da realsbet： Aston Villa’s inconsistent Premier League form continues.

da poker： On Saturday, the Claret and Blue Army were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by bottom three dwellers Ipswich, despite the fact the Tractor Boys were reduced to ten men on the cusp of half time; Axel Tuanzebe dismissed against his former club.

That means Unai Emery’s team have failed to win any of their last four in the Premier League, slipping down to ninth, thereby finding themselves below the European positions, ahead of Wednesday’s mouthwatering meeting with current runaway league leaders Liverpool at Villa Park.

Before that clash, it’s time to analyse the Villans’ current attacking options, assessing how a youngster, currently out on loan, could make a big impact.

Aston Villa's attacking options

Villa’s attacking options saw a major overhaul during the January transfer window, most notably the fact that Jhon Durán departed, joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £71m.

Meanwhile, despite interest from Arsenal, Ollie Watkins remained a Villa player, later joined by Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, the duo arriving on loan from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, while £23m was spent to bring in Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.

Rashford, in particular, has caught the eye during his two substitute appearances so far, creating more ‘big chances’ last weekend than any other Premier League player, despite only being introduced at halftime.

So, with the arriving trio and Watkins, as well as Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers, who Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian described as an ‘incredible talent’, Emery certainly has some talented attackers at his disposal.

However, could the best of the lot currently be out on loan, starring in the EFL, ready to shine in the Villa first team in the near future?

Aston Villa's future superstar

Back in January, after being recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County, Lyall Thomas and Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports reported that Emery was planning to ‘assess’ youngster Louie Barry in training, before making a concrete decision over his future.

Well, he was then loaned out again, this time to Hull City, but this does not mean the young forward doesn’t have a future at Villa Park.

Still only 21-years-old, Barry has already had a noteworthy career. He first made headlines by joining Barcelona’s fabled la Masia academy from West Bromwich Albion in 2019, but returned to England a year later, signing for Villa for a reported £880k.

He was then in the spotlight again in January 2021; with the entire Villa first team and coaching staff in isolation following a Covid-19 outbreak, the U23s were tasked with facing Premier League champions Liverpool in an FA Cup tie, with Barry equalising for the youngsters on the cusp of half time, an amazing moment, even if the Reds ultimately prevailed 4-1 in the end.

Barry has subsequently been sent out on multiple loans by Villa, appearing for Ipswich, Swindon, Milton Keynes, Salford and Stockport, starring for the Hatters earlier this season, scoring 15 goals in just 24 appearances, named EFL League One player of the month in both August and November, as Dave Challinor’s side chase back-to-back promotions.

He’s been so impressive that Barry was recalled from his loan spell at Edgeley, his final appearance for Stockport coming against Villa’s fierce rivals Birmingham City on New Year’s Day, this not a coincidence, waving farewell following a 1-1 draw.

Daniel Storey of the i Paper noted that he was Barcelona’s ‘first English prodigy’, with Barry himself stating “I loved my time in Barcelona… but I decided to come back close to home [when] we had got wind that Covid-19 might be a big thing.”

He’s yet to get off the mark for the Tigers, making three appearances for Hull to date, including in Rubén Sellés’ starting lineup for the very first time against Norwich on Saturday.

So, let’s see how he compares to two of Villa’s most high-profile current forwards, namely Watkins and Rashford.

Louie Barry vs Ollie Watkins vs Marcus Rashford 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Barry

Watkins

Rashford

Appearances

27

34

26

Minutes

1,936

2,369

1,569

Goals

16

12

7

Assists

3

9

3

Shots

74

80

41

Shots on target %

51.4%

41.3%

36.6%

Goals – xG

-0.2

-3.1

+2.2

Shot-creating actions

2

66

49

Take-on success %

50%

22%

41.4%

Statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, Barry shares some of the best attributes with both Watkins and Rashford, while mirroring the latter in his ability to operate off the left flank or in a more central role.

Like Watkins – who has netted 12 times – he is a clinical finisher, scoring 16 goals so far this season, while over 50% of his shots hit the target, currently ranked first in EFL League One this season for shots on target per-90 (1.86), despite having not played in that division since 1 January.

Meantime, he is also a supreme dribbler, similar to prime Rashford, having been successful with 50% of his take-ons, albeit his assists and shot-creating action statistics are significantly lagging behind the other two.

Nevertheless, all the signs are there that Barry – who was hailed for having “incredible” composure by Declan Rice – will be a top-class forward in the future, so he is one that Villa supporters should remain excited about.

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da aviator aposta： Chelsea are now seriously interested in signing an “unbelievable” £62m star, and they have now been in contact ahead of a possible summer move, according to a report.

Maresca's striker search

da realbet： Christopher Nkunku could be on the move this summer, while there is also growing interest in Nicolas Jackson, which may intensify the need for Enzo Maresca to bring in at least one new striker at the end of the season.

Aston Villa are named as one of the clubs that could make a move for Jackson in the summer, joining the race alongside Newcastle United, who are believed to have made the 23-year-old their priority target, amid fears Alexander Isak could move on.

However, with both Nkunku and Jackson struggling to find the back of the net on a regular basis, Maresca may decide to make a move for a new striker this summer, regardless of whether the duo move on.

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During the January transfer window, the Blues were linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the forward.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea have been in contact with Cunha ahead of a potential summer move, alongside Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, with the three London clubs seriously considering activating the £62m release clause.

The Brazil international’s performances for Wolves this season have attracted the attention of some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, and the release clause included in his new contract means the door could be open for a deal.

The Blues are said to view the Wolves star as a key signing for their project, indicating he could be among their main striker targets for the summer.

"Unbelievable" Cunha could upgrade Chelsea's frontline

With Jackson sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Nkunku has been given the nod at striker recently, but the Frenchman has struggled to make his mark, finding the back of the net just twice in the Premier League this season.

Jackson’s form has also been on a downward trend after a positive start to the campaign, failing to score in 2025, so it would make sense for Maresca to bring in a top striker in the summer.

Cunha’s performances in the Premier League over the past two seasons indicate he could be a real upgrade for Maresca in attack, having bagged 25 goals in 57 games for Wolves during his first two full campaigns, while also picking up 11 assists.

The 25-year-old even bagged a hat-trick against the Blues last season, and he received high praise for his performance from journalist Alex Richards.

da bet esporte： Things might be going wrong for Arsenal at the moment, but the future is still bright.

da leao： Mikel Arteta and Co have built a team jam-packed with incredible talent, be that from the academy, underappreciated gems or big-money signings.

For example, Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly look set to star in the first team for years to come, while the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães have become world-class defenders.

Even Martin Odegaard, who’s having a down year, and Declan Rice, who stands as the club’s record signing, have more to give in the coming years, and one of Arteta’s most controversial signings is worth millions more than both midfielders.

The valuations of Rice and Odegaard

There is no escaping from the fact that this season has been disappointing for Odegaard.

So far, the club captain has only been able to score three goals and provide six assists in 2208 minutes of action across 28 appearances, which comes out to an underwhelming average of a goal involvement every 3.11 games, or every 245.33 minutes.

Moreover, in some of the must-win games against sides the Gunners really should be beating, like Everton, West Ham United and Fulham, the 26-year-old has just not stepped up.

However, with that said, he’s got an impressive track record in North London, as shown by his successive Player of the Year awards, so it is understandable that the CIES Football Observatory continues to value him at around €88.6m, which converts to about £73m.

Rice, on the other hand, is valued at a whopping €108.3m, which converts to about £90m, and while that is less than the £105m he cost the club a year and a half ago, it’s still an enormous sum of money for a central midfielder, although more than justified.

The former West Ham captain might have taken some time to get up to speed this term and struggled last weekend, but he has generally been one of the North Londoners’ better players in recent months.

The Englishman has managed to adapt to the left-eight role rather well, and, on top of his ball-winning ability, has been a useful ball-progressor for the side, mostly from his ability to maraud up the pitch, which has led to his teammates nicknaming him ‘the horse’ – make of that what you will.

However, another of Arteta’s big signings is now worth even more than the midfielder, and substantially so.

The Arteta signing worth millions more than Odegaard and Rice

While the likes of Saka and Saliba are just as, if not more important, to the team, neither one was signed by Arteta.

Kai Havertz, on the other hand, was for around £65m in June 2023, and while he’s a player who generates mixed opinions, he’s one that the CIES Football Observatory value at a staggering €130m, which converts to a cool £108m.

Not only is that a massive £43m increase on the fee paid by the Gunners, but it’s also £35m more than Odegaard’s valuation and £18m more than Rice’s.

That is a number that is sure to generate some strong opinions from some, but there may be a few reasons as to why it’s so high, starting with the fact that, for all the flak he gets for missing chances, the German has a pretty good record when starting down the middle.

For example, while he ended last season with 14 goals and seven assists in 51 games, he scored eight goals and provided all seven assists in just 18 games as a central striker.

Havertz’s 24/25

Competition

Prem

UCL

EFL Cup

FA Cup

Appearances

21

8

4

1

Goals

9

4

2

0

Assists

3

2

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.75

0.50

0.00

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, before his hamstring injury, the “superb” attacker, as dubbed by Arteta, scored 15 goals and provided five assists in just 34 appearances, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.7 games and leaves him the team’s top-scorer.

Finally, there are factors off the pitch, such as the fact he’s still just 25 and has a contract with the club that is set to run until the summer of 2028.

Ultimately, Havertz will continue to be a striker who divides opinion, but his record is better than most people give him credit for, and there is still time for him to improve further.

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da 888： Leeds United took another step towards promotion back to the Premier League on Saturday as they picked up a point against West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road.

da bet sport： Whilst the Whites would have preferred to claim all three points against the Baggies, especially after they took the lead through Junior Firpo in the first half, it was another point closer to the top-flight and better than a loss.

Daniel Farke’s side are three points clear of Sheffield United in second place and eight points clear of Burnley in third, although the Clarets have a game in hand over the top two.

The West Yorkshire outfit were surprisingly blunt at the top end of the pitch against the Baggies, as they only created one ‘big chance’ in the 90 minutes.

Joel Piroe played the entire match and did not get a single shot off, on or off target, as his teammates failed to create any opportunities for him, and he failed to create any chances for himself.

Joel Piroe's form this season

That was a surprise because the Dutch centre-forward, who joined from Swansea City in the summer of 2023, has been in lethal form in front of goal in the second tier this season.

The left-footed marksman has scored 15 goals from 10.71 xG in 25 starts in the Championship, whilst taking 2.1 shots per game on average, which shows that he has been ruthless with the chances that have come his way in the division.

Championship top scorers (03/03/2025)

Player

Appearances

Goals

Joel Piroe (Leeds)

35

15

Borja Sainz (Norwich)

30

15

Josh Maja (West Brom)

26

12

Wilson Isidor (Sunderland)

32

12

Callum Robinson (Cardiff)

27

12

Stats via BBC

As you can see in the table above, Piroe is the joint-top scorer in the league, alongside Norwich City winger Borja Sainz, and he will be hoping to move clear of the Spaniard to win the Golden Boot, as well as promotion, at the end of the season.

The former Swans attacker has already outscored his 2023/24 tally of 13 goals in the Championship, and his current form is a testament to his professionalism as well as his quality, as he started the season as the second-choice to Mateo Joseph.

Farke went with the Spanish academy graduate for the opening eight matches of the Championship season, but the Spain U21 international only found the back of the net twice in those games.

That provided Piroe with an opportunity to step in and make the number nine position his own, which is exactly what he has done – as evidenced by his position at the top of the league’s goalscoring charts.

Things may not have gone as favourably for the Dutch centre-forward, however, if the timing had been different and a former Leeds youth forward – Rafa Mujica – had been in his way instead of Joseph.

Leeds once had Rafa Mujica

Back in the summer of 2019, Victor Orta swooped to sign Mujica from Barcelona B on a free transfer, after his contract with the Spanish side expired.

The young marksman scored seven goals in 33 appearances for Barcelona B during the 2018/19 campaign and Leeds confirmed that he would initially link up with Carlos Corberan’s U21s side at Thorp Arch.

Mujica soon went out on loan to Extremadura and Villarreal B during the 2019/20 campaign, before spending time on loan with Real Oviedo and Las Palmas in the following season.

At the end of the 2020/21 campaign, following two years as a Leeds player, Las Palmas signed the Spanish centre-forward on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

Where Are They Now

Expand Collapse

That is a decision that the powers that be may now come to regret, as Mujica has gone on to develop into an excellent centre-forward who has thrived in multiple countries.

After one season with Las Palmas as a permanent addition, Portuguese side Arouca swooped in to sign the number nine in the summer of 2022, and that is when his career really had lift-off.

Rafa Mujica's form in recent seasons

The former Leeds United academy talent enjoyed a strong first season with the Liga Portugal outfit as he racked up 14 goals and one assist in 32 appearances in all competitions.

He followed that up with an exceptional return of 23 goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese side in the 2023/24 campaign. Meanwhile, as aforementioned, Piroe scored 13 goals in the second tier for Leeds that season.

Mujica, who was hailed as “magnificent” by former boss Pepe Mel, then earned himself a big-money move to Al-Sadd in the summer of 2024, as they swooped in to sign him for a reported fee of €10m (£8.3m).

Since making that switch to Qatar, the 26-year-old centre-forward has been in incredibly lethal form, and has even been more prolific than Piroe at league level this season.

24/25 season

Mujica (Stars League)

Piroe (Championship)

Appearances

13

35

Goals

14

15

Conversion rate

26%

20%

Minutes per goal

78

146

Big chances missed

10

5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Mujica has only scored one fewer goal than the Dutch attacker, despite playing just 13 times, and has averaged far fewer minutes per goal in the current campaign.

Whilst some may point to the league that he is playing in, the former Leeds man also starred in the Portuguese top-flight – home to the likes of Porto, Sporting, and Benfica – in the previous two seasons with Arouca, which shows that he can score goals on a regular basis at a good level.

The Spanish marksman never got a chance to make his first-team debut, let alone start the first eight matches of a league season as Joseph did, and some may wonder what would have happened if he had been given that opportunity at Elland Road.

He has developed into a top-quality number nine, who has starred in Portugal and Qatar, and that is why Leeds should rue selling him to Las Palmas back in 2021, as they missed out on the chance to help him fulfill his potential at Elland Road.

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It will now be interesting to see whether or not the 26-year-old, who still has plenty of time left in his career, return to Europe to play in one of the major leagues in the future.

da 888casino： New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has already informed the Gunners that he’s keen on one forward, with Edu Gaspar’s replacement looking ahead to the summer transfer window despite not yet officially starting his job.

When Andrea Berta will begin role as Arsenal sporting director

da pinup bet： The 53-year-old’s decade-long-plus stint at Atlético Madrid attracted serious plaudits, with Berta working alongside Diego Simeone for the vast majority of that time and delivering real success on the field.

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Berta’s early signings helped Atletico to win their first La Liga title since 1996 during the 2013/2014 season, and they became the first team since Valencia in 2004 to loosen Barcelona and Real Madrid’s stranglehold on the division.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

He also netted Atlético a handsome net profit through his dealings with Barça over Antoine Griezmann, first selling the France international legend to the Catalans for around £109 million in 2019 only to buy him back for just £17 million in 2022.

Berta also orchestrated high-profile Atlético deals for the likes of João Félix, Julian Alvarez, Álvaro Morata and Diego Costa during his tenure as director, and while some of those acquisitions were more successful than others, he is a very capable heir to Edu.

Berta is expected to commence his role as Arsenal sporting director in the “coming weeks”, according to journalist David Ornstein, but that hasn’t stopped the transfer chief from conjuring behind-the-scenes plans for this summer.

Indeed, as per The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who was previously on the books at Atlético during Berta’s tenure, is a target for the official.

Andrea Berta informs Arsenal that he wants Matheus Cunha

According to their information, Berta expressed his desire to sign Cunha during talks to join Arsenal, with the Brazilian also expected to be available for the value of his £62.5 million release clause this summer.

Wolves signed Cunha on an obligation-to-buy loan deal from Atlético for around £43 million, and he’s since gone on to become a pivotal player at Molienux, starring in an array of different attacking positions.

The 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist boasts 15 goals and four assists from 29 appearances in all competitions this season, earning 11 caps for Brazil, and he’s been one of the Premier League’s outstanding non-big six forwards this term.

Interestingly, former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere has previously tipped Berta to sign Cunha for Arteta by using his La Liga connections.

The South American can operate as a second striker, centre-forward, through the middle and in both wide areas, making him an extremely attractive option for the north Londoners.

da betano casino： No one could’ve foreseen the struggles Manchester City have endured this campaign, especially coming into the season looking to claim their fifth successive Premier League title.

da bet7： Pep Guardiola’s side have lost nine times in their 28 outings – an unthinkable tally – especially given their previous success during the last few years of his reign.

The FA Cup remains the only trophy they can win in 2024/25 after being knocked out of all other competitions – highlighting how dismal the campaign has been for the Citizens.

A rebuild is desperately needed in the summer, continuing from the work in January, with new signings needed to push the side back towards the summit of the division.

Key players have also failed to deliver at crucial stages of the season, with two players needing to be on top form if they are to right the wrongs of this season.

Rodri & Phil Foden’s stats for City in 2024/25

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been ruled out of action since the end of September with an ACL injury, with his presence greatly missed at the heart of the side.

The Spaniard looks set to return for the start of next season, hopefully able to reach the levels he achieved before his setback, allowing the side to compete for titles once again.

As for midfielder Phil Foden, he’s struggled to match his displays from the last campaign, which saw him claim the PFA Player of the Year award, showcasing the levels he produced.

However, this time around, he’s been largely inconsistent, unable to match his previous form, only registering seven goals and two assists in his 23 league outings.

Both players will certainly remain pivotal to any revival that takes place in 2025/26, but the same can’t be said for one player who needs to offload during the summer window.

The City player who earns more than Foden & Rodri

Over the years, City have made some stellar signings, helping them reach the heights they’ve previously hit, with Erling Haaland undoubtedly one of the best additions in their history.

The Norwegian striker has notched a staggering 118 goals in 136 appearances, worth every penny of the fee they forked out to land the talisman back in the summer of 2022.

However, midfielder İlkay Gündoğan was a player who was part of a fairytale reunion in the summer, rejoining the club after leaving for Barcelona just 12 months prior.

The German was a fan-favourite during his first spell, scoring twice on the final day against Aston Villa in 2021/22, securing another league title for Guardiola and the Citizens.

It’s safe to say his second spell hasn’t been as successful, as he has struggled to nail down a regular place and has been looking past his best when called upon over the last couple of months.

The now 34-year-old has only started 16 times to date, with his showing against Real Madrid in the Champions League evidence that he’s not at the top level like he once was.

His contract is set to expire in the summer and given his age and lack of positive displays, it would be no surprise to see the club allow him to depart to conduct the next stage of their rebuild.

However, when taking his wages into account, it is a no-brainer to allow him to depart, with Gundogan currently earning a staggering £230k-per-week at the Etihad.

Man City’s highest earners in 2024/25

Rank

Player

Gross pay per week

Gross pay per year

1

Erling Haaland

£525,000

£27,300,000

2

Kevin de Bruyne

£400,000

£20,800,000

=3

Bernardo Silva

£300,000

£15,600,000

=3

Jack Grealish

£300,000

£15,600,000

5

Omar Marmoush

£295,000

£15,340,000

6

John Stones

£250,000

£13,000,000

7

İlkay Gündoğan

£230,000

£11,960,000

8

Phil Foden

£225,000

£11,700,000

9

Rodri

£220,000

£11,440,000

10

Josko Gvardiol

£200,000

£10,440,000

Stats via Capology

His subsequent earnings are higher than those of Foden and Rodri, with the first-team stars currently earning £225k and £220k-per-week respectively, despite their personal successes in recent times.

It would be a brutal call to make, but given the drop-off endured by the club in 2024/25, action needs to be taken in the summer to prevent a similar situation from occurring once again.

Funds are needed to provide the manager with the opportunity to strengthen the squad and complete an overhaul, with the German’s wages going a long way to offer new alternatives elsewhere.

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da realsbet： An “outstanding” Sheffield United player now looks set to sign a new deal at the club, according to an update from reliable journalist Danny Hall.

Sheffield United preparing for final Championship promotion push

da bet sport： The Blades secured a massive 1-0 victory away to rivals Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, which wasn’t only big for local bragging rights, but also in terms of their Championship promotion hopes.

While some of Chris Wilder’s squad are currently out on international duty, the squad will be preparing for one more major push when the full squad reconvenes next week.

United have eight matches remaining in the Championship this season, sitting second in the table and level on points with current leaders Leeds United, and more importantly, two ahead of third-placed Burnley.

A huge amount of current focus is understandably on the Blades’ promotion charge, but it is also important that key players are retained at the end of the season. Now, an important update has emerged regarding one such figure.

"Outstanding" Sheffield United ace looks set to sign new deal

Speaking in a Q&A for The Star, Hall claimed that Jack Robinson looks set to sign a new deal with Sheffield United, triggering an extra year in his current £25,000-a-week contract and describing it as “good news”.

“I believe so. Chris Wilder said recently that Robinson’s extra year would kick in once he played 25 games but there was some uncertainty over whether that meant 25 appearances, made 25 starts, in the Championship or in all competitions…and there was also a suggestion he’d have to play in 50 per cent of United’s games to trigger the extension.

“Either way, he’s made 25 Championship starts now so it would certainly seem we’re set for another year, at least, of the skipper at Bramall Lane. Good news, for me, especially considering Anel Ahmedhodzic (more on him later) would otherwise be the only senior, contracted player at United beyond the summer, and his deal expires in 2026.”

This is great news for the Blades, with Robinson such an experienced player these days, making 148 appearances for the club overall and thriving at centre-back.

The 31-year-old has been an influential figure for United throughout the 2024/25 campaign, starting 25 Championship matches and winning three aerial duels per game, while Wilder has lauded him, saying:

“Jack was in the team for the first two games, he was our outstanding player last season, head and shoulders our player of the year he scooped up almost everything at the awards ceremony and rightly so and the skipper finds himself out of the team. What does he do? He gets on with it, gets himself ready, puts himself in a good position physically to make sure when the door opens he makes it hard now for the others to get back in.”

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Whether Robinson stays at Bramall Lane beyond 2026 or not remains to be seen, but for now, having him at the club for another 12 months is a no-brainer.

da bet7： Following news that Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, reports have indicated that another player could yet be on his way out of the Etihad.

De Bruyne confirms Man City departure

da realbet： After 10 incredible years full of every achievement imaginable, De Bruyne took to social media to confirm that he is, indeed, set to move on from Manchester City this summer. One of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, the Belgian will bow out as a free agent when his current deal comes to an end in the coming months.

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Saying his goodbyes, De Bruyne released a statement which read: “Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first. Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. “Manchester” will forever be on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.”

Ortega could follow De Bruyne out Man City exit door

Whilst De Bruyne’s exit is bound to be emotional, he’s unlikely to be the only one saying goodbye. According to reports in Germany as relayed by Sports Witness, Bayer Leverkusen have now made contact to sign Stefan Ortega, who will be allowed to leave Manchester City for around €8m (£7m) this summer.

The second-choice goalkeeper will go under the radar compared to the legendary De Bruyne if he leaves this summer, but that doesn’t mean he has been without his own moments to remember at the club.

Pep Guardiola has been among those at the Etihad to praise the 32-year-old, telling reporters after Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur last season: “He make incredible, incredible saves many, many times.”

With the exit door seemingly swinging open nonetheless, Ortega could yet be on his way to Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

da brdice： This season could have been catastrophic for Manchester City, but they’re now very much on course to salvage the campaign.

da winzada777： On Wednesday night, even without the sidelined Erling Haaland, the Sky Blues swatted aside Leicester at the Etihad, thanks to first-half goals from Jack Grealish and then Omar Marmoush.

This victory propelled Pep Guardiola’s team up to fourth, ahead of a fascinating Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Citizens could also bookend a generally miserable season with silverware, through to the FA Cup semi-finals for a seventh successive season, set to face high-fliers Nottingham Forest at Wembley in three and a half week’s time.

As Man City rebuild, and Guardiola continues to rejig his team, has he found his new Raheem Sterling?

Raheem Sterling's Manchester City career

As outlined by David Mercer of Sky News, Sterling has spent his entire career ‘in the spotlight’ with ‘newspaper controversies’ often overshadowing his sporting talent.

This was certainly the case when he made the £49m move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015, with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker labeling him ‘overpriced’, claiming Man City paid ‘a lot of money’ for a player who hadn’t ‘really done anything that’s worthy of that price’.

Well, fair to say, Sterling did justify his price tag in sky blue, scoring 131 goals and providing 73 assists in 339 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five EFL Cups.

Guardiola labeled him ‘so important’ to their success, while Vincent Kompany believed, at his peak, Sterling was ‘one of the best wingers in the world’. His form at Chelsea and now Arsenal subsequently show Man City were vindicated to sell him for £47.5m when they did.

Now, can Man City’s current mercurial talent, who exists under a similar level of media scrutiny, rediscover his best form and become a key figure for Guardiola once again?

Man City's new Raheem Sterling

By opening the scoring against Leicester on Wednesday, Jack Grealish ended his 473-day wait for a Premier League goal, dedicating it to his younger brother Keelan, who tragically died exactly 25 years ago to the day.

On Wednesday, Guardiola chose to deploy Grealish as the central playmaker, handing him his first Premier League start since Christmas, a decision that was certainly vindicated.

The England international certainly made a strong case to start as the number ten in Sunday’s Manchester derby too, considering both Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne continue to misfire, notably reduced to a role among the subs.

Grealish vs Leicester

Minutes played

90

Goals

1

Assists

0

Touches

68

Accurate passes

51/55 (93%)

Shots

2

Key passes

2

Duels won

1/9

Fouls won

1

Stats via Sofascore.

By his own admission, Grealish has not been at his best this season, but he still has plenty to offer between now and the end of the campaign.

Similar to Sterling, Grealish exists under intense media scrutiny, which John Nicholson of Football365 describes as ‘grotesque’ and hyperbolic stupidity in pursuit of content’.

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The most recent example of this came just last month when the Daily Mail ran a story about Grealish spending an evening in a pub in Newcastle, supposedly ‘stumbling’ out in the early hours of the morning.

Back on the pitch, Gareth Southgate described Grealish as “fantastic”, so let’s compare his campaign to those of the aforementioned Foden and De Bruyne, attempting to decipher who Guardiola should start going forward.

Grealish vs De Bruyne & Foden 24/25 comparison

Statistics

Grealish

De Bruyne

Foden

Appearances

28

31

39

Minutes

1,430

1,698

2,674

Goals

3

4

10

Assists

5

7

6

Chances created

51

54

70

Take-on success %

41.2%

37.5%

40%

Shot-creating actions per 90

5.56

6

4.66

Pass completion %

87.8%

75.9%

84.8%

Touches per 90

37

60

51

Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref, Squawka

As the table outlines, Grealish comes out on top when it comes to dribbling and pass completion, with Foden registering the best statistics overall, albeit he’s played 1,200 more minutes than his compatriot and 1,000 more than De Bruyne.

So, while none of the trio have been at their best, Grealish might just be the man in form, suggesting their ‘new Sterling’ should start at Old Trafford this weekend.

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da leao： Celtic turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup on Sunday.

da 888casino： The Hoops are hoping to win the SFA Cup in order to complete a domestic treble for the second time in the last three seasons, after Ange Postecoglou did so in the 2022/23 campaign, as they have already won the League Cup.

Brendan Rodgers is aiming for a perfect domestic campaign despite losing Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January.

The Scottish giants sold their Japanese forward to the French side for a reported fee of £10m earlier this year, but they also managed to bring Jota back to Parkhead in return.

Celtic reportedly paid a fee of £8m to sign the Portuguese winger, 18 months on from selling him to Al Ittihad for £25m, which essentially meant that the club received Jota and £2m from Rennes, in a roundabout way, for Kyogo.

There may not be too many complaints about the way that things turned out for the Hoops in that window, because the forward has hit the ground running in his second spell at Parkhead.

Why Jota has been a good signing for Celtic

The former Benfica whiz had big expectations on his shoulders upon his arrival in Glasgow in the January transfer window, due to what he had produced in his two seasons under Ange Postecoglou.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota delivered consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in those two Premiership seasons under the Australian head coach, with 21 goals and 21 assists.

This meant that it was a reasonable expectation for Jota to come in and immediately bolster the squad with instant performances on the pitch when he arrived in January, and the forward has met those expectations.

24/25 Premiership

Jota

Appearances (starts)

10 (6)

Goals

4

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

3

Assists

2

Dribbles completed

10

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese starlet has already contributed with seven goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in six Premiership starts this year.

This shows that he has provided the instant impact that was expected of him, and rightly so, given his proven quality at that level, which is why he has been an excellent signing for the Hoops.

It was a terrific opportunity for all parties involved to bring Jota back to a club where he knows he can be a star player, and the forward will hopefully continue to impress in the final third in the months and years to come in Glasgow.

Despite all of this, Celtic are now being linked with an interest in a young talent who could go on to become even better than the Portuguese sensation at Parkhead.

The latest on Celtic's interest in Premier League starlet

According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are one of a number of clubs chasing a deal to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that both Celtic and Rangers are interested in a swoop for the 17-year-old attacker, and that teams across Europe have also made contact with the player about a possible move this summer.

It states that teams have become aware of his potential availability after the England youth international turned down a professional contract to remain at Selhurst Park.

Football Insider adds that PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid have all sent scouts to watch him in action, whilst there are also Premier League teams looking at the teen sensation.

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The outlet reveals that Derry would be open to moving abroad, whether that is to one of those European sides or to Scotland, but it remains to be seen where he will end up next season.

There looks set to be plenty of competition for the 17-year-old talent’s signature this summer, and Celtic must push to win the race for his services, because he could become even better than Jota.

Why Jesse Derry could become even better than Jota

The current Hoops forward came up through the Benfica academy with a return of nine goals and eight assists in 47 matches for the B team, and four goals and eight assists in 17 games in the Youth League.

This shows that the Portuguese dynamo enjoyed an impressive, but not completely outstanding, career at youth level before coming to Scotland to shine under Postecoglou with roughly ten goals and ten assists per season in the Premiership.

Derry, son of former Palace and QPR defender Shaun, has shown incredible promise at youth level for Palace in recent years, to the point where he looks like an even better prospect than Jota did at Benfica.

Per Football Insider, the teenage ace has scored 20 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles at youth level in the current campaign, including nine goals in eight U18 Premier League matches.

As you can see in the clip of one of those 20 goals above, Derry is similar in style to Jota as a left-winger who likes to cut in on his right foot to find the far corner.

The Palace youngster, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has been “tearing things up” at youth level, also scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 17 matches in the 2023/24 campaign.

This means that the England U19 international has scored 31 goals in 44 games for Palace since the start of last season, which is a far superior youth record in comparison to what Jota did with Benfica’s academy before his move to Celtic, whilst playing in the same position.

This, therefore, suggests that the potential is there for Derry, who is reportedly being looked at by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, to become even better than Jota on the left wing by providing an incredible goalscoring threat by cutting in on his right foot.

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That is why Celtic must push to sign the teenage starlet in the summer because he could be an exceptional long-term addition to the squad, as a winger with the qualities to emerge as a first-team star in the future if he can translate his academy form over to senior football to be even better than Jota.