Newcastle United have "shown interest" in signing Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior, who could be allowed to leave on a loan deal this summer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

With Eddie Howe preparing for Champions League football next season, the manager has now identified Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze as a transfer target, however the likes of AC Milan, Arsenal and Liverpool are also said to be on his tracks.

The Magpies will have to fend off fierce competition to win the race for the Nigerian, but Howe will be well aware of the need to bring in a new winger, given Allan Saint-Maximin's uncertain future, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League, as well as Everton and Crystal Palace.

Harvey Barnes could be brought in as a replacement for the Frenchman, with the PIF pursuing a move for the England international, who is valued at £40m by Leicester CIty, while Iling-Junior is also emerging as an option.

Newcastle were linked with a move for the 19-year-old back in March, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, and there are still a number of top clubs vying for his signature.

That is according to Galetti, who recently told GiveMeSport that Juventus could sanction the youngster's departure this summer, but not on a permanent deal.

The journalist said: “Juventus, for sure, this summer will change something in this squad.

“Some players could leave on loan to grow and improve. Samuel Iling-Junior is one of them.

“He could leave Juventus on loan this summer, and many clubs have shown interest in him. From the Premier League, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Chelsea are monitoring his situation.”

Who is Samuel Iling-Junior?

The Juventus ace, who has stated himself that he is "similar" to Leroy Sane, was born in Islington, and made a number of appearances for Chelsea in the Under 18 Premier League, as well as the UEFA Youth League, before he made the switch to the Serie A.

Since then, the Englishman has risen through the ranks at the Allianz Stadium, making his first-team breakthrough last season, picking up one assist in the Champions League, after making a 20-minute cameo in his side;s 4-3 loss against Benfica.

Despite only receiving limited time on the pitch, the starlet received a 7.4 Sofascore rating, the highest of any Juventus player on the night, and he also made an instant impact in the Serie A, managing to score on his full debut for the club.

Fooball Scout Jacek Kulig has heaped praise on the youngster, describing him as a "flamboyant winger", while also outlining his key traits, which are his dribbling, pace, ball control and bravery.

It is still very early days in his career, but Iling-Junior is showing all the signs he could go on to be a top player, so it is exciting news that Newcastle are monitoring his situation.

That said, Howe will surely be hoping they can sign the £11k-per-week winger on a permanent deal, rather than on loan, as he could be a fantastic long-term replacement for Saint-Maximin.

Sunderland have made a positive start to the transfer window with four new faces coming through the door at the Stadium of Light, but the club's need for a new defensive midfielder is 'obvious'.

Who have Sunderland just signed?

Following their play-off semi-final heartbreak at the hands of Luton Town in May, the Wearsiders have been positive in the summer transfer market, bringing in four new players to try and help them avoid the same fate again next year.

The most expensive player signed by the club so far is Dutch defender Jenson Seelt, who cost the Black Cats £1.7m from Eredivisie giants PSV. He moves to Wearside after being named on the bench nine times in the Netherlands but never once stepping onto the field.

Whilst cheaper than his new Dutch teammate, Jobe Bellingham has easily drawn the most attention from the wider footballing world. Jude Bellingham's younger brother, he cost Sunderland £1.5m and, just like his Madrid-based brother, comes from the academy at Birmingham City.

The other two players to make a move to the North East are centre-forward Luis Semedo, who joined from Benfica B for an undisclosed fee, and centre-back Nectarios Triantis, who joined from A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners for an estimated fee of £300,000.

Whilst these are all good signings that could help Sunderland get over the line this year, they still need more cover in defensive midfield, according to Phil Smith of the Sunderland Echo.

He stated: "Cover in defensive midfield would look to be one other obvious priority, but elsewhere it could depend much on how Mowbray’s squad shapes up in the months ahead."

Who are Sunderland targeting in the transfer window?

According to a report from Dutch outlet Leeuwarder Courant, Sunderland have identified 28-year-old Thom Haye as a serious transfer target this summer.

Whilst he is younger than the typical age profile that the Wearsiders have been targeting recently, the club have made it clear that they want to strike a balance between youthful promise and a few older players with more experience.

Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said as much last summer:

"I've had three transfer windows here and I'd like to think if people were going to be critical about the group and lowering the age profile, they would have to say we've got some really talented players in our group and we've got some older more experienced players that are fundamental to that success and we've got some young up-and-coming players that are fundamental to that success. That's the balance we've got to get."

Would Thom Haye be a good signing for Sunderland?

The former Netherlands under-21 international is in the perfect spot to help the club and Speakman fulfil their goal of including more experienced and slightly older players into their exciting and youthful setup.

At only 28, he is still in the prime of his career, but he also comes with bags of experience after playing 175 games in the Eredivisie, with the vast majority of those appearances coming as an out-and-out defensive midfielder.

He also had a strong season last year with, WhoScored giving the "impressive" midfielder a brilliant average rating of 7.05 across his 31 top-flight appearances for his club side SC Heerenveen.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across their definition of the next best eight competitions, placing him in the top 8% for progressive passes, the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 17% for tackles, and the top 19% for progressive carries and interceptions, all per 90.

If Sunderland could get this deal over the line, they would have some excellent cover in defensive midfield for next season, and who knows, Haye could make that position his own if he can carry over his form from the Netherlands.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details File photo – Rashid Khan’s four wickets gave Afghanistan a come-from-behind win in the first ODI•Peter Della Penna

It was a collapse of some proportion. Ireland, who had looked dominant for a considerable portion of the match, paid the price for making a mess of what should have been a straightforward finish to a chase of 293. From 206 for 2 in the 36th over, they slid drastically to be bowled out for 262 as Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series in Greater Noida.And it was Rashid Khan, the 18-year old legspinner who once again came to the fore, picking up four wickets, including that of Niall O’Brien that triggered the collapse. Rashid had great support from pacer Dawlat Zadran, who took the wicket that arguably swung the match Afghanistan’s way, sending back William Porterfield, whose ravaging 119 had put Ireland on cruise control.Rashid was held back until the 19th over of the match, and with Porterfield and Paul Stirling going great guns, it begged the question if Asghar Stanikzai had missed a trick. His introduction, however, did nothing to put the brakes on the scoring. His first over yielded 11 and he was taken out after a three-over first spell where he had gone at a run a ball.He was brought back in the 29th over, and struck with his fourth ball, deceiving Stirling with a googly that was harmlessly chipped back to the bowler. Dawlat’s double strike next over – first Porterfield, who was caught driving on the up and then Wilson who was trapped leg before by one that skidded on – gave Afghanistan a real sniff, and they never conceded ground thereafter.The rest of the order crumbled to a combination of poor strokes and good deliveries as an already sluggish surface showed signs of slowing down even more. Amir Hamza conjured up a beauty, opening up Kevin O’Brien with a length ball that spun away just enough to have him stumped.Rashid asked more questions of the batsmen, showing great adeptness at using the googly, and struck in each of his last two overs. Tim Murtagh, seeing one drifting away, opened up for a cut but the ball spun in to ping him on the back pad. Then, George Dockrell played for the turn to a quicker one that instead merely straightened and beat the inside edge to trap him in front. By then, Ireland were nine down, and Dawlat wrapped it up when he had Peter Chase top-edge a pull to long-on.Before the collapse, Porterfield and Stirling had produced a superb display of batting on a slow pitch. Both batsmen demonstrated the importance of singles and kept the score ticking by nudging the ball either side of the wicket. Porterfield established himself as the dominant partner and was immaculate with his shot selection. Stanikzai’s attempt to stack up the off-side field and get his bowlers to bowl full outside off was met with a series of reverse sweeps through third man. Along with Stirling, he added 157 for the second wicket at over a run a ball. Even the dismissal of Stirling hardly slowed him down as he raised his ninth ODI century with a punch off Mohammad Nabi, but could not see his team through.As with the ball, Afghanistan were solid with the bat. Most of their batsmen came good after Stanikzai opted to make first use of the surface. Mohammad Shahzad played a characteristically entertaining 43 off 41 balls, laced with seven fours and a six and dominated an opening partnership of 68. When he fell, it was to his own undoing, ambling across after pushing a Mulder delivery to midwicket.But Noor Ali Zadran, in the company of Rahmat Shah, consolidated Afghanistan’s position with a second-wicket partnership of 83. Rahmat was all poise and class in his 78, which came with the help of four fours and three sixes. His 92-ball effort took a fair bit out of him, and he fell to a tired shot, holing out to long-on off Kevin O’Brien, Ireland’s best bowler on the day. At that point, Afghanistan had lost some ground, having lost three wickets for 46 runs.Hashmatullah Shahidi and Samiullah Shenwari made up for some of it with a half-century fifth-wicket stand. O’Brien produced a timely double-strike, sending back both batsmen in the space of three balls of the 46th over. But Nabi muscled 34 unbeaten runs off just 19 balls to lift them to what proved to be a very good total on an unhelpful pitch.

With Daniel Farke having been handed the reins for the foreseeable future at Leeds United, the 46-year-old will likely be keen to get to work quickly in order to revive the fortunes of the ailing Elland Road outfit.

The German tactician will inherit a squad that distinctly underwhelmed and underperformed last term having endured a dismal relegation to the Championship, with heads needing to roll if the Whites are to have any hope of sealing a swift return to the top flight.

Among those who the former Norwich City boss should be looking to move on is floundering full-back, Junior Firpo, with the struggling dud having failed to make the grade after joining from Barcelona on a £13m deal back in 2021.

As journalist Dean Jones recently noted, the 26-year-old has "had some difficulties in the Premier League" over the past two seasons, with pundit Paddy Kenny stating in 2022 that the defender "doesn’t have much defensive awareness and his positioning is poor."

Also described as looking "flat-footed or fast asleep" at times by Kenny, the left-back has made "high profile and costly" errors during his time in Yorkshire, according to Jones, having proven himself something of a "liability" in the backline.

The end of Firpo's Leeds nightmare may be in sight, however, with Fabrizio Romano having reported last month that the former Spain U21 international is looking to leave the club, with further reports indicating that a handful of La Liga sides are interested in a deal.

Farke could then move to hasten that exit amid a recent report from the Daily Mail which claimed that the club have 'checked on' a possible left-back replacement in the form of AZ Alkmaar's, Milos Kerkez, with the 19-year-old valued at around £20m by the Eredivisie side.

While the piece does suggest that it is AFC Bournemouth who are currently in talks to sign the teenager, it would be wise for Leeds to try and get to the front of the queue in order to solve their full-back woes.

Who is Milos Kerkez?

Described as a "high quality attacking full-back" by talent scout, Jacek Kulig, the eight-cap Hungarian international would seemingly represent a dream upgrade on the left of the defence, having sparkled in the Netherlands in recent times.

While the Serbian-born starlet was unable to make his mark at former club AC Milan – whom he left last year after failing to make a single first-team appearance – his quality has been on show in his current home, having registered five goals and seven assists in 52 games in all competitions in the 2022/23 season.

That record is in stark contrast to what Firpo achieved last term as the £60k-per-week man registered only two goals and two assists in 26 games across all fronts, having been unable to pose a real threat in an attacking sense.

Equally, Kerkez also represents a potentially superior defensive asset having won 60% of his ground duels last season as well as 57% of his total duels, again representing a far greater record than the current Leeds man (49% and 50% for the same two metrics, respectively).

Firpo's woes were also laid bare by the fact that he recorded an average match rating of just 6.55 in 22/23, as per Sofascore, to see him rank 22nd among his teammates, while Kerkez, by contrast, had an average rating of 6.99 – further proof of his impressive recent form.

With the youngster also the type of player that can be a mainstay of the Whites' defence for the long term due to his relative youth, it should be a no-brainer for Leeds to firm up their interest in the 5 foot 11 sensation, with such a deal potentially allowing Farke to send Firpo packing sooner rather than later.

ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the third day of the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and South Australia in Hobart

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Callum Ferguson top scored with 90•Getty Images

Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper were instrumental in setting Tasmania a target of 300 for victory in Hobart, where South Australia must win to have any chance of making the Sheffield Shield final. The Redbacks began the third day at 0 for 69 and were dismissed in the final over the day for 406, an innings that was based around a 173-run fifth-wicket stand between Ferguson and Cooper.Opener Jake Weatherald fell early for 28 to the bowling of Sam Rainbird, before debutant John Dalton was caught behind for 71 off fellow first-gamer Gabe Bell, the Tasmania fast bowler who finished with 4 for 97 and seven wickets for the match. South Australia’s hopes faded when Bell snared both Travis Head and Jake Lehmann for single-figure scores to leave the total at 4 for 120.But Ferguson and Cooper then settled in for a long stay before Cooper was eventually caught behind for 83. Ferguson had the opportunity to push for his second century in consecutive matches but instead was caught behind off Rainbird for 90. However, there were still plenty of runs to come, with Adam Zampa striking 63 to lift the total to 406.

The India wicketkeeper batsman, since making his maiden century in the West Indies, has been one of the team’s most dependable resources

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Ranchi19-Mar-20171:55

Wriddhiman Saha’s bumper home season

Ahead of their tour of the West Indies in 2016, India’s management decided to promote R Ashwin and bat him above their wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. At that point, Saha had played 11 Test matches and scored 367 runs at 21.58, with two fifties and no hundreds.Since then, Saha’s Test record has undergone a remarkable transformation. In 13 Tests, he has scored 615 runs at an average of 47.30 and a strike rate of 50.36 – it had been 39.84 previously – with two fifties and three hundreds.At the end of the fourth day’s play in Ranchi, where his third Test hundred helped India take a potentially match-winning 152-run first-innings lead against Australia, Saha said he hadn’t made too many changes to his batting, but had grown a lot more confident and decisive.”I am backing myself a lot more,” he said. “My go-to shots, the sweep and the shot over the top stepping out. Initially when I came into the Test team, I played those shots hesitantly but now I am 100% confident. The team, the captain, the coaches, everyone is fully behind me and that is good for me.”India had been under tremendous pressure – 328 for 6 replying to Australia’s 451 – when Saha walked in. He added 199 for the seventh wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara, who went on to play the longest innings by any Indian batsman in terms of ball faced (for matches with available ball data).”Puji shows a lot of patience in domestic cricket, regularly makes 200s and 300s in domestic cricket,” Saha said. “The way he showed patience here even as wickets were falling at the other end after short partnerships, he was trying to curtail his shots and have as long a partnership as possible.”Another feature of the partnership was Saha’s handling of the short ball, particularly against the hostile pace of Pat Cummins. He chose to sway rather than duck on most occasions, staying leg-side of the ball and giving himself the option of cutting or steering whenever the opportunity presented itself.”I practice a lot in the nets,” Saha said. “[I take the help of] the batting coach [Sanjay Bangar], Raghu [India’s throwdown coach], Anil [Kumble] , the fast bowlers – my strength is to let the short ball go, that’s what I work on.”Saha’s two previous hundreds came against West Indies in St Lucia and Bangladesh in Hyderabad. He rated his Ranchi hundred above both of them.”[This one is] the best of the lot,” he said. “We needed a partnership, and we built it slowly. Puji made a double and I made a hundred, has to be one of the best.”This was Saha’s second major partnership with Pujara in recent months. In the Irani Cup in January, they added an unbroken 316 for the fifth wicket to steer Rest of India to a target of 379 against the Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat. There, Saha had been in a very different mood, his unbeaten 203 coming off only 272 balls.”In that game, Puji backed me and encouraged me to play my shots and be positive,” Saha said. “The same approach was there today as well. Even when I defended, I did it in a positive sense and when I played my shots, that was also in a positive sense. He backed me, hence it was possible to have a good partnership.”

Rangers' loan deal for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Abdallah Sima could include an option to make his move permanent, according to a report from The Herald.

Which striker are Rangers signing?

Rangers have recently submitted an undisclosed bid for Feyenoord striker Danilo, however it was instantly rejected by the Dutch champions, who are holding out for a fee of more than £5m if they are to part ways with the Brazilian.

The same report details that Michael Beale's main priority to bolster his attack is Cremonese's Cyriel Dessers, but those talks also appear to have stalled, with the Italian club's asking price of £6.5m deemed to be too high.

As reported by Football Insider, the Gers are in very advanced talks to sign Sima on loan, with negotiations progressing well, although a deal is still yet to be agreed.

Now, The Herald have provided a new update on the intricacies of the deal, stating the Light Blues could have the option to sign the Brighton ace on a permanent basis, should Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi rule that he is not part of his long-term plans.

The 22-year-old is expected to complete a switch to Ibrox this week, with Beale close to strengthening his squad ahead of the return to pre-season training this Friday.

The manager is said to be excited about adding the Senegal international to the squad, and the deal could be finalised in the coming days.

Who is Abdallah Sima?

The £21k-per-week attacker spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Ligue 1 side Angers, where he registered six goals in all competitions, displaying his versatility by featuring on both flanks, in attacking midfield, and at striker.

Hailed as a "fantastic prospect" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the forward also impressed during his time with Slavia Prague, scoring 11 league goals in the 2020-21 campaign, and receiving a man-of-the-match award from the BBC against Rangers in the Europa League.

One of the former Angers man's defining traits is his pace, clocking in at 35.64 km/h in Ligue 1 last season, indicating he would be able to cause real problems for Scottish Premiership defences with his speed.

Given some of the performances Sima has put in for both Slavia Prague and Angers, it is exciting news that he is edging closer towards a switch to Ibrox, and that Rangers have an option to sign him on a permanent basis.

Everton have 'provisionally offered' a two-year deal to Leeds United striker Rodrigo as Sean Dyche looks to land a forward at Goodison Park this window, according to reporter Jacque Talbot.

What's the latest transfer news involving Rodrigo and Everton?

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Everton are 'working on the purchase' of Leeds United star Rodrigo, who was hailed as "magnificent", as the Toffees aim to take advantage of the Whites falling into the Sky Bet Championship.

The report states that 'contacts' are at an 'advanced stage' in negotiations for the 32-year-old, who earns around £100k-a-week on the books at Elland Road, as per Capology.

Last term, the Spain international enjoyed a prolific campaign, registering 15 goals and two assists in 35 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

FootballTransfers have detailed that Everton are keen to land Rodrigo this window; however, they face competition from the Middle East for his signature.

Leeds United are likely to sell the forward this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2024. At the same time, Whites pair Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto are also of interest to Toffees' boss Dyche.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, reporter Talbot has given an update on proceedings and revealed that Everton have 'provisionally' put forward a two-year deal to Rodrigo at Goodison Park.

Talbot stated: "They've provisionally offered him a two-year deal. But there's some interest from the Middle East in him and, obviously, they can offer much more lucrative terms."

How much room for manoeuvre do Everton have in this transfer window?

Truthfully, Everton find themselves in an awkward position this window due to being in special measures with the Premier League after recording losses of over £370 million over the last three years, as per The Daily Mail.

It is hard to tell how much of an impact that will have on their spending power concerning prospective incomings this summer, though that still hasn't stopped the Toffees from being linked with some big-money deals.

Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that Everton have made an offer to sign Almeria striker El Bilal Toure, stating on Twitter: Everton FC put €40M on the table for El Bilal Touré! The Toffees offered a 5-years deal for €4,3M gross. Wolverhampton, Nottingham Forest & Fulham FC keen to join the fight. Serie A clubs interest exists but no offer has been done yet. It's moving."

Everton, alongside Nottingham Forest, are interested in offering Swansea striker Joel Piroe a route to the English top-flight this off-season and he is viewed as an affordable target at Goodison Park, according to Voetbal International.

Paul Joyce, who is a journalist for The Times, has mooted on Twitter that Ellis Simms may be moved on to make way for striking reinforcements, stating: "Everton striker Ellis Simms is attracting interest from Championship sides Swansea City, Coventry City and Ipswich Town. Simms is valued at between £7 million and £10 million."

Football Insider have indicated that Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is a target for David Moyes at West Ham United, signifying that the Toffees are set for a busy window that could see several players join the club and also depart.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has been a busy man in the summer transfer window as he has wrapped up a host of deals with the aim of improving his playing squad.

Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, and Kieran Dowell have all arrived at Ibrox on a permanent basis, while Abdallah Sima has joined on loan until the end of the season.

These fresh additions to the side have opened the door for the club to move on some of the fringe players from the team, including Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo.

Journalist Darren Witcoop revealed that the Light Blues are prepared to cash in on the former FC Schalke prospect, with a move south of the border seemingly on the cards.

The reporter recently Tweeted: "Wales international Rabbi Matondo is free to leave Glasgow Rangers this summer. Matondo spent a loan spell with Stoke in 2021 and could return to English football after being made available by the Scottish club."

Beale could now replace the ex-Manchester City man by landing Swansea forward Morgan Whittaker, who would be a big upgrade on the 22-year-old livewire.

What's the latest on Morgan Whittaker to Rangers?

Towards the end of last month, the Daily Record reported that the Gers are looking to move on some players and that they will then eye further signings, with the club said to still be interested in a deal to sign the Championship attacker.

This comes after the Light Blues failed to snap him up from the Welsh outfit during the January transfer window, after his loan spell with Plymouth Argyle.

Beale must now complete a swoop for the 22-year-old as his statistics for Plymouth last season suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more than Matondo.

Whittaker averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 25 League One appearances and contributed with an impressive nine goals to go along with seven assists. This is a deadly asset simply chomping at the bit to play at a higher level.

To put those numbers into context, Malik Tillman (ten) was the only Gers midfielder or winger with more than six league strikes while Ryan Kent (nine) was the only forward with over seven assists in the Scottish Premiership last season.

These statistics suggest that Whittaker could be one of Beale's most productive attackers if the talented dynamo is able to translate his impressive form in England over to Scotland.

He would also come in as a big upgrade on Matondo after the former Schalke man struggled badly in his debut season with the Glasgow giants.

The £28k-per-week wide man averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.74 over 19 Premiership outings as he failed to find the back of the net and produced just four assists for his teammates.

Whittaker, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as "flamboyant", could be an upgrade on the current Gers winger both in terms of the threat he can pose as a scorer of goals as well as being a creator, while his average performance level may also be far greater.

This is why Beale must push for the club to cash in on Matondo in order to open the door for the Swansea man to come in ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Fenerbahce starlet Arda Guler, as Unai Emery bids to take his side to the next level over the summer break.

With Monchi on side as president of football operations, the Spanish duo could pull off a marquee signing by snatching the 18-year-old talent from Turkey, who has caught the eye of some of Europe's top clubs already this transfer window.

A report from TEAMtalk stated that Premier League clubs Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are eyeing the talent, however, Villa were named as one of the clubs that have scouted the player.

The report claims that their sources revealed that Villa were named as one of the clubs with representatives in attendance as Turkey defeated Wales last week in the Euro qualifiers.

Guler scored after being introduced in the second half, showing the array of Premier League club representatives in attendance just what he’s capable of.

Villa could pull off a steal with the teen sensation’s release clause currently standing at just €17.5m (£15m) with a contract running until 2025.

What could Arda Guler offer to Aston Villa?

Dubbed the “golden boy of Turkish football” by journalist Tom Maston, the 18-year-old ended the season as The Yellow Canaries’ best performer as per Sofascore.

With an average match rating of 7.48 in the Super Lig, the teen made 11 starts and 20 total appearances in his breakthrough campaign for Fenerbahce, scoring four goals and assisting three in the process, via Sofascore.

The youngster is deployed primarily as a central attacking midfielder, however, has the ability to play on the right wing with a tendency to cut in on his favoured left foot to add a punch in the final third.

Monchi could deliver Villa one of the continent's most encouraging young talents in Guler, and could provide Emery with the essence of one of his former players and a former Premier League talent.

Described as being “continuously compared” to ex-Arsenal creative genius Mesut Ozil, the Ankara-born gem could provide the Spaniard with shades of his former player from a time when he dominated the midfield.

Praised as “phenomenal” by Jose Mourinho, Ozil was integral to the Gunners’ attack when playing his best football during his time in the Premier League.

In his recorded career appearances, the German registered 222 assists throughout his domestic exploits, as well as 23 assists for the national team in which he was a member of the World Cup-winning squad, as per Transfermarkt.

At just 18, Guler could gift Villa shades of the creative know-how of the retired gem, as highlighted by his impressive average of two key passes per game, similar to the number recorded by Ozil in his final Premier League campaign where he averaged 2.2.

Lauded as a “sensation” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Fenerbahce gem has been tipped by Ozil himself to become a “world star” as relayed by football.london.

Ozil's performance levels may have dipped under Emery, contributing to ten goals in 42 outings under the Spaniard, but the German was still a creative marvel on his day.

To be compared to such a player is impressive and Emery’s side could be taken to the next level by procuring the youthful energy of Guler, who has displayed more attacking threat than the Spaniard’s current attacking midfield option of Emiliano Buendia, who averaged just 1.1 key passes per game last season.

With the likes of Real Madrid swarming the movements of the teenager, Monchi could pull off a huge feat in capturing the teen.