All posts by n8rngtd.top

Liverpool’s summer transfer window so far has been pretty much perfect. They’ve welcomed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, as they finally start to rebuild their midfield ahead of next season.

It’s been maybe too good to be true, however. Too perfect. And that’s where the future of Thiago Alcantara enters the mix to add a flavour of negativity. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona man has just one year left on his contract and is a firm fan favourite.

Injury issues have slightly limited his Anfield career at times, but when fully fit, Thiago remains one of the most important players at the club. At 32, though, his Liverpool future has come into question.

What’s the latest on Thiago and Liverpool?

As things stand, Liverpool do not plan to offer Thiago a new contract upon the expiration of his current deal next summer, according to The Athletic.

Meanwhile, reports back in April suggest that the Spaniard is on Barcelona’s shortlist this summer, meaning that a return to his boyhood club could be on the cards. According to Diario AS, via the Liverpool Echo, Thiago was on the La Liga club’s five-man list of targets a few months ago.

Having just signed Ilkay Gundogan, however, a move for Thiago could be unlikely this summer, especially since he’ll be leaving Liverpool on a free deal next summer, as things stand.

As also noted in The Athletic, Saudi Arabia can never be ruled out these days, either, considering club’s spending power this summer, attracting players nearing retirement, and even a couple of players in their prime currently.

Thiago removes Liverpool from Instagram bio

Amid speculation over his future, Liverpool fans spotted that Thiago has removed the club from his Instagram bio in what is potentially an alarming clue, regarding what’s next.

Given that the Reds have already welcomed two midfielders this summer, too, with interest also in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, as per Fabrizio Romano, Thiago may not play such a large role at Anfield next season.

His injury issues mean that, despite his quality, Klopp can’t look to him for reliability. And that could have played a huge part in reportedly opting out of extending the midfielder’s current deal.

Thiago remains a fan favourite at the club, though, and his experience on and off the pitch could yet prove vital, especially as younger players arrive. Either way, it looks set to continue being a busy summer for the Reds ahead of the next campaign.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino isn't prioritising adding an attack-minded midfielder to his squad as a key part of his transfer business; however, the Argentinian may change his mind and target one depending on circumstances, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Who have Chelsea been linked with this summer?

According to Sky Sports News, Chelsea are keen to add Brighton & Hove Albion enforcer Moises Caicedo to the ranks this summer and have moved to firm up their interest in the Ecuador international.

The report states that Chelsea are getting 'encouragement' from the player that he would be willing to join the club if both the Blues and Brighton can thrash out a deal, with personal terms set to be a formality in negotiations.

Telegraph Sport have revealed that any deal to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge this window could cost in excess of £100 million as the Seagulls look to maximize their financial gain on the 21-year-old.

Brighton are said to be using Declan Rice's impending move to Arsenal as a benchmark for their high price and think that Caicedo is of a similar calibre to the England international.

Chelsea are in the midst of a midfield reshuffle and have already let go of Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic as Pochettino begins to put his stamp on what will be a new-look Blues side.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that someone like Caicedo coming to Chelsea will be a bigger priority than signing an attack-minded midfielder this window; however, he thinks that a playmaker may still emerge as a potential area for Pochettino in the coming weeks.

Brown told FFC: "Their priority is to get the midfield position sorted. I don't think this counts as that area of the field. I think their priority is a player like Caicedo rather than a more attack-minded player, so we'll see. I think this is one that I don't see Chelsea spending a lot of money on unless more players are sold and the budget is boosted in that way, but it's something that could happen."

Will Chelsea move to add an attack-minded midfielder this window?

It's anyone's guess; however, you would imagine that Pochettino has a plan in mind to compensate for the losses of Mount and Havertz, who were both key creative outlets at Chelsea in chance creation.

According to Football London, Lyon youngster Rayan Cherki is under consideration by Pochettino as a potential addition and Chelsea have sent scouts to watch the Frenchman on several occasions this year.

Corriere dello Sport claim that Roma ace Paulo Dybala is another target for Chelsea and state that Pochettino would be willing to trigger his release clause of around £10 million to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

The Guardian have detailed that the Blues are courting Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, though Paris Saint-Germain look to be pushing the hardest to acquire the Spaniard.

In the next few weeks, Pochettino's transfer priorities will begin to become clearer as the Argentinian coach looks to deliver success at Chelsea in 2023/24.

Aston Villa have now submitted an opening bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, with the German club open to selling him for the right fee this summer, according to recent reports from France.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has recently confirmed that Villa are interested in signing Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, with the Serie A club "willing to listen" to offers for the 25-year-old, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed the Villans could make a "genuine play" to sign the Juventus star, however he has some doubts about whether they will also be able to sign Nico Williams, stating the Spaniard could sign a new deal with Athletic Club.

Just a few days ago, it was reported that Unai Emery's side have now joined the race for Diaby, with the manager keen to add a wide player to his squad this summer, but there will be fierce competition for his signature, with Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested.

That has not deterred Villa from making their first move for the Frenchman, with reports from France now detailing they have submitted their opening bid, the first serious offer that Leverkusen have received so far this summer.

The size of the offer currently remains unclear, but the German side consider it to be a good starting point for further negotiations, and there is also an indication that there is some interest on the player's behalf.

Although the 24-year-old would prefer to play for a club in the Champions League, he knows that Villa are going from strength to strength, and he is well aware that he will need regular first-team football to stand a chance of making France's Euro 2024 squad next summer.

Leverkusen are willing to sanction the winger's departure if an acceptable proposal is made, with reports from elsewhere detailing they could hold out for a fee of at least £50m.

What positions can Moussa Diaby play?

The France international is capable of playing on both wings, predominantly featuring on the right throughout his career so far, although he has also played through the middle as an attacking midfielder, and as a striker on a handful of occasions.

Ever since arriving in the Bundesliga, the Paris-born attacker has been a first-team regular for Leverkusen, with his most prolific season coming in 2021-22, weighing in with a very impressive 13 goals and 12 assists in 32 league outings.

Former teammate Nils Petersen previously described the Leverkusen star as a "young whirlwind", with Kerem Demirbay saying: "He's not only a very quick but also very clever player and you don't see that very often in the Bundesliga."

Diaby is indeed one of the fastest players in Europe – the former Paris Saint-Germain ace recorded the highest speed in the entire Bundesliga last year, clocking in at 22.7mph.

Diaby could be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa, and it is very exciting news that an opening bid has now been made for the speedster.

West Ham United are still on the lookout for Declan Rice's midfield replacement, two weeks on from their captain departing for Arsenal in a British-record deal.

Who are West Ham signing to replace Declan Rice?

David Moyes' side have been linked with countless midfielders in the weeks before and since Rice's exit, namely Fulham's Joao Palhinha, Everton's Amadou Onana and Juventus' Denis Zakaria.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is another name that refuses to go away, even if the England international is not strictly a like-for-like replacement for Rice in terms of their playing style.

According to The Guardian, West Ham are looking to bring in two midfielders with the windfall they received through Rice's sale, and have now stepped up their interest in Ward-Prowse.

How many free-kicks has James Ward-Prowse scored?

Southampton are said to value Ward-Prowse in the region of £40m, which is a large fee on the face of it considering the Saints were relegated to the Championship last season.

The 28-year-old boasts plenty of Premier League experience, however, having played 343 times at that level since making his Southampton debut in the competition on the opening day of the 2012/13 season.

Ward-Prowse has also played 11 times for England – though not since last year – and has scored a couple of goals in heavy wins over Andorra and San Marino in 2021.

With nine goals and four assists in a poor Southampton side last season, Ward-Prowse ranks in the top 13% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst.

The Portsmouth native is also in the top 15% for chances created, showing that he is more than capable of doing a job in the Premier League, even if he was captain of a relegated side last time out.

Three of those nine goals were scored via direct free-kicks – the most of any player in the Premier League last season. Indeed, only Manchester United legend David Beckham (18) has scored more than Ward-Prowse in the competition's history.

That ability to both score and pick out a team-mate from set-pieces would be a major asset for Moyes, and would also bring back memories of fan favourite – at the time, at least – Dimitri Payet.

Payet has scored 14 direct free-kicks in his career, as per Transfermarkt, six of those during his 18 months at West Ham.

Indeed, after a run of netting via that method for club and country in 2016, Payet revealed he had stopped practising them on the training ground as there was no way to further improve his technique.

It is not too dissimilar in the case of Ward-Prowse, with former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously hailing the midfielder as a "quality" player whose set-piece prowess was – and is, for now – "such a good weapon" for the Saints.

That is not the only similarity between the two players, either. Taking Payet's only full season at West Ham in 2015/16 and potentially Ward-Prowse's final season with Southampton last time out into account, the pair each scored nine Premier League goals.

The only notable difference is in attitude, with Ward-Prowse very much a team player. While he may not be able to replace Rice on his own, the Englishman can at least bring a bit of the past back to the London Stadium should he arrive.

Aston Villa are reportedly ready to bolster their attack once more, with Jeremy Doku speculated to be of interest to the Villans.

Unai Emery and Monchi have already secured the attacking signings of Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby, however, the spending spree is not expected to dry up just yet.

How much will Jeremy Doku cost?

As reported by Ghana Soccer Net, relayed by Sport Witness, Villa had identified Doku as being one of the ‘key targets’ this summer.

At first, it was speculated that the Belgian could be a sufficient decoy should a deal for Diaby not prevail.

However, a report from The Guardian stated last week that Villa ‘retain a strong interest’ in the winger, who is valued around the €40m (£35m) mark by his club.

How good is Jeremy Doku?

Lauded as a “menace” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Emery could significantly bolster his attacking options by securing the signing of Doku.

The 21-year-old made 11 goal contributions last season for Rennes, scoring seven and assisting four in 35 appearances in all competitions.

While his numbers in front of goal are the ideal outcome to his attacking efforts, the winger showed just how efficient he can be on the ball, registering some of the best numbers in Europe last term.

As per FBref, the forward has averaged 6.59 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, ranking him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in this decimal.

A player that is dangerous on the flank, the youngster could be part of an exciting trio at Villa Park, with Diaby already delivered to Emery as a fellow dynamic winger.

With Ollie Watkins leading the line, the Villans could create one of the most flamboyant front lines in the Premier League by having two electrifying wide players at their disposal.

Recording an average of 0.42 non-penalty goals per 90 in Ligue 1 last season (best 3% in Europe), Doku could be deployed on the opposing flank to fellow goal threat Diaby, who averaged 0.30 non-penalty goals per 90 in the Bundesliga (top 35% in Europe).

Having two positive outlets on the wings adds a deadly balance to the front line, equipping the side with additional firepower in the final third.

The top two clubs in England last season relied on the expertise of their wide players to create danger in front of goal, with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva scoring nine goals between them, and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli netting a mammoth 29 together, via FBref.

For Villa, Emery could unearth a deadly front line by playing Doku and Diaby on opposing wings, providing those around them with two players that are competent creators and scorers.

While scoring catches the headlines, the Frenchman and the Belgian are two players identifiable as creative talents, as supported by the Rennes sensation averaging 2.09 key passes alongside the 24-year-old’s 1.93 per 90.

With European involvement coming into play next season, it’s integral for Villa to have quality in their depth, which they could achieve by capturing the signing of Doku to complement the arrival of Diaby.

A major update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add a third new centre-forward to the squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership season…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to the Daily Record, Feyenoord have decided to accept an offer of around £6m from the Light Blues for their striker Danilo.

The report claims that the Gers sent the bid in with the intention of it being their final effort to sign the 24-year-old ace, which potentially pressured the Dutch side into striking an agreement with them.

It states that the Eredivisie team are now expected to give the player permission to travel to Scotland, where he could complete a medical and put pen to paper on a contract with the club.

He could arrive as Michael Beale's eighth signing of the window; following Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Jack Butland, and Leon Balogun.

How many goals did Danilo score last season?

The Brazilian marksman plundered 14 goals across all competitions for Feyenoord last term and could arrive as the head coach's next version of English poacher Danny Ings.

Beale worked with the current West Ham United centre-forward during their time together at Liverpool, when the 42-year-old tactician was their U21 manager, and the 31-year-old star has gone on to enjoy an impressive Premier League career.

Ings plundered 46 goals and 10 assists across 100 matches in all competitions for Southampton after joining them from the Reds. He then managed 13 goals in 30 league starts for Aston Villa before a move to join David Moyes' team in January.

Legendary Newcastle striker Alan Shearer praised the former Burnley man's excellent 'instincts' in front of goal for the Hammers earlier this year and the talented forward ended the campaign with two goals and two assists in seven top-flight starts for his current club.

Danilo was recently described as an "amazing instinctive finisher" by Eredivisie expert Melvin Dupper and this suggests that he could be a similar type of player to Ings in the sense that they are both instinctive goalscorers who boast impressive records in front of goal.

The Brazilian dynamo scored ten goals in 14 Eredivisie starts last season, which came after a superb return of 15 goals in 26 matches for Ajax's first-team and U21 side combined during the previous campaign – with two goals in one top-flight start.

He also showcased his goalscoring talents whilst on loan at FC Twente during the 2020/21 season as the talented gem scored 17 times to go along with five assists in 30 Eredivisie starts. For context, no Rangers striker scored more than 14 Scottish Premiership goals last term.

This means that the possible Gers signing has scored 29 goals in 45 Dutch top-flight starts over the last three years, which works out as a strike every 1.55 starts on average.

Therefore, the potential is there for Danilo to be an outstanding addition to Beale's squad as a reliable scoring option through the middle of the pitch, as he can use his instinctive finishing – in the same way that Ings did for the head coach and throughout his senior career – to be a focal point for the Scottish giants.

Arsenal will "definitely have a look" at Ajax star Mohammed Kudus this summer if he is "still available", as the Gunners would like to give themselves a "luxury purchase" in August, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Mohammed Kudus joining Arsenal this summer?

After a frankly unbelievable season for the Gunners that saw them almost knock Manchester City off of the top spot, only to fall apart at the end, the club have attacked the transfer market with the same fervour.

So far, Mikel Arteta and Co have signed three new first-team players; Kai Havertz for £65m, Jurrien Timber for £34m, and the crown jewel, Declan Rice, for £105m – a new record fee for a British player.

And yet, even after spending around £204m, the north London side look set to continue spending this summer, with one of the latest names linked to the Emirates being Ajax star Kudus.

According to the Daily Mail, once the Gunners have shifted a number of players like Kieran Tierney, Nicolas Pepe and Cedric Soares, they will try to bring the Ghanaian international to the Premier League for a fee of around £40m.

The publication also claims that Brighton & Hove Albion are interested in the player, but the lure of Champions League football and a title challenge make Arsenal the clear favourite here.

What has Dean Jones said about Mohammed Kudus to Arsenal?

Jones was keen to point out that while Arsenal are certainly interested in the 22-year-old, if they are to sign him, it will likely happen next month.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "They would definitely have a look.

"I've talked in the past about how Arsenal would like to give themselves a luxury purchase in August if possible, and Kudus fits the bill. He's a player they don't desperately need but could be so valuable to them in terms of depth and having a strong Plan B when they need it.

"He's an absolute joy to watch and if you are looking for a player worth around that £40million mark I think he is hard to beat. He's got a bit of everything and can go a long way in this game if he has the right guidance."

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

Kudus looks to be an outstanding talent and had an outrageously good season for Ajax last year.

In his 19 starts for the Dutch giants, he scored 11 goals, provided three assists, maintained a passing accuracy of 87.6%, and won three Man-of-the-Match awards, all while keeping a match rating of 7.29, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are also fantastic, suggesting that under Arteta's impressive system, he could reach levels even higher than he has already.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the 5 foot 9 "monster" sits in the top 1% for non-penalty expected goals and assists, pass completion and successful take-ons, the top 2% for non-penalty goals, the top 4% for touched in the oppositions penalty area, and the top 6% for total shots, all per 90.

He has garnered praise from many within the game, such as former Ghanian international Kevin Prince Boateng, who wrote about Kudus' performances at the World Cup for German outlet Sport1 (vis GeordieBootBoys):

"Mohammed Kudus is the player of the tournament for me so far. He's out of this world. It's amazing what he can do with the ball. It's only a matter of time before he moves from Ajax Amsterdam to a world club."

If Arsenal genuinely are keen on adding a "luxury" signing to the team this summer, Mohammed Kudus looks like he would be perfect.

Chelsea have been linked with a deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar this summer, and reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella has revealed whether a move is going to happen.

Is Neymar leaving PSG?

Since joining from Barcelona back in 2017, the winger has made a total of 173 appearances at the Parc des Princes, but despite still having another two years remaining on his contract with Luis Enrique’s side, he’s apparently looking to move onto new pastures in the weeks ahead.

The Brazil international has reportedly handed in a transfer request to the Ligue 1 outfit to indicate his desire to leave, and having established himself as their top-performing offensive player last season, he won’t be short of potential suitors should he indeed depart having seemingly caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

French outlet Le Parisien recently reported that the Blues had made contact with the 31-year-old’s camp to discover what the conditions of a deal would look like and to place themselves at the front of the queue if he was to leave, though if the following update is to be believed, it appears that isn’t in fact the case.

Are Chelsea signing Neymar?

Taking to Twitter, Kinsella revealed that Chelsea have now decided against making a move that would see them bring Neymar to the Premier League this summer. He wrote:

“Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino are not keen on signing Neymar. He was considered last summer along with Cristiano Ronaldo but the strategy has changed since.”

Expanding in his column for The Evening Standard, PSG would accept a bid between £60-70m for their star, but a move is “not financially viable” with him earning £600k-per-week, alongside the fact that there are “concerns” that he doesn’t fit the profile of player wanted by the Argentine.

How many goals has Neymar scored?

In Ligue 1 last season, Neymar racked up a remarkable 24 goal contributions (13 goals and 11 assists) in just 20 appearances, the type of prolific threat which has previously seen him dubbed a “phenomenon” by international teammate David Luiz, so Chelsea could be making a huge mistake by not wanting to secure his services.

Sponsored by Puma, the attacker also whipped a total of 54 crosses into the box which was the second-highest number throughout his squad, via FBRef, showing that he’s always looking to create chances for his peers in the final third, form which saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards despite competing with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Furthermore, PSG’s talisman is extremely adaptable with his ability to play in five different positions across the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline and even in attacking midfield, so he could have provided Pochettino with wonderful versatility and been a great option for him to have at his disposal in SW6.

Finally, Neymar already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured an outstanding 35 pieces of silverware throughout his career so possesses an insanely strong winning mentality, though this is another attribute that the boss will have to be without unless he was to have a change of heart.

Arsenal’s rise to a title contender, spurred on by the relentless Mikel Arteta and his young, dynamic squad has opened up new possibilities in the transfer market, allowing the Gunners to attract a new level of talent.

They have already emphatically flexed their muscle in this summer’s transfer window by beating Manchester City to the signature of Declan Rice.

They have also recruited Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, with David Raya also on the verge of a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The rumours are suggesting their business is not finished and Nicolo Barella has been linked with a move to North London.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Barella to Arsenal?

According to reports in Italy, Inter Milan are prepared for an assault for the midfielder, with Arsenal as one of the interested parties.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Earlier in the window, Newcastle United had been chasing Barella, but they were warded off by Inter’s monstrous £80m valuation. Since then, the high-flying Magpies have signed Sandro Tonali.

Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Arsenal?

In the past few years, the Italian, who has been lauded as “top-class” by Jurgen Klopp, has established himself as one of the Neazzurri’s most important and influential assets. During the 2020/21 season, Barella scored three times and created nine assists as Inter was crowned the Serie A Champions.

The following term, he notched the joint-second most assists (12) in the league, whilst also winning the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.

In the most recent season, the 5 foot 8 livewire registered 19 goal involvements, whilst also starting 12 of the club’s 13 Champions League games, in which they made the unlikely journey to the final.

The 45-cap international has always maintained a reputation for being an accomplished midfielder, renowned for his energy, technique, and tenacity – this is portrayed by his domestic statistics from last campaign in which he managed 85% pass accuracy, averaged 1.6 key passes and 1.4 tackles per game, as well as completing 70% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

By channelling his defensive and offensive capabilities, Arteta could unearth the perfect candidate to inherit Granit Xhaka’s mantle.

Last season, the former Borussia Monchengladbach assumed a different role in the team. Instead of operating as part of a two-man pivot in a 4-2-3-1 system, primarily tasked with protecting the defence, orchestrating play from deep, and taking long shots, he was instead awarded the role as a freer, more advanced central midfielder.

The 30-year-old relished this opportunity, recording 14 goal contributions and starting in 36 of the club’s 38 Premier League games. Previously, the Swiss had never managed more than eight domestic goal involvements and his departure to Bayer Leverkusen means he will be sorely missed by sections of the fanbase.

However, if the Gunners somehow landed Barella, it can be argued he is an upgrade on Xhaka, outranking his senior for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.65 vs 3.42), progressive passes per 90 (6.62 vs 6.32), progressive carries per 90 (2.8 vs 1.22), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.2 vs 0.49).

These numbers mean that Barella sits within the best 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned statistics and would be phenomenal for Arteta’s revolution.

Newcastle United are set to strengthen their left-back options this summer with a deal for Lewis Hall, according to reports, as Eddie Howe looks to build a side capable of competing on all fronts.

So far, the Magpies have welcomed four new arrivals in the current transfer window, and a new report has revealed exactly how much Hall is going to cost versus Chelsea's initial demands.

How much will Lewis Hall actually cost?

A boyhood fan of the club, Newcastle were expected to make an offer in the region of £30m to sign Chelsea academy graduate Lewis Hall, according to Sky Sports.

However, The Telegraph reporter Sam Wallace has now revealed a deal has been reached at £28m after a breakthrough in negotiations.

"Chelsea and Newcastle reach agreement on a fee for teenager Lewis Hall, understood to be around £28m initially. Sudden change of strategy after major spending this week by Chelsea."

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the London club initially valued their academy graduate at £35m, so it really looks like PIF have pulled a masterclass.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Eddie Howe said last week, via Sky Sports: "We're hoping for one more [signing], no guarantee, but we will fight to the end to strengthen. We are getting there. Every transfer window we have got stronger."

With that said, that signing now looks set to be one of Cobham's most promising talents, who is also a boyhood Magpies fans.

An added bonus for the Tynesiders is that the left-back's wage is reportedly just £10k per-week, making him a cheap option on that side of things even if there's a likely spike on those numbers.

Is Lewis Hall actually that good?

Looking at Newcastle's current squad, there's not many areas that Howe could strengthen. In fact, it could be said that the left-back area is the only position that could use some extra depth. As things stand, the Magpies call on Dan Burn to play the role, and, to his credit, he did an adequate job last season to help his side qualify for the Champions League.

Statistically speaking, though, Hall would be a bif upgrade on the giant fullback. Last season, according to Fbref, the Chelsea youngster made more progressive passes per 90, more progressive carries, enjoyed a better pass completion rate and completed more tackles and interceptions than Burn. Every way you look at it, Hall looks like a better option for Howe's side.

Following his rise at Stamford Bridge, the 18-year-old has received plenty of praise, too, including from former manager Frank Lampard, who said, via The Metro, after his performance against Manchester City back in May: "He’s a good player Lewis, he’s a good player and I thought he did really well. We certainly rate him."

Lampard then went onto say: "In terms of quality on the ball, that’s really clear. In terms of quality, if you see him with the ball and the things he can do, he’s got the levels, he’s obviously got to add to that as he goes along. Another academy one that we’ve produced and it will be good to see him in regular games at this level to be tested more but he’s shown he can do that."

With Burn still capable of playing regularly and taking the pressure off the youngster to immediately hit the ground running, this looks like one of the signings of the summer.