة من أساطير مصر وإفريقيا ومدرب المنتخب، حقيقة الأمور بالشكل الذي يتصدر لا نريد استعجال الأمور، أهم شيء مصلحة منتخبنا، أثق في حسام حسن وجهازه الفني وصلاح، ومصلحة المنتخب في المقام الأول وكل شيء سيكون على ما يرام”.

وأردف: “ان شاء الله سنتأهل لكأس العالم مع حسام حسن”.

وأضاف: “قبل انتخابات الرابطة كان الدوري ينتهي في شهر أكتوبر، وبتواجد الرابطة الدوري الماضي انتهى في بداية أغسطس والأندية حصلت على شهر إجازة، والدوري الحالي سوف ينتهي في بداية أغسطس مما يعني أن الرابطة كان لها دور”.

وزاد: “جداول الاتحاد الإفريقي والدوري تتغير بشكل مستمر، ليس دفاعًا عن الرابطة بل الدوري كان ينتهي في أكتوبر وكان يلعب 2 كأس و2 سوبر في موسم واحد، وكانت هناك مباريات تتأجل قبلها بساعات فقط، لكن في آخر سنتين الدوري ينتهي في أغسطس ولم تحدث تأجيلات إلا للأندية المشاركة في بطولات إفريقيا بأسس معينة، لم يحدث غير ذلك وأتحدى من يقول شيء مختلف”.

وأشار: “الرابطة فرقت بخطوات مع الكرة المصرية في عقود الرعاية والمداخيل في آخر سنتين، أصبحت أفضل وبشكل منتظم، كما حدثت زيادة في عدد الحضور الجماهيري في المباريات في الدوري المصري”.

وكانت رابطة الأندية أعلنت تأجيل مباريات الجولة 17 من الدوري المصري الممتاز لمدة ثلاثة أيام، لتقام أيام 3-4-5 أبريل المقبل.

وتأجلت مواجهات، الإسماعيلي مع سموحة، الجونة والمقاولون العرب، وسيراميكا كليوبترا مع زد، التي كانت من المقرر إقامتها الأحد المقبل، لتقام الأربعاء الموافق الثالث من أبريل.

 كما تأجلت مباريات إنبي مع فاركو، المصري مع الاتحاد والبنك الأهلي مع الداخلية التي كانت من المقرر إقامتها الإثنين المقبل، لتقام الخميس الموافق الرابع من أبريل.

وتم تأجيل مواجهة بيراميدز مع طلائع الجيش التي كان من المقرر إقامتها الثلاثاء المقبل، لتقام الجمعة الموافق الخامس من أبريل.

ويتواجد إنبي في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 26 نقطة بالتساوي مع المصري.

Three grounds – Eden Park, Auckland; Seddon Park, Hamilton and Westpac Stadium, Wellington – will host the first day-night matches in the Plunket Shield

Andrew McGlashan05-Mar-2017

New Zealand will join the floodlit first-class era when the latest round of Plunket Shield matches begins on Monday. Fixtures will be played under lights with a pink ball at Eden Park in Auckland, Seddon Park in Hamilton, and the Westpac Stadium in Wellington – the latter becoming New Zealand’s newest first-class venue.New Zealand’s domestic first-class game is reasonably late to join the floodlit fray. There had been plans to stage a round of the Plunket Shield under lights last year but those fell through due to issues with the lighting in Napier. Seddon Park has previously hosted a New Zealand inter-squad practice game before their day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide and a minor association match last year.The Eden Park match will take on particular significance because the ground is slated to host a day-night Test against England next March. There had been talks of hosting South Africa for a floodlit Test this season, but the delay in scheduling a round of first-class matches held that back.The Westpac Stadium is being used because the Basin Reserve, Wellington Firebirds’ main home ground and the Test venue in the city, does not have floodlights, while the main ground at Eden Park has not staged a domestic first-class match since 2005. The outer oval is normally used for Plunket Shield matches.New Zealand were part of the first day-night Test, against Australia in Adelaide, although they had to be offered reciprocal deals for future matches against Australia to be willing to accept. The game lasted three days on a well-grassed surface – designed to protect the pink ball – and was deemed a significant success. There have since been three further floodlit Tests: between Pakistan and West Indies in Dubai, Australia and South Africa in Adelaide, and Australia and Pakistan in Brisbane.Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, believes that day-night Test cricket has a long-term future in the game, although in a limited capacity. “It’s going to happen, it won’t be all the time, but the odd day-night Test is exciting and brings in a different skill set,” he said. “We’ve had an experience with it and there are some nuances; so if our first-class guys can get some experience in it before playing Tests, then great.”It remains to be seen whether New Zealand is a suitable location for day-night Tests, given that the long daylight hours in the summer and a cooler climate than Australia could make evening viewing an uncomfortable spectator experience. These are similar to questions faced by English cricket, which enters the day-night Test era in August.Auckland and Hamilton, generally the warmest centres in the country, are probably the most suitable option (especially given the current problems in Napier). Eden Park has not hosted a Test since India’s visit in 2014 and only one other, against England, since 2006 when NZC opted to move the longer-format to smaller boutique venues.To ensure a longer term for Test cricket in Auckland, discussions are currently underway on building a new venue in the Western Springs area of the city or developing the smaller outer oval at Eden Park into an international-standard ground.If the Test next year is rubber-stamped as a day-night fixture, it will be England’s third under lights following their first against West Indies, at Edgbaston in August, and an Ashes Test at Adelaide in November.

A round-up form the latest action in the Plunket Shield which featured the first round of pink-ball floodlit matches

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2017

Wellington were denied the chance to move closer to the top of the table by a defiant Otago lower order at the Westpac Stadium. Otago’s eighth-wicket pair of Sam Wells (118) and Nathan Smith (59) added 141 as their team survived having been made to follow-on. They began the final day 59 for 4 in their second innings which became 135 for 7 – still a deficit of 69 – but Wells and Smith repelled Wellington for the next 53 overs. Wells made his fourth first-class hundred and when he fell there was enough resistance from the last two wickets – Smith batted for three and a half hours – to ensure Wellington would not have time for the chase. On the opening day Michael Papps had become New Zealand’s first century maker against the pink ball. Hamish Bennett then helped conjure the chance of a result after the second day was washed out as his 4 for 19 skittled Otago for 98 – the last eight wickets falling for 44 – but despite the continued effort of Bennett, alongside Brent Arnel, they were thwarted.Canterbury remained leaders after their match against Auckland at Eden Park turned into a quest for bonus points following the middle two days being washed out. On the ground set to host the floodlit Test against England next year, Canterbury slipped to 25 for 4 before they were rescued by fifth-wicket stand of 183 between Ken McClure (92) Andrew Ellis (103) which lifted them to 305 for 8 after the opening day. The next two days were lost and on the last Auckland made 333 as wicketkeeper Ben Horne (93) fell just short of a maiden first-class hundred. Legspinner Todd Astle finished with 5 for 75. There had been a first-class debut for Glenn Phillips, who made his New Zealand T20 debut against South Africa last month, while it was Mitchell McClenaghan’s first first-class outing since December 2015.Rain also ruined the match-up between Northern Districts and Central Districts in Hamilton, but Ish Sodhi and Seth Rance achieved significant personal success. On the opening day Sodhi, who was left out of the Test squad to face South Africa, claimed 7 for 107 as Central Districts fell from 176 for 2 to 272 for 9 when they declared in the night-time session. The move worked a treat as Rance ripped through the Northern Districts top order, ending the first day with 4 for 6 and a career-best 6 for 31 overall. Adam Milne, also making a first-class comeback after 15 months, bowled 14 wicketless overs but scored an unbeaten 51. Northern Districts remained second and Central Districts bottom with three rounds to play.

Southampton are just a week out from playing their opening pre-season friendly, yet as things stand there is still plenty of uncertainty regarding their squad.

What players have Southampton bought?

The Saints released a number of players following their relegation from the Premier League – Theo Walcott and Mohamed Elyounoussi among them – while Mislav Orsic was sold to Trabzonspor.

Many other players could still depart St Mary's ahead of the transfer window closing on September 1, with the likes of Romeo Lavia and skipper James Ward-Prowse attracting interest from top-flight clubs.

Russell Martin could do with resolving the futures of each of those players, but the new man in charge at Southampton will no doubt have alternatives lined up should any of them depart.

Incoming activity on the south coast has so far been pretty quiet, though young talents Derrick Abu and Josh McNamara have joined from Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively this week.

That could be a theme that the Saints follow, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims the Championship side are set to wrap up a £9m deal for City starlet, Shea Charles, with the respected insider stating on Twitter:

"Excl: Southampton are closing in on deal to sign Man City 2003 born midfielder Shea Charles. Manchester City will receive £9m fee — it will also include buy back clause and sell on clause for #MCFC. Charles will travel this weekend for medical if all goes to plan."

Who is Man City midfielder Shea Charles?

Charles made his first senior appearance for European champions City on the final day of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign as a second-half substitute against Brentford.

The 19-year-old played the final 27 minutes and did enough to catch the eye of manager Pep Guardiola.

"He played really good and it's fantastic for the academy," the Catalan coach said. "We know him. He trains quite regularly with us. He's so good, so composed."

Despite being inexperienced at senior level, Charles – capable of playing in defence or midfield – has impressed for City from U9 level up, most recently guiding the club to Premier League 2 title glory last season as captain of the side.

Charles' leadership qualities, even if only 19, could come in handy at St Mary's should Ward-Prowse depart in the coming weeks. Having proved himself at various levels below first-team football, the Championship could provide a perfect stepping stone for the youngster to now push on.

While one substitute appearance is hardly the biggest sample size, Charles showed against Brentford exactly the type of player he is. The teenager completed 23 of his 25 passes for a 92% pass-completion rate, as per FBref.

The majority of his touches (18/32) came in the middle third of the field, which is also where Ward-Prowse tends to be on the ball (36.8 touches per 90 minutes in that area last season).

Charles also won both of his aerial duels in his cameo against Brentford, showing he can more than hold his own when challenging for balls despite his inexperience.

The Northern Ireland international cannot be expected to slot straight into Southampton's line-up and take over from where Ward-Prowse left off, assuming the long-serving Saints star does indeed depart.

But with City clearly reluctant to let him go given the buy-back clause, Charles evidently has something about him that could also make him a Saints favourite for a number of years to come.

رد الدولي الفرنسي كيليان مبابي لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي باريس سان جيرمان على مواطنه أوريلين تشواميني بعدما أثار الجدل بشأن انضمامه لـ ريال مدريد.

تشواميني لاعب ريال مدريد، أثار الجدل بتصريحاته عندما قال إن المشجعين الإسبان سيتعرفون على مبابي بشكل أفضل عندما يرونه بشكل يومي الموسم المقبل.

يأتي ذلك في ظل التقارير التي تشير إلى اقتراب كيليان مبابي إلى ريال مدريد الصيف المقبل، بعدما قرر الفرنسي عدم الاستمرار مع باريس سان جيرمان.

وفي تصريحات نقلتها وكالة الأنباء الفرنسية، قال مبابي: “أعرف ما يقصده تشواميني، لقد لعبت ضد ريال سوسيداد مرتين، وسنلعب الآن أمام برشلونة، وإذا تأهلنا قد نلعب مجددًا في إسبانيا، هذا ما كان يقصده أنهم سيرونني أكثر في إسبانيا”.

وسجل مبابي هدفين في زيارته الأخيرة لملعب أنويتا في إسبانيا وقاد باريس سان جيرمان لربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا على حساب ريال سوسيداد ليضرب موعدًا مع برشلونة.

وفي حالة التأهل، سيواجه باريس سان جيرمان الفائز من مواجهة أتلتيكو مدريد الإسباني وبوروسيا دورتموند الألماني في نصف النهائي.

في غضون ذلك، أكدت العديد من التقارير الصحفية الإسبانية والفرنسية، أن ريال مدريد حسم اتفاقه مع كيليان مبابي، ولكن الإعلان الرسمي سيكون بنهاية الموسم وربما قبل بطولة يورو 2024 الصيف القادم.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن موقف بيدري، لاعب وسط برشلونة الإسباني، من مباراة الفريق أمام باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وريال مدريد بالدوري الإسباني.

ويلتقي برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان يوم الأربعاء الموافق 10 أبريل، في منافسات ذهاب دور ربع النهائي لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويواجه برشلونة نظيره ريال مدريد في الكلاسيكو يوم 21 أبريل، لكن يسبق ذلك مواجهة أمام قادش بالليجا ومباراة الإياب أمام باريس سان جيرمان.

اقرأ أيضًا | كانسيلو يوجه رسالة بشأن مستقبله مع برشلونة

وأفاد الصحفي ألفريدو مارتينيز، أن بيدري يقترب من نهاية عملية تعافيه، وهناك احتمال أن يشارك في إحدى المواجهات ضد باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويواصل بيدري عملية التعافي من الإصابة التي لحقت به في العضلة المأبضية الرباعية اليمنى، خلال المباراة أمام أتلتيك بلباو بالدوري الإسباني.

وظهر بيدري مؤخرًا في تدريبات برشلونة، حيث بدأ التدرب بشكل فردي على العشب.

Glasgow Rangers have undergone a major summer rebuild as Michael Beale has cleared out some high earners such as Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, who departed the club following the expiration of their contracts while luring some wonderful talents such as Jack Butland and Kieran Dowell to the Ibrox side.

The 2023/24 campaign promises to be an exciting one, with Rangers showing glimpses of their capabilities towards the end of last term, including an impressive 3-0 victory over Celtic, albeit they had already secured the Premiership title.

With plenty of time left to go before the transfer window shuts, Beale will surely be looking at bringing another couple of players to the Light Blues, along with shipping some deadwood out in order to generate funds for future purchases.

Although the Gers have mainly signed midfielders and forwards so far this summer, there is a clear need for some more defensive recruitments.

With this in mind, the Ibrox side were linked with a move for Southampton youngster Thierry Small according to Football Insider at the end of May, with a fee of just £1.2m being touted as enough to prise the 18-year-old away from England.

Could Rangers sign Thierry Small?

Rangers already have two excellent left-backs in the shape of Ridvan Yilmaz and Borna Barisic and while the former only arrived last summer and still has time on his side to learn and adapt to Scottish football, Barisic has just one year left on his contract and although talks have begun with the club over a new deal, he won’t be around forever.

There was nothing wrong with his attacking ability last term, averaging 2.3 key passes per game and creating 12 big chances, yet defensively, he ranked fifth out of the squad for tackles per game and seventh for clearances per game (1.1) and he lost possession a staggering 18.8 times per game, suggesting that he may be going backwards defensively.

Small became the youngest-ever player to appear for Everton during an FA Cup tie in 2021 aged just 16 years and 176 days, and he was even hailed as “quality” by Carlo Ancelotti. He failed to build on that promise despite joining Southampton that summer on a three-year professional deal, being dubbed “highly-rated” by journalist Simon Peach.

The teen starlet secured a loan move to St Mirren during the second half of last season and despite starting only seven matches for the club, he still averaged one key pass per game while completing 0.6 dribbles per game, showing that he showed glimpses of his attacking potential.

Defensively, he made 1.3 tackles and one clearance per game, which wasn’t far off Barisic’s figures of 1.8 tackles and 1.1 clearances made per game respectively, showing that he is already near the numbers of Barisic defensively, despite playing fewer matches and being a lot less experienced.

For just £1.2m, it would surely be a risk worth taking on the youngster, especially following the success Calvin Bassey enjoyed during his spell at Rangers after arriving from England three years ago.

With the Croatian left-back only having a few years left at the top, Small could be an ideal heir for the 30-year-old.

Cricket South Africa is likely to have the ministerial ban on hosting or bidding for major events lifted after meeting with transformation targets this season

Firdose Moonda30-Mar-2017

Cricket South Africa is likely to have the ministerial ban on hosting or bidding for major events lifted after meeting with transformation targets this season. The sanction was placed on CSA last April by the sports minister after an annual transformation report found that they had failed to meet targets. CSA has since introduced and implemented targets, and will present next month numbers that exceed expectations.When CSA announced their intentions in September, they committed, over the course of a season, to playing a minimum average of six players of colour in a starting XI (54%) of whom at least two (18%) would be black African. That meant that instead of imposing a stipulated number of players of colour that needed to take the field in each match, CSA gave themselves room to be flexible. Over the 29 international matches played between September and March, South Africa have fielded 176 – or 55.1% – players of colour of whom 61 (19.1%) are black African. The maximum number of players of colour in a single match in the 2016-17 season was seven with as many as four black Africans featuring in the ODI against Ireland and two of the three T20s against Sri Lanka.Rather than a colour by numbers exercise, under Haroon Lorgat in particular, CSA have embraced transformation as a way to access black Africans, who form a majority of the country’s population, and to turn cricket into a more inclusive game. Coach Russell Domingo said he can see how the policy has worked.”I sit and watch game at Centurion and the demographics of our support base seems so different,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see people of different races and cultures supporting the Proteas. To be part of that is something special.”Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma have become key members of South Africa’s Test team•AFP

He had particular praise for the country’s only black African batsman, Temba Bavuma, who did not add to his century count this season but has established himself as key to the Test middle order. “I’ve just had a long chat with Temba and while his numbers might not be spectacular at this stage of his career, he won us a Test match in Hobart, he’s won a Test match in Wellington, and he’s played a massive part in winning a Test match in Perth. He’s made some unbelievably important innings at crucial times.”I compare him to Ashwell Prince, who used to get a lot of runs when we were 100 for 5 and very few runs when we were 300 for 5, and finding that sort of balance and that sort of intensity when he’s batting and things are tight and when things are good as well. There’s still a lot of learning for him to do but he’s going to be a special player for South Africa. Kagiso [Rabada] is already a champion. He has achieved some wonderful things. It’s great to be part of this new generation of players. They’re all conducting themselves in a fantastic way.”Rabada is among those who have spoken about the responsibility they feel as flagbearers for a generation of change. “We’ve got lots of talent coming up and it’s a lot more open and diverse,” he said in an interview earlier this year.Should the ministry lift its sanction, it could potentially clear the way for South Africa to host a World T20 – an edition of the tournament in 2018 has been talked about among Full Members for some time but has not been inked into the international calendar as yet. The ministry’s ban was also imposed on rugby, netball and athletics but already they have thrown support behind SA Rugby’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which bodes well for the sanction being lifted.

Arsenal appear to be far from finished when it comes to spending big this summer, with a fresh report detailing Mikel Arteta's latest transfer venture; a potential move for Mohammed Kudu.

What is the market value of Mohammed Kudus?

The latest comes courtesy of the Daily Mail, who suggest that the Gunners are now interested in prying Kudus from Ajax.

Having already welcomed Kai Havertz (24), Declan Rice (24) and Jurrien Timber (22) this summer, the 22-year-old trickster would align with this youth-focused philosophy whilst providing some additional firepower from midfield.

Whilst the report suggests that the Amsterdam outfit will command a £40m fee for his services, it also notes that Edu retains a focus on trimming the squad before wading back out into the market.

Football Transfers only value the Ghana international at €12.8m (£11m) though, with his actual price tag likely elevated through his recent outstanding seasons and emergence at the 2022 World Cup.

Would Kudus be a good signing for Arsenal?

Whilst many might assume that Kudus would be preferred from the wing, it is actually his versatility that would likely make him such a valuable asset for Arteta.

After all, his free-flowing system would benefit from a player who could enact changes mid-game, without having to waste a substitute to alter the make-up of his side. Just last term saw him feature off the right, from attacking midfield and even up front.

An ability to shift would also help unlock their new German maestro too, who is yet to truly realise the potential that was promised following earlier form in his homeland.

Havertz recorded 27 goal contributions across all competitions in his final season before moving to Chelsea, and yet in 139 appearances for the Blues, he has scored just 32 times and assisted a further 15. Unlocking him at the Emirates could prove pivotal in making the north London outfit a true threat to Manchester City.

Whilst he endured a particularly profligate campaign just last year, with just seven strikes from 11.60 xG (expected goals) in the Premier League, he retained his creativity despite deputising as a central striker.

When compared against other number nines across Europe, he ranks in the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 12% for progressive passes received per 90, via FBref.

Should he prove to be the link between the midfield and attack, dropping in between the lines to accept the ball and progress the play, Kudus' proficiency from any number of positions could help boost the 24-year-old's figures massively.

Last season across all competitions, the speedster recorded 18 goals and a further seven assists, as well as being his country's highest-rated player, as per Sofascore, at the recent World Cup. These figures helped the youngster reach 44 goals within what has been a short but successful career thus far.

He was also linked with an exit last summer, whilst fellow Eredivisie hotshot Antony's potential move to Manchester United was touted, the two found themselves on the end of something of a forced competition.

However, the legendary Dutch striker Marco van Basten would seek to quash this debate, as he noted: "I find Mohammed Kudus a much better football player than Antony. Antony has his skills, but he is confused with the things he is trying to do! Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical.

"He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team. In fact, I like him much better than Antony. He’s more fun to watch play.”

With the Brazilian having scored just four times in the league since that £86m summer move, this notion is somewhat supported.

A move to a rival of the Red Devils would likely see this fight between the two intensify, although Arteta would be keen to dispel such a battle. He will instead be focused on getting the best out of his ever-improving squad, which Kudus' arrival would certainly facilitate.

He and Havertz, with the former's physical excellence and lethal scoring touch, and the latter's creativity, could strike up a frightening partnership that propels this side closer to elite honours.