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Whilst Celtic are locked in a tight race with their city rivals for the Scottish Premiership title, one eye has remained on the transfer window, with a forgotten player's departure from Parkhead seemingly now imminent.

Celtic hand advantage to Rangers

For the first time in a while, the Scottish Premiership looks perfectly poised for a thrilling finish with both Celtic and Rangers in contention for the title. Not always a close race, Celtic's once healthy advantage at the summit has been cut down by recent draws with both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

Brendan Rodgers' men are now under significant pressure to wrap up the league after being heavy favourites to lift the title and holding a significant lead over Rangers for much of the season's early proceedings. With a trip to Ibrox penciled in for the start of April, Celtic will have earmarked this fixture as an opportunity to put themselves back on the top of the tree.

Where Celtic hold the advantage over their Glasgow rivals is their absence of European football. Whilst Rangers have to juggle league and cup campaigns with the latter stages of the Europa League, Celtic can keep sole focus upon domestic competitions, potentially giving them the edge.

Celtic struck gold with this signing who's worth more than Kuhn

The impressive forward has been an excellent addition to the Hoops squad this season.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 18, 2024

One man who has yet to feature in all this however is Yuki Kobayashi, and he is now seeking greener pastures away from Scotland.

Yuki Kobayashi set for exit

As first reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Kobayashi is exploring out-of-window moves away from Parkhead. The 23-year-old looked close to leaving Celtic last week, but a move to Finnish side HJK Helsinki collapsed at the last minute. Well-placed sources within the club have told O'Rourke that Kobayashi remains free to pursue other offers and that the player is eager to secure a move away from the Glasgow giants.

In truth, it is no wonder why Kobayashi is pursuing other avenues, as the central defender has appeared in green and white on just seven occasions since his arrival from Vissel Kobe in November 2022. His last action for Celtic came in May 2023, with this season bringing about zero opportunities for the former Japan youth international.

It wasn't always like this for the 23-year-old, as a stretch of fixtures towards the backend of last season saw Kobayashi start in the heart of defence and earn praise for his performances. Speaking after a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock in April 2023, former Hoops' boss, Ange Postecoglu sang the praises of his player, telling reporters:

“I thought he was really good. It wasn’t easy to play on the surface and they were physical. It was good to get him 90 minutes but in all the games he’s played, he’s hardly put a foot wrong and he’s growing as a player."

A once promising career at Parkhead has now come crashing down with Kobayashi likely to never pull on the famous green and white stripes again. Hopefully, the opportunity to play consistent football elsewhere will see the defender putting in the performances he is capable of on a regular basis.

British Formula One stars Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were seen cheering for England during their Euro 2024 clash against Switzerland.

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• Hamilton and Russell celebrate England's win
• England beat Switzerland in shootout
• Three Lions to face Netherlands in semi-final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hamilton and Russell attended the screening of England's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against Switzerland on Saturday along with a packed Silverstone crowd. As soon as Trent Alexander-Arnold netted the winning penalty in the tie-breaker, the two F1 stars erupted in joy along with the fans.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Three Lions picked up yet another hard-fought victory in the European Championship as they marched on to the last-four stage. Breel Embolo broke the deadlock for the Swiss in the 75th minute but their lead lasted for just five minutes as Bukayo Saka netted the equaliser with a brilliant strike. In the tie-breaker, all five English penalty takers were spot on with their respective shots while Manchester City's Manuel Akanji missed his kick, resulting in a 5-3 win for England.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  Southgate's side will now face Ronald Koeman's Netherlands in the semi-final on Wednesday at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. The Dutch came back from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 to progress.

Sunderland return to action once again in the Championship as they travel away from Wearside to take on Birmingham at St. Andrew's this afternoon.

The Black Cats head into this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield in Yorkshire earlier this week, thanks to a first-half goal from Matthew Pearson.

Head coach Michael Beale could now look to make some changes to his starting XI in a bid to return to winning ways against the man he replaced in the dugout – Tony Mowbray.

Abdoullah Ba is one player who should be ditched from the line-up, and replaced by Patrick Roberts, after a disappointing performance last time out.

Abdoullah Ba's performance against Huddersfield

The French midfielder lined up on the right flank against the Terriers and failed to make a positive impression with his work in and out of possession.

He played the opening 61 minutes of the contest and created one chance for his teammates, whilst the dud also failed to register a single shot on target.

The 20-year-old lightweight lost three of his five ground duels and did not complete any of his three attempted dribbles before being hauled off just after an hour.

As you can see from the table above, Ba has been in poor form over the last three matches with a startling lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

He has spurned the two good opportunities his teammates have created for him and only made two key passes in three starts for the Black Cats, which is why Beale must now ditch him from the line-up and start Roberts on the right wing.

Why Patrick Roberts should start

The £11k-per-week magician recently started in the 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle and showcased his quality, and importance to the team, in a fine display.

Ba started in midfield that day, instead of on the right flank, and that allowed Roberts to play out wide. It was an opportunity that the English forward grasped with an impressive performance.

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester City starlet, who was once hailed as "magic" by journalist Josh Bunting, was extremely reliable in possession of the ball with only two misplaced passes and three chances created, one of which led to a goal.

Roberts, who Bunting also claimed has "sheer quality", rolled the ball off to Pierre Ekwah from a free-kick to catch the Plymouth defence off guard and allow the ex-West Ham gem to fire a shot into the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the time.

The 27-year-old wizard, who won five of his eight duels on the day, was involved in more goals (one) and provided more key passes (three) than Ba has in his last three starts combined – in just 69 minutes against Plymouth.

This is why Beale should ruthlessly ditch the former Le Havre prospect from the starting XI in order to make space for Roberts to come in on the right wing to cause Birmingham problems in their own third.

Roy Keane has warned 'cocky' Jude Bellingham to 'be careful' after the England midfielder courted controversy with his celebration against Slovakia.

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• Bellingham came close to Euros ban
• 21-year-old labelled 'cocky' by Keane
• England preparing for quarter-final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham has dominated the headlines this week as he awaited the outcome of UEFA's investigation into his celebration after scoring England's equaliser against Slovakia last Sunday. The midfielder was nearly suspended for pretending to grab his crotch, but escaped with a suspended one-game ban and fined £25,000. Keane, though, was more upset by the sight of Bellingham asking 'Who else?' after his stunning bicycle kick.

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  The past year has been like nothing else for Bellingham. He starred for Real Madrid, helping the Spanish giants to La Liga and Champions League glory, and came up with several clutch moments throughout the campaign. 'Who else?' might have been on everyone else's lips after the midfielder's last-gasp strike against Slovakia, but Keane isn't happy that the England international uttered it himself.

• WHAT KEANE SAID

  Speaking on Stick to Football: The Overlap Special, Keane said, via the Daily Mail: "If you scored a big goal, to me that wouldn't even cross your mind. You'd be with your team-mates.

  "Scoring goals is the best part of football but I just can't imagine that you'd have something in your head to say, 'Who else?' That's the bit where I'd be going, 'Hold on a second'. It's a bit cocky and arrogant.

  "Bellingham has to be careful with his celebration after scoring against Slovakia. You're always walking a fine line; you don't want it to seem like it's all about you."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  Bellingham will be England's key man again when they take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the European Championship on Saturday.

Aston Villa's season is threatening to fizzle out as they are struck by fixture congestion and injury woes, with Unai Emery's side now looking less than certain for Champions League football next season.

Villa hit by another defensive injury

The Villans were handed a major boost just last week when it emerged that Tyrone Mings was making good progress in returning from his knee injury suffered at the beginning of the campaign, though he is not expected to feature before the end of the Premier League season.

Versatile defender Ezri Konsa is also on the treatment table, and is facing at least another fortnight out, while Jhon Duran is another key piece of squad depth out of action through injury.

And now they have another problem at centre-back, with Diego Carlos suffering an injury during a training session. Emery later confirmed that it was a hamstring issue and that the Brazilian would be sidelined for between three and four weeks with the injury.

It is yet another issue for the midlands outfit to contend with, having lost Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending knee injury in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago and with Emiliano Buendia having missed the entire season to date with the same issue.

Aston Villa’s 7/10 star was the real hero over Watkins v Fulham

Aston Villa picked up an impressive win over Fulham yesterday.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 18, 2024

Now, Villa journalist and writer Ty Bracey has had his say on the fallout from Carlos' absence. Speaking to Aston Villa News, he revealed that though it is 'another blow' for Emery, there are alternatives within the squad.

Villa stuttering at crucial point

Injuries are not helping Villa's situation, and the return of European football could see them tested once more. Emery's side were clear favourites for a top 5 spot before Christmas, but have won just three games out of their last seven across all competitions since the turn of the year.

Defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League has seen the Red Devils close the gap in the race for European football, and as it stands, all of Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are separated by just five points, though it remains the Midlands outfit leading the way.

They also await their fate in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League draw, which takes place on Friday, February 23rd, and which the Villans will feel that they have an excellent chance of winning with Emery at the helm.

However, with a smaller squad keeping everyone in peak condition for both competitions will become increasingly difficult, and with tricky Premier League games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all to come, it could ultimately prove a step too far for the injury-hit squad.

Of course, the season will still be considered a major success for Villa even if they miss out on Champions League football, with Emery having overseen a major change of fortunes at the club after taking over from Steven Gerrard 18 months ago. Should they add a European trophy too, it would be the best season in living memory for plenty of Villa fans.

Gareth Southgate has resigned as England manager, with an emotional statement issued to supporters after the team's Euro 2024 final defeat.

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• England lost Euros final to Spain
• Southgate confirms resignation
• Admits it's 'time for a change'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England suffered a painful 2-1 loss to Spain in Sunday's showpiece event at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, leading to widespread speculation over Southgate's future. The 53-year-old has now confirmed he is stepping down, bringing to an end his eight-year reign at the helm.

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• WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

  Southgate bid an emotional final goodbye to supporters in an official statement, which read: "As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all. But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager. I joined the FA in 2011, determined to improve English football. In that time, including eight years as England men’s manager, I have been supported by some brilliant people who have my heartfelt thanks. I could not have had anyone better alongside me than Steve Holland. He is one of the most talented coaches of his generation, and has been immense. I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.

  "The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of. I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team at St. George’s Park and the FA who strive every day to improve English football, and understand the power football has to drive positive change. My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have provided the players and me with unstinting support over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment inspired me every day, and I am so grateful to them – the brilliant ‘team behind the team’. We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be. I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can. Thank you, England – for everything."

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  WHAT THE FA SAID

  The English football association have also released a statement paying tribute to Southgate, who is walking away as the most successful manager in the national team's history after 1966 World Cup-winning boss Sir Alf Ramsey.

  "On behalf of English football, I would like to pay tribute to Gareth Southgate and to Steve Holland for everything they have achieved," FA CEO Mark Bullingham said. "Over the last eight years they have transformed the England men’s team, delivering unforgettable memories for everyone who loves the Three Lions. We look back at Gareth’s tenure with huge pride – his contribution to the English game, including a significant role in player development, and in culture transformation has been unique.

  "Gareth has made the impossible job possible and laid strong foundations for future success. He is held in the highest regard by the players, the backroom team, by everyone at The FA and across the world of football. We are very proud of everything Gareth and Steve achieved for England, and will be forever grateful to them."

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  Bullingham also revealed that the search for Southgate's successor has already started, amid rumours linking high profile names like Graham Potter, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola with the job. "The process for appointing Gareth’s successor is now under way and we aim to have our new manager confirmed as soon as possible," he said. "Our UEFA Nations League campaign starts in September, and we have an interim solution in place if it is needed. We know there will be inevitable speculation, but we won’t be commenting further on our process until we appoint."

Leeds United are currently fighting to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they are battling it out with at least three other clubs.

Leicester City, Southampton, and Ipswich Town are also firmly in the race to finish in the top two in the Championship by the end of the season, to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

The Whites, in second, and the Foxes, in first, are the two teams leading the race at this moment in time, and Daniel Farke will be hoping that it stays that way.

If Leeds do win promotion back to the top-flight they know that their recruitment will need to be spot on to give them the best chance of staying up, as it was when they were promoted under Marcelo Bielsa.

Chelsea were criticised for their 'ludicrous' spending by pundit Danny Murphy last year but they got the signing of Cole Palmer from Manchester City spot on last summer.

The England international has been on fire for the Blues in the Premier League this season but Leeds have already signed and sold their own version of the left-footed whiz in the top division with Brazilian flair winger Raphinha.

Cole Palmer's Premier League stats for Chelsea

Palmer, like the former Leeds star, is a left-footed wizard who typically operates down the right wing but also likes to drift into central positions to affect matches with his quality on the ball.

The 21-year-old phenomenon has been a star for Mauricio Pochettino's team as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which was perfectly illustrated with his goal and assist in a 3-2 win for Chelsea over Newcastle on Monday night.

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester City starlet has directly contributed to 19 goals in 24 appearances in the Premier League so far.

He ranks within the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for Expected Assisted Goals (0.34) and assists (0.41) per 90 respectively, and the top 4% for progressive passes (6.84) per 90.

These statistics show that Palmer has been an outstanding operator, particularly as a creative threat, in the Premier League out wide for Chelsea this season, which suggests that Pochettino struck gold by signing him from their rivals in the last summer transfer window.

Leeds fans watching on from the Championship may see similarities between him and their former hero Raphinha, who the club hit the jackpot with during his time in Yorkshire.

How much Leeds paid for Raphinha

Former Whites sporting director Victor Orta snapped up the 23-year-old forward from Ligue 1 side Rennes for an initial fee of £17m in the summer of 2020.

Leeds had just been promoted to the top-flight under Bielsa, in the 2019/20 Championship campaign, and splashed the cash to bolster their attack.

There was no guarantee, however, that Raphinha would be a success at Elland Road as he had just come off the back of a return of five goals and three assists in 22 Ligue 1 matches for Rennes the previous season.

It was similar to the risk that Chelsea took with Palmer, who only managed six goals and two assists in 41 first-team matches for Manchester City before his move to Stamford Bridge, last summer.

Orta's gamble paid off big time for Leeds from both a footballing and financial perspective, as Raphinha hit the ground running on the pitch, and his market value soared as a result.

The Brazil international produced six goals and nine assists in 30 appearances in the Premier League during his first season with the club, as Bielsa, who hailed the whiz as "potent", led the team to safety.

He also had reason to be frustrated with his teammates as they only scored nine goals from his 12 'big chances' created and 63 key passes in the top-flight that term.

These statistics show that the winger provided consistent quality as a left-footed scorer and a creator of goals from the right flank, as the aforementioned Palmer has for Chelsea this season.

How much Leeds sold Raphinha for

The Brazilian magician stayed at Elland Road for another year before being sold to Spanish giants Barcelona in a deal reported to be worth £55m in the summer of 2022.

This meant that his value skyrocketed by a staggering £38m, from the initial £17m that they paid Rennes to secure his services in 2020, in just two years in England.

The LaLiga side swooped in to secure his signature after another impressive campaign of performances on the right flank in the Premier League for Leeds.

As you can see in the table, Raphinha – once again – provided consistent quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right flank under Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.

He also had a right to be frustrated with his fellow attackers again as they did not make the most of the quality chances that he created for them, with three goals scored from ten 'big chances' created.

This meant that Raphinha produced 22 'big chances' for his teammates in two Premier League seasons but was only rewarded with 12 assists for his efforts.

Even with those spurned opportunities, the Brazil international's outstanding play at the top end of the pitch helped the Whites to avoid relegation for the second season in succession.

This led to his transfer to Barcelona, for a profit of £38m for the Yorkshire-based outfit, and Leeds went on to be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

If Farke's side win promotion to the top-flight this season then they will need to repeat the masterclass Orta played with the signing of Raphinha, and the one Chelsea played with Palmer, by taking a gamble on an exciting young forward who could explode and thrive with regular game time at Elland Road in the top-flight over the years to come.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been warned that Wrexham’s squad value will need to be doubled in order to reach the Championship.

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• Red Dragons enjoyed back-to-back promotions
• Playing field starts to level out in League One
• Hollywood co-owners funding ambitious project

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under their Hollywood co-owners, with back-to-back promotions taking them from the National League and into League One. Further funds have been invested in the current transfer window, but more will be required in order to remain on an upward trajectory.

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  A study by has examined how Wrexham shape up in comparison to clubs that have secured promotion into the second tier of English football across the last four seasons. Their squad size (29 players) and average age (28.3) falls short of the League One mean.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The more concerning statistics relate to the value of Phil Parkinson’s squad, which is said to stand at £6.76 million ($8.6m). The average for a promoted team is £13.86m ($17.8m). That means Reynolds and McElhenney must find a way of doubling market value while staying inside Financial Fair Play (FFP) and Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) – with Wrexham’s wage bill already exceeding 87% of the allowable limit.

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• WHAT FINANCE EXPERT SAID

  Dr Rob Wilson, an expert in football finance and the Head of Finance, Accounting & Business Systems at Sheffield Hallam University, has told : “The only way you can really produce the playing performance is through the acquisition of new players, which is providing many more challenges with regards to headroom on Financial Fair Play and also Profit and Sustainability Regulations. What we need to do with that though is then counter-balance it with additional revenue opportunities that they earn so I would imagine the football club are looking to reduce the relative proportion of wages spent on players as a portion of turnover. They will try to bring down that 87% so that they can obviously comply with FFP. They will do that by moving some players out, reducing contracts for other players and then when they sign any new players to participate, they will be looking to generate a significant amount of additional revenue to push the percentage of wages to turnover. This will help push them towards the 70% threshold which is considered the benchmark, or Gold Standard, for a professional football club.

  “In short, they can get promoted to the Championship without breaching FFP regulations. What we have seen from both clubs in League One and League Two is that they generally run themselves in a much more fiscally responsible manner. This means that they are looking to break even and that they are satisfied with a level of sporting performance that means they can generate a surplus, or indeed break even. That gives clubs like Wrexham a slight advantage if they are prepared to push the envelope just a little bit more than their competition. They will be under intense scrutiny and pressure of course as a result of clubs dropping out of the Championship that have potentially got higher budgets. There are some significant clubs already participating in League One so they can do it, but they will have to be very careful with the type of players that they want to bring in and they will need to make sure they generate a bigger proportion of revenue so that they can recover those costs and comply with FFP.”

As the battle for the top four heats up, Tottenham Hotspur already have one eye on the summer as they look set to make a move for one of Europe's most exciting talents.

Spurs set for busy summer

Whilst most Premier League sides look nervously over their shoulders at the looming threat of financial fair play sanctions, Daniel Levy's somewhat patient approach to the transfer market has left him able to bolster his Spurs squad without fear of getting on the wrong side of the law.

Spurs eye up move for Barcelona teenager with £342m release clause

Levy’s going shopping at one of Europe’s top academies.

By
Tom Coates

Mar 18, 2024

In a January in which a punitive £100million was spent by Premiership clubs, Spurs were one of the few sides eager to open their chequebooks. The near-£27m deal for Genoa's Radu Dragusin represented the highest single move by an English team during the window and showed Spurs' newfound prowess in the transfer world.

The Lilywhites' excellent January was capped off by the arrival of Lucas Begvall. Spurs fought off stiff competition from Barcelona for the 18-year-old's signature and with the youngster impressing in his native Sweden, the deal looks to have been a smart bit of business from Levy and co.

The winter window also saw Timo Werner return to London on loan until the end of the season. Whilst the German had become something of a punchline during his time at Chelsea, impressive displays in North London have made a permanent move almost a certainty this summer.

With Levy now seemingly leading the pack for Premier League spending, there is no surprise that Spurs are set for a big summer as they look to seal a target they've had their eyes on for some time.

Spurs ready approach for Szymanski

Whilst the news of interest in the player is nothing new, reports out of Turkey are claiming that Spurs are now preparing a bid for Fenerbahçe star Sebastian Szymanski. Ange Postecoglou had reportedly pushed for the deal to be done in January with the Australian dispatching scouts to watch the forward in action.

Despite their longstanding interest in the winger/attacking midifleder, Spurs will reportedly have to fight off European competition for his signature. It is claimed that AC Milan and Napoli are eager to get a deal done for the player, giving Levy yet another battle for a signing.

Fenerbahçe got something of a steal for Syzmanski when they signed him from Dynamo Moscow for just £8.3million last summer. Syzmanski's stats for this season has seen the 24-year-old provide 26 direct goal contributions in just 46 games (12 goals and 14 assists), meaning that the Turkish giants will be in for a massive windfall if the Polish international is to leave this summer.

The midfielder is one of his home country's highest regarded talents, with even the English media picking up on his quality. The Guardian branded Syzmanski as "a versatile and hard-working playmaker who is very much seen as a future Poland regular".

Whilst a concrete asking price is yet to be revealed, it has been suggested that Fenerbahçe would want around £30million for the attacking midfielder. Given Spurs' strong financial standing and the clear pedigree that Syzmanski possesses, it would represent good business to secure a player who only looks to be getting better each season.

Italy's breakout star from Euro 2024 has all the tools to be an instant hit for the Premier League title-chasers

Not much was expected from Italy heading into Euro 2024 and, for the most part, they pretty much matched expectations, limping through the group stages before being well beaten by Switzerland in the round of 16. But while the Azzurri did not offer a great deal to get excited about as a collective, the emergence of one young defender did ensure they remained in the conversation during the early stages of the tournament.

Just six days after his first-ever senior international start in a friendly victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, Riccardo Calafiori was given the nod by Luciano Spalletti for his side's European Championship opener against Albania. By full-time, he was all anyone was talking about.

With his Paolo Maldini-esque locks dancing in the wind, the 22-year-old showed no signs of nerves, helping Italy recover from an early error to secure a 2-1 victory. Operating as a left-sided centre-back alongside Alessandro Bastoni, the duo provided some much-needed hope for the post Giorgio Chiellini-Leonardo Bonucci era, with Calafiori dominating in the air and on the ground while scarcely misplacing a pass and driving his side forward from the back.

He was understandably delighted at full-time, telling reporters: "It’s been a very nice week for me. I learnt I could be a starter two days ago. Spalletti asked me if I was ready. I said yes, obviously. I thought about positive things, about the emotions I could feel on the pitch and it was a great thing. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’m very happy."

This display set the tone for a positive Euros on a personal level, with Calafiori having now completed a dream Premier League move to Arsenal. This good fortune is pretty remarkable, considering all of the road blocks the youngster had to navigate during the early part of his career.

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  Unconventional route to the top

  For instance, back in October 2018, when Calafiori was building a reputation as one of Italian football's brightest prospects, he suffered a knee injury that left his career hanging in the balance. Later that day, Edin Dzeko would pay tribute to the teenager after notching his maiden Champions League hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen, holding up a shirt with his young club-mate's name on.

  Calafiori would later open up on the mental toll the injury took at a crucial stage of his development. "The journey was definitely the hardest thing I faced, I had a knee that was three times the size of the other one, I had a fever and I felt insecure," he told .

  After a painful spell of rehabilitation, he managed to return to the field and was handed his first-team debut by Paulo Fonseca in December 2020. However, his Roma career would essentially be ended by the arrival of Jose Mourinho at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. During that campaign, he was handed just nine appearances, primarily in the Europa League, before being shafted out on loan to Genoa in January.

  Calafiori bravely took the decision to leave his boyhood club the following summer, signing for Basel. There, he got the first-team football he craved, but it was far from a vintage season for the Swiss giants, who finished a lowly fifth in the league and fell in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

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  Finding a home

  That did not stop Bologna moving to bring Calafiori back to Serie A last summer, though. That decision would prove to be an inspired one by all parties, too.

  Right from the outset, highly-rated boss Thiago Motta outlined a clear plan for Calafiori. Having been primarily used as a left-back up to that point, Motta was keen to move him into the heart of defence, with the switch unlocking the player's full potential.

  "Everything started from the freedom that the coach gave me, Motta immediately saw me as a centre-back," Calafiori has said. "I learned so much from him. This is his philosophy, that you must attack the space no matter who goes, play without fear and express yourself."

  Calafiori's displays were key in Bologna's best season in modern history, with Motta leading them to a fifth-placed finish – enough for Champions League football. And if people were not paying attention to the defender yet, they certainly would be after the Euros.

  Following that outstanding competitive debut against Albania, Italy legend Gianluca Zambrotta was among those to praise Calafiori. "He played an extraordinary game, like the whole team in the first 60 minutes," he said on . "He played with personality, without fear… He showed some beautiful things yesterday."

  Yes, he may have scored an unfortunate own goal against Spain in the following game, but by the time Italy had exited the competition, Calafiori's reputation had exploded, with Arsenal, Chelsea and a string of top European clubs said to be interested.

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  Surprising signing

  The Gunners have won the race, though, with the North Londoners having paid £42m ($49m) including add-ons for Calafiori's services. On the surface, it might seem odd that Arsenal have opted to strengthen in defence as a priority this summer.

  Last season, they comfortably boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes forming a rock-solid, centre-back partnership . Despite this, it's clear that greater strength in depth is required if the Gunners are finally to topple Manchester City this season. Any injury to one of the aforementioned pair would likely necessitate Ben White moving into the middle, something Arteta would likely want to avoid considering how effective the former Brighton man combined with Bukayo Saka down the right in 2023-24.

  But Calafiori shouldn't just be seen as a secondary option. He might even be able to displace Gabriel as the left-sided centre-back if he starts strongly. Let us not forgot that Arteta dropped the Brazilian at the beginning of last season, though his form over the past nine months means his manager probably trusts him fully moving forward.

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  Novel approach

  Because of this, Calafiori being deployed in Arsenal's problem position of left-back seems to make more sense. Last season, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko all had fleeting spells in the role after Jurrien Timber ruptured his ACL on the opening day. This contrasted sharply with the metronomic consistency of White on the opposite side.

  It would be little surprise to see Arteta call upon Calafiori to fix this conundrum this season, even with Timber back in the mix. Over the past few seasons, the Gunners boss has become increasingly enamoured by players with traditionally centre-back profiles playing on the flanks of his defence.

  White was his guinea pig for this theory; the hulking Englishman had only made a smattering of right-back appearances before claiming the position permanently during the 2022-23 season. Tomiyasu and Kiwior have since undergone similar transformations.

  Like many aspects of Arteta's approach, parallels can be seen in Pep Guardiola's City side. Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake have each transitioned into full-backs under the Spaniard's tutelage. At times, Guardiola has even been able to field four, de-facto central defenders across his backline. This was an extremely deliberate choice, as the City boss explained in the wake of their 2023 Champions League final triumph.

  "With four central defenders we defend properly in our box," he said. "It’s the biggest step. Now we enjoy defending, and even if we make mistakes, I have the feeling that we are defenders."

  Like everything with Arteta and Guardiola tactically, the shift towards these 'defend-first' players at full-back is all about control – or "dominance", as the Arsenal boss is keen to described it as. Not only are Arsenal and City's 'full-backs' fearsome in the air and defensively intelligent – which make it harder for the opposition to attack effectively – they also take care of the ball, helping their sides enjoy the lions share of possession.

  They're all still capable of overlapping and carrying it forward when required, with White, Gvardiol and Ake providing 22 goal contributions between them last season. But Arteta and Guardiola clearly see them differently to a properly attacking full-back who always looks to get beyond the wide forward in front of them.