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Manchester United could potentially secure the signing of a "psychological beast" in the January transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Man Utd's January transfer business

The Red Devils picked up a fifth win in their last six Premier League games on Sunday afternoon, battling their way to a 3-0 victory away to Everton. Alejandro Garnacho's sensational Goal of the Season contender set United on their way to all three points, and while their performances aren't always wholly convincing at the moment, they are managing to win matches regularly, which is a skill in itself.

The 3 most exciting young stars that Man Utd could unleash after Kobbie Mainoo

Erik ten Hag could call upon these three exciting youngsters at Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Nov 27, 2023

Erik ten Hag has been dogged by injury problems throughout this season, which hasn't helped the level of displays, and it would be a surprise if he didn't look to make new signings once the January window opens in the New Year.

United have certainly been linked with bringing in fresh faces at that point, with Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez emerging as a target for the Red Devils. Meanwhile, highly-rated Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo is reportedly wanted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, should his 25% share of the club go through, with a centre-back thought to be on the agenda.

Man Utd could sign Goncalo Inacio

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that Manchester United could potentially sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio in January, due to the long-term impact of missing out on top four.

"Goncalo Inacio is there as well, on the list from Sporting Lisbon. Again, there is Premier League competition for him as well from several clubs. And I think that we'll see some links between Manchester United, and who knows, maybe even Spurs again, even though they signed Mickey Van de Ven, who unfortunately is injured at the moment with Edmond Tapsoba and Leverkusen.

"Due to depth and due to the fact they can't really afford to miss out on Champions League football versus finding the right name and waiting until the summer."

Inacio really does look like a player with the world at his feet, already becoming a fixture in Sporting's starting lineup for a number of years, despite still only being 22 years of age. Inacio has made 139 appearances for his current club, and this season he has started ten Primeira Liga games, averaging two clearances per match and completing 88.2% of his passes.

Inacio has been described as a "psychological beast" by former coach Jose Lima in the past, and while predominantly a centre-back, he is also adept at shining as a left-back, giving Ten Hag versatility in the defence, and providing competition for the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.

Signing the Portuguese in January would increase United's chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League, not to mention acquiring the services of someone who has the ability to develop into a world-class defender over time.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, there has been much talk about the areas where Arsenal could strengthen.

Will it be in defence? Well, after the injury to Jurrien Timber adding more depth in that position could well be a smart call.

However, a move to really take the Gunners to the next level could be in attack. Ivan Toney has long thought to be a target of Mikel Arteta but there are three concerns over a potential deal this winter.

First of all, Toney hasn't played any football this season yet after being banned for betting offences, Brentford and Thomas Frank don't want to sell, and if they do, it could take the best part of £100m.

The January market is never easy to conclude deals, particularly one of that magnitude, which means Edu and co may have to wait until next summer to bolster their attacking armoury.

Toney is perfect for Raya

It would be rude of us to suggest that Brentford are a route one team under Frank. That wouldn't be doing their side justice at all.

Indeed, they can play equally as well with the ball on the deck, punishing teams on the counterattack and winding them down courtesy of players such as Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.

However, when the Bees had Toney and David Raya in their ranks, it provided a different layer to the game.

Arsenal fans will know all too well that their new goalkeeper is adept with the ball at his feet and Brentford used that to their advantage to play long into Toney, a striker who very rarely loses an individual duel against a defender.

Last season, no goalkeeper had more touches per 90 in the Premier League than the Spaniard's 45.32 but crucially, he was one of the best when it came to passing. Equally, no stopper could better Raya's success from passes longer than 40 yards up the pitch. On average in the top-flight last term, he completed 9.13 per game.

This was largely because he had one of the best target men in the division to aim for; Toney. Their two styles of play complement each other beautifully well, with the busy Brentford striker winning 3.32 aerials per 90 minutes in 2022/23, enough to rank him in the top 9% of strikers in the league. For reference, Everton's Calvert-Lewin was the best with 5.10 per 90.

What that means is that more often than not, Toney was able to win long balls forward from Raya. The perfect match.

Arsenal already have their own Ivan Toney

Of course, signing the Brentford marksman in 2024 would bring huge benefits. There is that pre-existing relationship with Raya to consider and how that could be utilised to Arsenal's strengths, while his 21 goals last term is also a pretty attractive thing.

However, it's possible that Arteta already has his own version of Toney in their ranks. Enter Kai Havertz.

The German has been a polarising figure since signing from Chelsea in the summer for £65m, but appears to finally be finding his groove in north London.

Havertz scored the late winner against none other than Brentford a week ago and then also scored the opener in their 6-0 demolition of Lens in midweek. It was perhaps a surprise, therefore, to see him on the bench for the visit of Wolves.

Arsenal could force Havertz into a new role by signing £52m PL star

Kai Havertz could be deployed in attack if Arsenal make this exciting signing.

By
Tom Lever

Nov 28, 2023

It might well be difficult to work out what the former Chelsea man has brought with him since arriving but one thing is for certain, just like Toney, he's a menace in the air.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the "special" player as Paul Merson dubbed him, offers something no other Arsenal player can do in the final third, an aerial presence.

Last season, Havertz ranked inside the top 13% of forward players in the Premier League for aerials won per 90 with 2.77, a statistic that when compared with attacking midfielders placed him in the very best 2%.

It's not quite the same level as Toney but it gives Raya a focal point to aim for and we've already seen it in action this season. Only on Saturday in the dying embers of the game did we see Arteta screaming at his goalkeeper to find the German. What happened? Well, the 'keeper used his vision to pick out Havertz who was able to retain the ball high up the pitch for his team.

This is a method that we're set to see throughout the rest of the season, it's just a shame their £280k-per-week summer signing doesn't offer the same level of goal threat as a certain Toney.

Alisha Lehmann has sent a supportive “I love you” message to Douglas Luiz following his Europa Conference League horror show for Aston Villa.

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• Villans came unstuck against Olympiacos
• South American star endured an off night
• Girlfriend in the stands to show support

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lehmann was in the stands once more for the Villans’ latest continental outing, which saw them lock horns with Greek giants Olympiacos in the first leg of a semi-final showdown. Things did not play out as planned for Unai Emery’s side.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Villa slipped to a 4-2 defeat on home soil, leaving them with a mountain to climb. They did battle back from two goals down to draw level at one stage, but did themselves few favours when making costly errors in the closing stages.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Luiz was responsible for a couple of those mistakes, as he conceded a 56th-minute penalty for handball. The Brazilian midfielder went on to fail from the spot himself, as he blasted wide of the post in the 84th minute. Despite those struggles, Lehmann has made a point of expressing her love for the South American.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR VILLA?

  Villa will feel that they offered enough against Olympiacos to give them hope heading into the second leg next Thursday – with a place in the final still up for grabs. Prior to that trip to Greece, Luiz and Co will face Brighton on Sunday – while Lehmann will also be taking on the Seagulls as Villa’s women’s team head to the south coast on Saturday.

Bayern Munich are reportedly targeting AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez as a replacement for Alphonso Davies this summer.

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• Davies toys with Madrid move
• Bayern target Theo Hernandez
• Move will depend on Davies future

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Davies continues to toy with a move to Spain with Real Madrid, and as such, the Bavarians have begun looking for potential replacements this summer. As per Sky Germany, one of the names at the top of the list is Hernandez and the German giants have begun talks with the Rossoneri but are yet to start negotiations. As per the report, Hernandez could cost the Germans upwards of €60 million (£51.8m/$64.7m).

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  The report states that keeping Davies at the club is still the preferred option of the Bayern hierarchy and they will only undergo talks for Hernandez if they are certain the Canadian is looking to leave. Davies' contract is set to run out in the summer of 2025 and Bayern have placed a new deal on the table for the 23-year-old. If he does not renew terms, Bayern will try to push the left-back out this season so as to not lose the Canadian for free next summer.

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Lucas Hernandez, the elder brother of Theo, has been at Bayern since last summer and Bayern will hope the possibility of a reunion may entice Theo to make the move. The pair began their careers at Atletico Madrid but have not been on the same club side since Theo's departure in 2017.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The report has suggested that Bayern will only make the decisions on both Davies and Hernandez after confirming their replacement for Thomas Tuchel. Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick have already rejected offers from Die Roten.

Shirt sponsors are something that football fans have accepted as inevitable, and some are even celebrated for bringing money into the club. However, not all unions are a match made in football shirt heaven. In the realm of questionable partnerships, some football shirts have become a canvas for ill-conceived logos and designs that left fans cringing and players looking less than stellar.

From the iconic green and white hoops of Celtic tainted by a confused yellow Dafabet logo to the regrettable Pizza Hut sponsorship on Fulham's otherwise lovely kit, these collaborations prove that even the most successful clubs can fall victim to questionable taste.

So buckle up and put on your worst football shirt as Football FanCast takes you on a journey through some of the worst-looking shirt sponsors of all time.

13 iconic football shirt sponsors – ranked

Football FanCast takes a look at the top 13 most iconic shirt sponsors.

By
Alex Roberts

Dec 13, 2023

For this list, we've ordered these shirt sponsorships by what we consider to be the worst designs, whether for being embarrassing or just downright ugly.

12

Dafabet

Celtic 2016-present

Celtic's famous green and white hoops deserve so much better than a messy yellow Dafabet logo. It may be the most expensive sponsorship deal in Scottish football history, but money can't buy taste. It can pay for a decent graphic designer, though – something Dafabet seemingly skimped out on when they designed their logo.

As Celtic have established themselves as the dominant force in Scottish football over the past decade or so, Dafabet jumped on the bandwagon in 2016 when they first started sponsoring their kits. The original deal was only for two years, but it was extended in 2018, to the detriment of Celtic's potentially beautiful shirts.

11

XL Holidays

West Ham United 2007-2008

A chaotic club sponsored by a chaotic company. In theory, this should have worked perfectly, but on paper it was awful. The XL in the middle of West Ham's 2008/09 strip was pretty representative of the size of the mess this partnership turned out to be.

The company went bust in the middle of the season, leaving holidaymakers high and dry across the world, and West Ham without a sponsor. At least they didn't have to endure that logo for too long.

10

Pizza Hut

Fulham 2001-2002

And you thought that one Fulham fan eating a Victoria Sponge cake in the stands was the worst food-related incident to happen at Craven Cottage. Fulham's 2001/02 Pizza Hut shirt sponsor was abysmal. It was made even worse by the fact that the kit itself was otherwise pretty smart.

The big red hut/hat (?) logo drew the eye to the centre of the shirt, with 'Pizza Hut' emblazoned just beneath in its tacky, try-hard 90s font. It's hard to make Louis Saha look uncool, but they managed it. Thankfully, the partnership only lasted for a year. Domino's is better, anyway.

9

Flamingo Land

Hull City 2015-2016

Flamingo Land is a fun-filled day out for all the family, but a terrible sponsor for a football shirt. Hull City received universal ridicule when they revealed that Flamingo Land would be their main sponsor in 2015. It was the most embarrassing thing to happen to the club since they started chanting "You're getting mauled by the Tigers".

It was an all-black logo on a mostly gold/orange shirt, and its goofy font made it an easy target to mock. It's another relationship that ended after just one season. Perhaps then Hull City owner Assem Allam saw everyone taking the Michael on Twitter. Flamingo Land are now a sleeve sponsor for Leeds United.

8

Lete

Napoli 2006-2023

Don't get us started on Napoli and football kits. The club from Naples released a ridiculous 36 different kits in 2022/23, most of them commemorating their title win, and all of them with that awful, giant, red 'Lete' on the front.

From Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer to Diego Maradona, each shirt was sullied by a sponsor that is far too big. This isn't a new thing, Lete, a company that rose to prominence bottling mineral water, became Napoli's main sponsor in 2005. Some of the club's greatest-ever players have been saddled with shirts strewn with their giant logo.

7

Samsic

Stade Rennais 2004-present

Don't get us wrong, there is nothing to write home about this shirt, but even on a canvas so plain and bang-average, the giant 'S' for Samsic could have at least been made a little smaller. France is one of the most stylish countries in the world, but we guess not everyone can have Jordan collabs.

For a company that specialises in cleaning and efficient facilities management, this sponsor sure is messy. Stade Rennais have produced some world-class young talent in recent years. Eduardo Camavinga probably left for Real Madrid just so he didn't have to wear this shirt.

6

Cazoo

Various clubs, 2020-present

This one might be a bit of a cop-out, but the Cazoo sponsor is SO bad, none of the clubs they've sponsored over the years have been able to make it look good. Aston Villa, Marseille and Real Sociedad are just a few clubs that have been stuck with a giant 'Cazoo' soiling their otherwise stunning shirts.

The logo is just far too big, it goes from one side of the shirt to the other. Does everyone really need to know where they can buy, sell, or part-exchange their car that badly? These are huge clubs that have had their often beautiful shirts ruined by used car salesmen.

To add further insult (literally), it has also received notoriety in Italy for being very close to a word with a variety of vulgar meanings (that didn't stop Bologna last year, mind).

5

Wonga

Newcastle United, 2013-2017

Even if you're able to get past the immorality of a company like Wonga ever existing in the first place, you can't defend how awful their logo looked on the Newcastle United shirt. As if exploiting poor people for loans they'd never be able to pay back wasn't enough, they had to make Fabricio Coloccini look rather daft.

It's made even worse by the fact that Newcastle have had some stunning kits over the years. The old Newcastle Brown Ale shirts in the late 90s are some of the most iconic in Premier League history. Thankfully, they no longer have Wonga on the front of their shirt, they have Sela – a Saudi Arabian events company that definitely has no connection to the new ownership in any way, shape, or form.

Top 10 Newcastle kits of the Premier League era – ranked

Football FanCast ranks the top 10 best Newcastle United kits in the Premier League era. There have been some classics over the last 30 years…

By
Mark Marston

Jun 19, 2023

4

Burger King

Getafe, 2009-2012

It's hard being Getafe. Eternally behind fellow Madrid clubs Real and Atletico, they're never going to get the glamourous sponsors, so they got stuck with Burger King. The gaudy fast food conglomerate's logo sat in the middle of their shirt like an unwanted gherkin on a Whopper.

The icing on the cake, or cheese on the burger if you will, was the printed-on picture of the Burger King himself on the inside of the shirt, so if a player was to pull their shirt over their head, the meaty monarch's face would be in place of theirs. At least they didn't make them wear those paper crowns.

3

Ty

Portsmouth 2002-2005

Beanie Babies are adorable, just keep them out of football. The early 2000s was a rough time for English football kits – first we had Fulham, and now Portsmouth, both sporting shirts with logos of American companies that don't care for style.

It must have been hard for Teddy Sheringham and co to intimidate their opponents when they had a giant, red love heart in the middle of their shirts. The sponsorship coincided with Pompey's promotion to the Premier League for maximum visibility. We wonder how many limited-edition Portsmouth FC Beanie Babies are currently sitting in the attics of the Pompey faithful.

Emi Martinez has made unwanted history at Aston Villa, with the World Cup winner adding an embarrassing entry to the Premier League record books.

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• South American is a World Cup winner
• Has become one of the best in the business
• Does have three PL own goals on his CV

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentina international, who helped his country to global glory in 2022, has forged a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the business. The 31-year-old is a larger-than-life character and can usually be relied upon to provide a resolute last line of defence.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Martinez has become famed for his penalty-saving antics, with the South American mastering the art of mind games when opponents step up to the spot, and his reflexes have allowed notable success to be enjoyed with club and country.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  An uncharacteristic error was, however, made early on in his latest appearance for Villa. Martinez spilled a deflected Harvey Elliott cross over the line against Liverpool and now boasts the unfortunate honour of being the goalkeeper with the most own goals to his name (three) in Premier League history.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MARTINEZ?

  Martinez’s mistake against Liverpool did end up costing Villa, despite Unai Emery’s side battling back from 3-1 down to claim a share of the points courtesy of Jhon Duran’s late brace. The Villans are, however, in a position where a top-four finish and Champions League qualification can still be secured with one game left on their schedule for 2023-24.

Manchester United went into Anfield as heavy underdogs, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of last season that was the catalyst behind the side's decline, eventually limping over the line and finishing third in the previous campaign.

However, Erik ten Hag managed to guide his side to an important point in the Premier League, keeping a clean sheet in the process to become the first team to shut Liverpool out at their own ground in all competitions this season.

United battled hard to earn a goalless draw and will certainly be the happier of the two sides, with several players putting a shift in, particularly at the back and in midfield.

Kobbie Mainoo's performance in numbers

Manchester United were injury-riddled when travelling to Merseyside, with 11 first-team players absent through injury and suspension, including club captain Bruno Fernandes.

In recent weeks, ten Hag has opted to use Scott McTominay in a midfield two with Sofyan Amrabat, but with Fernandes unavailable, the Dutchman threw McTominay in as the number '10'. As a result, ten Hag made the gutsy decision to throw 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in alongside Amrabat. to see if he'd sink or swim.

Mainoo became the youngest player in Man United's history to start against Liverpool at Anfield and looked unfazed throughout.

Speaking after the game, ten Hag admitted that "when you are good enough, you are old enough. He proved that". Furthermore, football agent Liam Canning described the academy product as a "special talent", claiming his performance was "spectacular".

Despite the visitors having merely 31% of the ball throughout the match, the youngster had 30 touches in total, ending the game with an 89% passing accuracy. Additionally, Mainoo made three passes into the final third and won 50% of his tackles and 67% of his ground duels before being replaced with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

It was an outstanding performance from the midfielder with a bright future, but there was one player at the back who was even better than Mainoo.

Raphael Varane's performance in numbers

Manchester United were under the cosh for long periods of the game as Liverpool peppered 34 shots at the visiting team's goal, including 15 from outside the penalty area. However, partnering the experienced Jonny Evans at the back, Raphael Varane put in a superb shift to shut the hosts out.

The World Cup winner, who has reportedly been placed up for sale by ten Hag ahead of the winter transfer window, made 15 clearances, two blocks, three interceptions, and two ball recoveries throughout the match.

In addition, the 30-year-old was monstrous in the air, winning 100% of his duels (4/4) as Liverpool bombarded balls into the box in the hopes of forcing a winning goal, according to FotMob.

This was just Varane's second start for the Red Devils since the end of October and the Frenchman certainly didn't let his team down, showing great composure at the back against one of the most potent forward lines in England's top-flight.

After the game, respected Man United journalist Andy Mitten even claimed that Varane and Evans as a partnership were better than The Beatles' infamous Liverpudlian duo John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Varane was one of the main reasons why United managed to pick up a point against their great rivals and has certainly made himself undroppable ahead of the side's visit to West Ham United on Saturday, with Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News handing him an 8/10 match rating.

According to reliable news outlet The Athletic, Tottenham "will" attempt to move for a Premier League star in January, on one condition.

Spurs set sights on new midfielder

While a new centre-back is reportedly top of chairman Daniel Levy's to-do list when the transfer window reopens, there are claims that Spurs want a new forward and midfielder as well (The Mail).

Levy preparing bid for "rising star" with Spurs "in a hurry" to seal deal

He’s a real standout talent right now.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 21, 2023

Indeed, it is believed that manager Ange Postecoglou wants as many as three new signings in January, with Tottenham opening talks to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice already.

The 23-year-old could leave France for around £35 million. Todibo's form, coupled with a seemingly affordable valuation, has apparently tempted Levy and Spurs into trying a mid-season deal (90min).

If the Lilywhites do manage to seal Todibo's signing for such an amount, or maybe even a reported £22m alternative in Genoa star Radu Dragusin, then Postecoglou's central defensive issues would go some way to being solved.

Spare funds could then be re-invested into shoring up Tottenham's midfield, which will prove key in the winter. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr travel to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations early next month, while Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to be out until February at the earliest.

Postecoglou faces the very real danger of being left desperately short in the middle of the park, especially if midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg departs in January. Hojbjerg's exit is seen as a real possibility at Spurs, leaving questions as to who could fill in.

Spurs "will" attempt Gallagher deal on one condition

Now, as per The Athletic, there has been some news on star Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as Spurs plot a January swoop for the Englishman.

Indeed, according to the outlet, Tottenham and Levy "will" attempt to sign Gallagher if Chelsea put him up for sale, which is seen as possible according to another report by the same site.

"Close" Stamford Bridge sources have apparently told The Athletic that Mauricio Pochettino's side are willing to entertain bids for the 23-year-old, seeing as they look to bolster their own transfer kitty and move around FFP.

Gallagher has been one of Chelsea's few standout players this campaign, starting 16 Premier League games and ranking as their best top flight performer overall by average match rating (WhoScored).

He's bagged four assists in that time, all while making their third-highest rate of key passes per 90 (WhoScored).

Gallagher, going by the numbers, would bring proven Premier League experience and a sense of creativity to Postecoglou's squad.

If Chelsea become willing to entertain an approach from Spurs, it could be a pretty promising deal, with ex-Lilywhites midfielder Jermaine Jenas calling him a "gamechanger".

Washington Spirit sit second in the NWSL table after a 4-2 win at home to Angel City.

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• USWNT star Rodman struck twice before half-time
• Washington Spirit saw off Angel City 4-2
• Spirit sit a point behind leaders Kansas City Current

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  USWNT forward Trinity Rodman's excellently-taken first-half brace sealed a 4-2 come-from-behind win over Angel City on Saturday. Rodman, who turns 22 on Monday, opened the scoring on nine minutes when she beat a defender to a cross in the box, only to see City surge into a 2-1 lead before the half-hour mark. Rodman levelled the scores when she latched onto a bouncing ball just outside the six-yard box, beating the goalkeeper at the far post, with goals from Casey Krueger and Ouleymata Sarr sealing a 4-2 win for the Spirit.

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• WHAT TRINITY RODMAN SAID

  Rodman said: "I think collectively as a team we’re relying on each other a lot more and leaning into working together and not trying to make individual magic happen and [instead] making magic happen together. There’s just a common understanding of [how] we play for each other."

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The exciting comeback victory made it three wins from the Spirit's last four games to leave them sitting just a point behind leaders Kansas City Current at the top of the NWSL table as the regular season heads toward the midpoint.

Last year's January transfer window represented the first chance for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to put his stamp on the squad through recruitment. Emery had only been appointed at the end of October, so he'd been denied the luxury of the full summer market.

Villa freed up the funds for a couple of major winter signings, acquiring full-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis for £11.6m, and forward Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire for £14.3m (Transfermarkt). They had gone into the window in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but would end up finishing seventh.

A year on, and Emery's side sit just three points behind leaders Liverpool at the 20-game mark, raising the genuine prospect of Champions League football or even a title charge. With the right business in January, Villa can give themselves the best possible chance of protecting or improving their spot for the remainder of the season, but Emery has now suffered an early blow.

Ngonge set to snub Villa

A report from Italy earlier this week claimed Villa had agreed a fee of €10m for Hellas Verona winger Cyril Ngonge (TuttoMercatoWeb), and L'Arena backs up that story while noting that the Villans also offered €2m in add-ons (Sport Witness).

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

However, Ngonge is showing little interest in the idea of moving to Villa Park, and would instead prefer to remain in Serie A if he is to leave Verona. Domestic suitor Fiorentina may therefore represent a more compelling option.

A 23-year-old right-sided attacker, Ngonge came through the youth ranks at Club Brugge in his native Belgium and joined Verona from Groningen just last summer after spells with PSV and RKC Waalwijk. In his first season of Serie A football, he's scored five goals and provided two assists, which has helped keep his side outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone (Transfermarkt).

Bailey transformation under Emery softens blow

It's somewhat surprising that Ngonge isn't particularly keen on this move. He has the opportunity to trade a relegation battle for a Champions League race, and it doesn't seem like a sense of loyalty is at play given his apparent willingness to join Fiorentina.

Either way, the big consolation for Emery is the form of one of his existing options in Leon Bailey. The Jamaican is already closing in on a 'double double' with nine goals and eight assists in all competitions this season. In both departments, he's already enjoying the best year of his Villa career, and there's still just under 50% of the season to go (Transfermarkt).

Bailey has been in especially strong form recently too, scoring three, including a winner against reigning champions Manchester City in December, and setting up two more in his last seven Premier League matches.

With Nicolo Zaniolo, Moussa Diaby and, as part of a tactical reshuffle, Matty Cash all capable of playing on the right wing if needed, Emery should be fine until the end of the season. The Athletic have reported that Emery would also like to sign a right-back, so perhaps that should be the bigger priority for the winter market.