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It's been a summer of change in the Premier League, especially at Chelsea, as those in charge attempt to clear up the mess of last season's chaos, by welcoming Mauricio Pochettino.

Since the Argentine's arrival, the Blues have waved goodbye to a staggering 14 players in total, with some big names leaving, such as Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, and Mason Mount, all to Premier League rivals.

They have still splashed the cash too, most notably welcoming Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, whilst also completing a deal to sign AS Monaco's Axel Disasi, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Pochettino, among the chaos of the summer transfer window, must still find a new captain at Stamford Bridge, though, following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta.

Reece James may have dropped a pretty major hint as to who that new captain will be, however.

Will Reece James be the next Chelsea captain?

Taking to TikTok, James posted a compilation of his time at Chelsea, from the academy to the first-team, with the video seemingly centred around the captain's armband, and times that the defender has taken up the role for the London club. While he also added the caption "We only getting started".

Given the fact that he's been given the armband throughout pre-season, even lifting the Premier League Summer Series alongside Thiago Silva, it would come as little surprise if it was, indeed, James who was named the new Chelsea captain.

It would be a proud moment for all involved, with the right-back coming all the way through the academy and into the first team, before becoming one of the best players in his position in the world.

In such a young squad, Pochettino will be keen to identify some clear leaders ahead of what will be an important first season in charge of the club. If James is to receive the armband, then his new manager will hope to see the England international hit the ground running.

How have Chelsea performed in pre-season?

Becoming the first-ever team to win the Premier League Summer Series, against Brentford, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Fulham, it's fair to say that Chelsea's pre-season has been a success so far.

In the three games that they played during the series, Chelsea defeated Brighton 4-3, drew against Newcastle 1-1, and defeated Fulham 2-0. New arrivals Jackson and Nkunku netted two goals apiece in an impressive start to life in a Chelsea shirt.

To finish an impressive pre-season, the Blues will square off against Borussia Dortmund on 3 August, before getting their Premier League campaign underway with a tough test against Liverpool on 13 August.

If Pochettino's side can get off to a perfect start against the Reds, then they will set themselves up to enjoy a solid start to life under their new manager. It will certainly be a difficult opening game, but Chelsea's pre-season form has been more than encouraging enough to warrant hope.

The London club may well be one of the most interesting sides to watch in the coming campaign, with few knowing quite what to predict from a new, and much younger, Chelsea side in the coming months.

Chelsea have had a verbal offer for Montpellier centre-forward Elye Wahi turned down, according to reliable journalist Ryan Taylor.

Is Elye Wahi leaving Montpellier?

The France U21s international, who graduated from the academy at the Stade de la Mosson, has become a regular feature of Michel Der Zakarian’s senior fold since getting promoted to the first team back in 2021 where he was handed 29 Ligue 1 starts last season, but with more exposure comes more attention.

Despite still having two years left to run on his contract, the 20-year-old firmly established himself as his club’s top-performing offensive player during the previous campaign and these impressive displays have majorly caught the eye of Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino in the Premier League.

The Blues have reportedly already agreed personal terms with the talented prospect and Fabrizio Romano delivered an exciting update on the owner's pursuit just last week, stating via his social media:

“Understand Chelsea are now advancing in talks to sign Elye Wahi — agreement getting closer, new negotiations round scheduled with Montpellier. Chelsea plan includes loan move for Wahi this season then CFC future. Chelsea want to accelerate next week as there’s competition."

Are Chelsea signing Elye Wahi?

Taking to Twitter, Taylor revealed that Chelsea have actually had their first bid rejected by Montpellier who are clearly holding out for a much higher fee for their prized asset. He wrote:

“Chelsea have seen [an] opening verbal offer for Elye Wahi worth in the region of £21.5m rejected by Montpellier. Talks continue between clubs. France U21 international also believed to be sceptical about joining Strasbourg on loan if agreement struck.”

Chelsea clearly view Wahi as more of a signing for the long-term future of the club to be wanting to send him out on loan as a result of being just 20 years of age, but looking at his outstanding numbers from 2022/23, there’s no reason why the striker couldn’t be introduced straight away, so this news is a blow for Pochettino.

The youngster posted a remarkable 25 goal contributions (19 goals and six assists) in 33 Ligue 1 appearances last season whilst recording a total of 62 shots over the course of the campaign which was higher than any other member of his squad, via FBRef, highlighting just how much he stands out from his fellow peers.

Sponsored by Adidas, Montpellier’s “jewel”, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has the flexibility to operate in five various positions across the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so he would add wonderful versatility to the boss’ ranks and be a great option to have available.

The Blues may feel that having already signed Villarreal's Nicolas Jackson and RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku that they don't need any more immediate attacking reinforcements, but considering what he's capable of, Wahi deserves to be given a fair chance at staking his claim in the senior fold should he end up putting pen to paper, rather than being sent straight out on loan.

Newcastle United's interest in Monaco centre-back Axel Disasi is "serious" in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Do Newcastle want to sign Axel Disasi?

The Magpies are eyeing up a new defensive addition between now and the beginning of the new Premier League season, and Disasi has emerged as arguably their main target in that area of the pitch.

The 25-year-old has been a rock at the heart of Monaco's back-line for a sustained period now, making 129 appearances in total, not to mention scoring 12 goals and registering four assists as an added bonus. He has also won four caps for France, holding his own in a squad full of world-class talent, whether it be Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann or Raphael Varane, to name just a few of the superstars on show.

Disasi's current Monaco deal runs out in the summer of 2025, which does put the Ligue 1 side in something of a tricky position, in terms of deciding whether to sell him for a lot of money now, or risk losing him for a cheaper amount further down the line when his contract is nearing its expiration date.

What's the latest on Disasi to Newcastle?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that Disasi remains a strong candidate to head to St James' Park this summer, having had discussions with him over a move in recent times:

"The interest is serious and they had conversations on the player's side. It is not something that is advanced yet, on the club side."

This is another indication that Disasi remains firmly on Newcastle's radar in the summer window, and he really could be exactly what they're looking for prior to the 2023/24 campaign getting off and running, coming in as Sven Botman's centre-back partner for the foreseeable future.

The Frenchman, who has been labelled as a "hidden gem", is a fantastic defender who averaged 2.6 and 2.3 aerial duel wins in Ligue 1 and the Europa League last season, as well as eye-catching 3.3 interceptions per match in the former, and 2.9 clearances in the latter. His aforementioned international experience for France also highlights what a top-level player he is, at a time when Les Bleus also have the likes of Ibrahima Konate and William Saliba to call upon at the back, as well as Varane.

At this point, it just feels like a case of Newcastle agreeing a fee for Disasi, and both clubs coming to an agreement that suits all parties, and a move to the Magpies should appeal to him, considering the massive progress they are making under Eddie Howe, finishing fourth in the Premier League,

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised him the past, lauding his "pace, tackling, heading, athleticism, tenacity, timing", as well as a "complete and dominant" central defender, which perfectly sums up what an all-round force he already is, not to mention still having so many years ahead of him to further improve, potentially coming in as the strong upgrade on Fabian Schar, who remains an important squad player.

Aston Villa are reportedly leading the race to sign Juventus forward Federico Chiesa, however the move could prove to be a repeat of the past for the Villans.

A report from Italian outlet Calciomercato earlier this week claimed that Villa have ‘led above all’ in the pursuit for the Italian winger, with the Turin giants reportedly keen to sell the 25-year-old this summer.

A separate report from the Daily Mail claimed that Juventus have ‘offered’ the former Fiorentina whiz to Premier League clubs, with Villa named as one of those interested.

Unai Emery is keen to equip his side with star quality this summer after securing European football next term, however not all stars are worth aiming for, as seen in the Midlands before.

Would Federico Chiesa be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “diamond” by scout Antonio Mango, Chiesa was once regarded as a shining light in Italy for his time at Fiorentina.

The 25-year-old was snatched up by Juventus back in 2020 on an initial two-year loan deal before making the move permanent last summer.

In his final full Serie A campaign with Fiorentina, the versatile attacker contributed to 19 goals in 34 appearances, scoring 10 and assisting nine in a dominant individual year to showcase his breakthrough as one of the continent's best.

The 2020/21 season marked his first in Turin, where he made 30 appearances and both scored and assisted eight goals in the process.

Since that campaign, the Italian has failed to hit over 30 appearances in a league term for Juve, in an unfortunate sequence of events that have seen him miss a host of game time due to injury.

An anterior cruciate ligament rupture in January 2022 saw the 25-year-old sidelined for 36 games, with his record not getting easier for the player, missing a total of an additional 55 days of action since his recovery.

Players that face individual battles with staying fit face cruel paths, whether that be struggling to rediscover form after time away from action, or returning to find their spot no longer vacant, with Chiesa discovering such hardships at Juventus.

Making just six starts in Serie A last season, the Genova-born gem has fallen down the pecking order in Massimiliano Allegri’s side, not helped by him scoring just four goals over the previous two league campaigns.

Villa could learn from past mistakes before opting to take the £51m plunge to sign Chiesa, who despite his fitness woes is a superb talent, but could present the Villans with more burdens than success.

Villa Park has seen such disappointment with Philippe Coutinho, who arrived in the Midlands in January 2022 with an extensive injury history and has struggled to perform since trading Catalonia for Birmingham permanently last summer.

In 2020, the Brazilian sustained a rupture to his knee, leaving him sidelined for a total of 220 days, which like Chiesa, didn’t mark the end of his injury woes, with the 31-year-old missing an additional 81 days on separate occasions after.

Since returning to England, the former Liverpool gem – who has been linked with a move away from the Midlands side this summer – has scored just six goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, while starting just seven league games for the Villans last campaign.

Spending on Chiesa could implement a repeat of the woes surrounding the fitness and lack of performance from Coutinho, using funds that could allow for a better-suited individual to grace Villa Park.

It is a new era for the Crystal Palace midfield.

James McArthur, who spent nine seasons and made 252 appearances at the club, has announced his departure.

Luka Milivojevic, who had been at Selhurst Park for six years and captained the side since 2018, has also left the club upon the expiration of his contract.

Eagles owner Steve Parish now must act to fill their influential voids as the club hopes for another non-relegation-threatened season.

One player linked to be part of this fresh start is Donny van de Beek.

What’s the latest on Donny van de Beek to Crystal Palace?

According to 90min, the 26-year-old’s representatives have been in discussions with several European clubs regarding a permanent summer departure.

The report also says that the player’s camp is 'exploring a new challenge.'

Within the Premier League, Palace, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest are said to be 'monitoring' the situation.

The article that van de Beek’s other options include both Milan giants, Rome, Nice, and Celtic, as well as a possible return to Ajax.

Should Crystal Palace sign Donny van de Beek?

It is a real shame how the Dutchman’s move to Manchester United has materialised.

He joined the Red Devils in 2020, having enjoyed impressive few years at Ajax.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:

"Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.

"His ability to see space, time his movements, and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position."

However, the former Ajax maestro has just 23 starts in all competitions, as his minutes have been limited by injury and the ruthlessly brilliant consistency of Bruno Fernandes.

The 19-cap international’s chance of immediate game-time has been further limited by the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea.

Prior to his underwhelming stint in England, the midfielder was a simply brilliant player for Ajax.

He was particularly impressive in his side’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, notching five goal contributions in 12 outings.

Frank Lampard has previously described him as a “top player” whose talents include his “intelligence” and “work ethic.”

There is still time for the playmaker to flourish if awarded regular minutes to rescue his stuttering career.

Currently, at the base of the Palace midfield sits Cheick Doucoure, whose defensive acumen could allow a player like van de Beek freedom to showcase his creative repertoire.

Last season, the Mali powerhouse averaged the most tackles (2.3) and interceptions (1.6) in the Palace squad to underline his importance. He is a formidable protector of the backline and is a key figure that permits the artistic influence of Eberechi Eze to roam around the pitch.

The Eagles lost three of the four league games the 23-year-old failed to feature in, and he ranks within the top 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for blocks, interceptions, and clearances per 90.

We are yet to see what the £120k-per-week maestro can truly do in the Premier League when given continuous starts in a functional setup, so this could be an exciting move for all parties and therefore, Parish must look to get this deal over the line for Roy Hodgson heading into the new campaign.

Arsenal have already strengthened their midfield this summer by signing Kai Havertz, while Declan Rice is set to undergo a medical at the club and could be announced by the start of next week, as Edu Gaspar looks set to give Mikel Arteta all the tools at his disposal to challenge for the Premier League title.

The signing of the West Ham United skipper may not be the last midfield addition of the summer, however, amid the club's apparent pursuit of Southampton's Romeo Lavia.

Is Romeo Lavia going to Arsenal?

Graeme Bailey of 90min has dropped a recent update regarding Arsenal’s pursuit of the Saints midfielder, saying: “Romeo Lavia is emerging as one of this summer's most in-demand players.

“Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea have all held talks, whilst former club Man City, Man Utd and Newcastle are being kept informed.

“Southampton want £50m…”

It’s evident that Edu faces stiff competition in order to lure him to the Emirates, however, Arteta could offer the youngster Champions League football next season, something which Liverpool and Chelsea can't and this may prove to be the main incentive for a player who is clearly ready to make the step-up.

Who are Arsenal interested in signing this summer?

Along with Rice, the Gunners look to be close to signing Jurrien Timber, while Dutch sensation Xavi Simons has even been offered to the club as the summer overhaul continues ahead of a season which will see the club play in Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2016/17.

Lavia – who has been described as "special" by Manchester United's Jadon Sancho – could add some solidity to the midfield, screening the defence and acting as Arteta’s own version of Gilberto Silva, who shone under Arsene Wenger between 2002 and 2008, making 243 appearances and becoming a key part of the club's last title-winning side of 2003/04.

The World Cup winner was primarily deployed in a defensive midfield slot during his spell in London, similar to Lavia’s role at the Saints and his tenacious nature mixed with the ability to allow others to flourish, such as Patrick Vieira, made him a key player for Wenger – who lauded the Brazilian for bringing "tactical stability" to his side.

The Belgian exuded the qualities which made Silva such an important member of that wonderful era at the club as he ranked second in the Southampton squad for tackles made per game last season (2.1) while also ranking sixth for accurate passes per game (29.5) and seventh for interceptions per game (1.1), showcasing his defensive ability across a campaign which ended in relegation for the South coast side.

To put this into context, no Arsenal player achieved more interceptions per game or tackles per game than Lavia, with only Thomas Partey coming close, making 2.1 tackles per match and this suggests he could improve the Arsenal midfield.

Jean Kindermans, the head of the Anderlecht academy claimed that Lavia is “always calm on the ball” and this is what Arteta requires in order to dominate the midfield battle during matches and even though he isn’t even out of his teens, the Belgian could certainly play a key role in the Arsenal side which will aim to win at least one trophy next season.

Edu played alongside Silva during his time with the north Londoners, and it’s clear he sees the same sort of attributes in the former Manchester City youngster to spend £50m on him this summer.

Manchester United are "looking at" Firorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat as a potential summer target, but any deal would be "contingent on sales", claims Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Manchester United transfer news – What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat?

United have made a positive start to the summer transfer window, finally securing the signature of Chelsea academy star Mason Mount after their bid of £55m was accepted by the west London club following weeks of back-and-forth negotiations.

As good a signing as Mount is for the Red Devils, to compete for the title again, they will need to add yet more talent, and that is exactly what it looks like they plan on doing after Erik ten Hag told the United higher-ups: "If you want to play top four, you have to invest."

That investment looks to be going towards additional midfield reinforcements following their recent purchase.

Morocco star Amrabat is a player in which the club is particularly interested and could be available for as little as £30m, per the Daily Mail.

However, if the three-time European champions want to secure the signature of the 26-year-old, they will first have to free up the finances by selling several players in their squad, per Dharmesh Sheth.

He explained the situation on Sky Sports News, saying:

"We are told that he's a player that Manchester United are looking at and are aware of, it's thought though that anymore midfield additions at Old Trafford would be contingent on sales."

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

It's been an unbelievable last 12 months for the Huizen-born "monster", going from a popular and effective player in Serie A for club side Fiorentina to a worldwide superstar thanks to the crucial role he played in helping his national side make their fairytale run to the World Cup semi-finals.

Either side of his performances in Qatar, he had a solid domestic season, with WhoScored giving the 6 foot 1 warrior an average rating of 6.46 across his 29 league appearances.

His underlying numbers suggest that there is even more to come from the battling midfielder.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 5% for pass completion, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 11% for attempted passes, all per 90.

However, it was on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup, where he truly shone and demonstrated to the world just how good he could be.

So good were his performances for the Atlas Lions that journalist Nigel Adderley proclaimed him Morocco's "player of the tournament."

It was his display against France that drew particular praise from ex-pro Stuart Pearce, who lauded the midfield dynamo, saying:

"His drive, his energy, his leadership, everything that he stood for today, the French didn't have in their ranks."

If United can secure Amrabat's signature and do it for a price as low as the reported £30m, it could end up being one of the deals of the summer and, combined with Mount, make their midfield so much stronger for years to come.

Manchester United will come close to Benfica's valuation for striker Goncalo Ramos this summer, believes Benfica president Rui Costa, via Correio da Manha.

Manchester United transfer news – will they sign Goncalo Ramos?

Correio da Manha reported, via Man UTD News, that Costa rejected €50m (£43m), plus €10m (£9m) in add-ons from an unnamed club for Ramos previously, and wants €80m (£69m) for his star forward this summer.

The hefty fee could see Manchester United back away from any potential deal, but the Benfica president believes that the Premier League giants and Paris Saint-Germain are well-placed to afford such a fee.

Given that Erik ten Hag's budget is reportedly just £120m this summer unless he clears out some deadwood, however, a deal for Ramos doesn't seem entirely likely at this stage. Though, there is still plenty of time for that to change this summer.

Nonetheless, it appears the Red Devils are finally making headway in the transfer market having agreed a £60m package with Chelsea for Mason Mount last night.

Would Goncalo Ramos and Mason Mount work well together?

Such is Ramos' goal-scoring ability, he is a striker that could be paired with just about any midfielder in Europe's top leagues. The particular quality of Mount would only result in more goals, though.

Last season, the Benfica forward netted 27 goals whilst making 12 assists in all competitions in what was an outstanding campaign. With numbers like that, Costa's price tag comes as little surprise.

Add a passer of Mount's ability into the mix, and you'd potentially have yourself one of the best duos in the Premier League. The Chelsea midfielder made over 5.36 progressive passes per game last season, as per FBref.

Ramos' Benfica teammate Rafa Silva, meanwhile, made 5.21 progressive passes per 90. Even with what may seem like a small difference, the forward could go up another level.

Mount also attempted more than double the number of long passes than Silva, which means that should Ramos spin in behind, the passing range of the England international would find him well.

For Mount, too, it would be a beneficial partnership. At Chelsea, he had the likes of Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling to assist, who scored a combined 13 Premier League goals last season, with seven and six respectively, despite the aforementioned passing range of their teammate in the last campaign.

Ramos, on the other hand, scored 19 goals in the Portuguese Primeira last season with an expected 20 goals in what was a clinical campaign in front of goal. Give Mount a player of the forward's finishing ability, and his numbers should increase.

Speaking about Ramos' quality, the 21-year-old's youth coach said: “I would like to see Goncalo Ramos as Benzema substitute at Real Madrid. I think he's perfect for that spot, he fits as 'next Benzema' in future in my opinion.”

Since then, Madrid have signed Joselu which could give Man United a freer run at the Portuguese forward.

It's a long summer ahead, but if Manchester United get their desired targets, then we could see an unstoppable partnership formed at Old Trafford next season.

Leeds United are interested in replacing Illan Meslier between the sticks with Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who dazzled in the Championship this year.

What's the latest on Viktor Johansson to Leeds?

The latest reports come from Leeds Live, which underscore the Whites' interest in the player and state that the club are expected to sign a new 'keeper following Joel Robles' departure and Meslier's possible exit.

This follows claims from Football League World that the 49ers are keeping tabs on the Swede, who was central to the Millers' successful campaign in the second tier this past year.

Leeds transfer news has been somewhat sparse since the club's relegation from the Premier League, amid the wait for confirmation of the ownership takeover before commencing the systematic reconstruction that is inevitable following the club's bitter fate.

How good is Viktor Johansson?

According to Opta, no goalkeeper in the second tier prevented more goals than Johansson's 8.5, highlighting an innate shot-preventing prowess that has attracted Leeds' attention.

Having played 43 of the 46 matches this season, the £3.5k-per-week 24-year-old earned an average match rating of 7.11 – as per Sofascore – saving 74% of his shots faced – including one penalty – and keeping 13 clean sheets.

Millers boss Matt Taylor is certainly an admirer of the Scandinavian sensation, waxing lyrical over the calibre of his displays this term when asked who the standout star has been as Rotherham ended a tumultuous 'yo-yo' period over the past several years and retained their Championship status with a 19th-place finish.

He said: “His level of performance has been above the level of other players, if not the level of the league, in every single game this season. He has saved us so many points. He has been outstanding.”

Indeed, Johansson claimed the Players' Player of the Season award and could now complete a transfer to Elland Road, with Meslier's future at Leeds uncertain after a subpar season that left him ousted from the No 1 role in the crucial closing weeks.

Describing himself as an "explosive" shot-stopper, Johansson could emulate his compatriot Pontus Jansson at Elland Road, with the 32-year-old centre-half making 120 appearances for the outfit across three seasons in the Championship before departing for Brentford in 2019.

Described as a "top defender" with "defensive robustness" by Bees boss Thomas Frank, Jansson seems to match his glove-wearing countryman with toughness and grit, who could inject such attributes back into the Leeds backline after several shoddy years defensively.

It is all change at Chelsea, particularly in the centre of the park.

N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are close to departing Stamford Bridge as the club is set for a completely new era under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues are very interested in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, however, Tony Bloom’s £120m asking price is a stumbling block and the deal is likely to drag out across the summer.

A cheaper and more attainable alternative to the Ecuadorian is Everton’s Amadou Onana.

What’s the latest on Amadou Onana to Chelsea?

Last week, Sacha Tovolieri reported that Chelsea could be in the market for Onana who may cost around £55m.

Now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, reputable journalist Dean Jones has delivered his own thoughts on whether a move could go through, saying: “Onana's an interesting one. Ideally, Everton won't let him go. He's had a great season, but he's very young. He does fit the profile that we're seeing Chelsea go for at the moment.

"He's 21 and he's new to the Premier League. He's making his impact and, as part of that, he'll have huge resale value if he does come through the door. And this is part of Chelsea's new model."

How would Amadou Onana fit in at Chelsea?

After making a £33m move to Goodison Park last summer, the Belgian made 33 Premier League appearances in his debut year in England, averaging 2.2 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 1.1 clearances per game in a solid defensive season.

Described as “outstanding” by journalist Connor O'Neill, the six-cap international ranks within the top 26% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics, as well as the highest 7% for aerials won per 90, according to FBref, to underline his dominant presence.

As such, the 6 foot 4 colossus has the potential to form a formidable partnership with Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea.

Since the Argentine’s record-breaking £106.8m move to west London, he has flashes of his wondrous brilliance, particularly with his pinpoint long-range passing and close control. This is demonstrated by his rank within the best 3% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

But, we are yet to see the best of the World Cup winner on a consistent basis as he has often been deployed as a lone pivot, where he has been exposed due to his lack of pace and dynamism.

In Onana, this ball-winning, athletic titan would therefore be able to take the burden off Enzo and their differing styles of play make for a perfectly curated combination in the middle of the park.

In a deal worth potentially just half of what may be paid for Caicedo, the signing of Onana would be a rarely astute piece of business under the new ownership.