Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Atletico Madrid ace Joao Felix, as the youngster prepares to return to the Spanish capital after a loan spell at Chelsea.

Unai Emery has presented the club with an exciting project since his arrival in October, and with European football on the table for next season, Villa Park has once again become an attractive place to play.

What’s the latest on Joao Felix to Aston Villa?

As reported yesterday by Spanish outlet MundoDeportivo, Villa could be one of the options for the Portuguese forward to take the next step to.

Emery spoke highly of the 23-year-old after he signed for Chelsea during a press conference, stating that it would be “very difficult” for the club to sign Felix due to the difference in quality at the time.

With the Villans securing a higher-placed finish than the Portuguese ace’s loan club, the Midlands could be an exciting project for the youngster to become part of.

What could Joao Felix bring to Aston Villa?

Once lauded as “special” by Emery himself, the Viseu-born gem could become an integral part of Villa’s attack and is at an advantage with his experience of playing in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old made 16 appearances for Chelsea this season, however, his CV extends far beyond his short stay, having racked up over 200 professional appearances representing Benfica, Atletico and Chelsea, as well as 30-caps for Portugal.

In a time where Villa have excelled the basics under the Spaniard, the next step would be to hire players of an elite calibre to cement themselves as firm contenders in all competitions.

In Felix, Emery could have his own star boy, and an influence similar to some of the best forwards in the league, with the £195k-per-week attacker likened to Spurs ace Heung-min Son.

As per FBref, the Portuguese is comparable to the Korean based on their statistical profiles over the past year.

Also previously hailed as “absolutely incredible” by journalist Olivia Buzaglo, the Tottenham Hotspur forward has been one of the most dangerous wide players since his arrival in north London in 2015, and now Villa could have their answer to his talents.

The two players are similar in their direct methods of play going forward, indicating the level of player and influence Villa could grasp in Felix.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old whiz averages a dominant 3.11 progressive carries per 90 to Son’s 2.59, highlighting his abilities in moving the ball into the final third, a perfect attribute in Emery’s free-flowing set up.

The two are instrumental in front of goal as well as their thrilling game play, the “explosive” talents of Felix – as claimed by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango – are seen in his ability to contribute to goals.

In comparison to Son, the Portuguese star averages a higher rate of expected goal contribution through expected non-penalty goals and expected assists, registering 0.53 npxG + xAG to the Spurs whiz’s 0.50 npxG + xAG per 90, via FBref.

Emery could seal his own answer to the exciting Korean in signing Felix, a player that could find his best form at Villa as well as positively impacting the squad to take the Spaniard’s project to the next level.

Mason Mount's Chelsea future looks like a transfer saga that will drag on right until the end of the summer window.

Manchester United remain eager to sign the England international, but there is a big gap between both sides' respective valuations, with the Red Devils supposedly only willing to offer £50m.

Chelsea want closer to the £70m mark for a player about to enter the final year of his contract, but allowing the rigmarole to continue deep into the summer would be damaging for the Blues.

Instead, it may be a case of accepting United's offer now and looking for a replacement – or indeed searching within their ranks for a ready-made alternative of sorts.

Who is Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei?

In Cesare Casadei, Chelsea appear to have a midfielder who is ready to step up and play in the Premier League under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is weighing up whether to include the 20-year-old as part of Chelsea's pre-season training camp after he caught the eye at the U20 World Cup with Italy.

Casadei ended the tournament as top scorer with seven goals – this as a midfielder, remember – to follow in the steps of the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero.

But rather than having the next Messi on their hands, Chelsea will settle for something close to the next Frank Lampard, a player who scored a club record 211 goals for the West London side.

With eight goals in nine appearances for Italy at U20 level, Casadei will now look to get close to the mark Lampard managed for England U21 when scoring nine goals in 19 caps.

The youngster is not strictly one of Chelsea's own, having been recruited from Inter Milan in a reported £16m deal last summer, before then being loaned out to Championship side Reading in January.

Casadei scored one goal in 15 appearances for the relegated Royals as he made his first foray into senior football. While he caught the eye with his goals at the U20 World Cup, it was more the defensive aspect of the youngster's game that stood out at Reading.

He averaged 1.87 blocks per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was the third-most of any Reading player, while also ranking highly for the percentage of aerial duels won with 70.6 – again, only two others bettered that figure.

For comparison, Mount averaged 1.31 blocks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season and won 29.1% of his aerial duels.

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini was glad to see Casadei go out and get some regular football, and he now looks set to step up and feature for the U21 side during the 2023-24 campaign.

"Cesare Casadei is really good. He had already impressed me [before the U20 World Cup]," Mancini told Corriere dello Sport last week, via Football Italia.

"He went to England and played in the Championship, a tough and formative league, almost like the Premier League. If it wasn't for the U20 World Cup, he would be playing for the U21 side already."

Given Chelsea's hugely bloated squad, it may well be that Casadei has to be patient for his chance. But if nothing else, the past six months suggest the Blues have another talented midfielder on their hands, regardless of whether Mount stays or goes.

Arsenal are monitoring the availability of Chelsea striker Kai Havertz ahead of a potential summer move, according to a report from The Telegraph.

Is Kai Havertz leaving Chelsea?

According to reports, Havertz is set to leave Chelsea this summer, though it is now unlikely he will be moving to Real Madrid, as the Spanish side are said to have cooled their pursuit amid concerns about the Blues' asking price.

The same report details that Chelsea are keen to keep hold of the German, but that they would sell him for the right price as they need to raise money after failing to qualify for the Champions League despite spending heavily.

Madrid may have backed away from the negotiating table for now, though they could go back in for him at a later stage, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also named as potential suitors.

The 23-year-old may also have the option to remain in the Premier League, as The Telegraph reports that Arsenal are monitoring his situation with Chelsea, although the £70m price tag has so far dissuaded them from making a move.

Chelsea are holding out for a large fee given that the Germany international's contract does not expire until 2025, but the player himself could push for a move, as he is interested in a move elsewhere – particularly to Real Madrid.

It is deemed unlikely that any potential suitor will offer more than £50m for the forward, giving the Blues a big decision to make this summer.

Should Arsenal sign Kai Havertz?

Considering the £150k-per-week attacker scored just seven goals in 35 Premier League appearances last season, despite most commonly being utilised as a striker, £70m would surely be far too much of an outlay. However, he could be a solid addition for a lower fee.

Hailed as "exceptional" by members of the media, the former Bayer Leverkusen man recorded 14 goals in all competitions during the 2021-22 campaign, the second-highest figure of any Chelsea player.

There have been reports indicating that Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing a more physical striker this summer, and the 6 foot 3 colossus could fit the bill in that regard, considering he has averaged more aerials won per 90 than Gabriel Jesus over the past year.

However, Havertz's record in front of goal is a real issue, missing 14 big chances in the Premier League last season, and he should only be signed if Chelsea lower their asking price.

Chittagong’s new-look squad beat defending champions Comilla Victorians by 29 runs in the first match of the Bangladesh Premier League

Mohammad Isam08-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
File photo – Mohhamad Nabi took four wickets as Chittagong strangled Comilla Victorians’ chase•ICC/SportsfileChittagong Vikings sent out an early warning as they beat defending champions Comilla Victorians by 29 runs in the tournament’s opening game. After Tamim Iqbal and Shoaib Malik helped them set up a fighting total, Man of the Match Mohammad Nabi took control of the game with his four-wicket haul.Tamim sped to 50 off 32 balls with his team score on 69 for 1 at the end of the ninth over. But he was having trouble running between the wickets with Anamul Haque and, almost predictably, the second-wicket pair had a meltdown when Tamim ran for a second despite Anamul calling no after pushing to long-on.Tamim, who had been dropped on 23 by Nahidul Islam running back from cover, was furious as he fell for 54 off 38 balls. His knock was studded with two sixes – over long-off and cover – and six attractive boundaries. Anamul was also run out when he backed up too far in the hunt for a single. Marlon Samuels, running in from midwicket, struck down the stumps at the non-striker’s end.Chittagong’s innings looked in danger of getting derailed, but Malik and Jahurul Islam added 60 runs for an unbroken fourth-wicket stand that took the Vikings to 161. Malik struck two fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 42, while Jahurul contributed 29 off 21 balls. The unbroken partnership meant that Chittagong were deprived of Mohammad Nabi’s big-hitting prowess in the slog overs, but the Afghanistan allrounder made up with the ball.Nabi removed Liton Das and the dangerous Ashar Zaidi in the eighth and tenth overs respectively, to reduce Comilla to 58 for 4, after Imrul Kayes had fallen early to a reckless waft outside off against Dwayne Smith, and Samuels had chipped a catch to short midwicket off Abdur Razzak.Mashrafe Mortaza, who promoted himself to No. 6 to breathe life into the faltering chase, fell to Tymal Mills and was followed into the dressing room by Imad Wasim four balls later.Nabi picked up his third and fourth wickets off consecutive deliveries in his last over, by bowling Al-Amin and trapping Sohail Tanvir in front. Debutant Nazmul Hossain Shanto (54*), who had watched his team crumble around him after coming in at No. 4, provided some late entertainment for the half-packed stadium, hitting Taskin Ahmed for four boundaries in a row in the last over to bring up his fifty. But it all came too late for Comilla.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMahmudullah hit five fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 50•Raton Gomes/BCB

Khulna Titans, having to win their last league game to qualify for the playoffs, did so emphatically courtesy Mahmudullah’s half-century. They finished the group stages in second position to ensure the first qualifier against the same opponents on December 6. The eliminator will be played between Chittagong Vikings and Rajshahi Kings.Khulna, having never gone past 157 in the tournament, had to make their highest team total. And against a weakened Dhaka side that rested Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, they breezed to the target with 12 balls to spare.It didn’t seem a cakewalk when they lost Andre Fletcher early. Mohammad Hasanuzzaman struck three sixes and as many fours in his 18-ball 40 to get them ahead of the asking rate. Mahmudullah then took over after Hasanuzzaman’s dismissal; he hit five fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 50. The trigger boost meant Abdul Mazid’s strike rate of 58.33, the lowest of the season for batsmen who have faced 35 or more deliveries, was negated.Mahmudullah fell with Khulna needing eight, but with no pressure, they cantered home to dash the hopes of Rangpur Riders, who lost to Comilla Victorians earlier in the evening.When Dhaka batted first, Kumar Sangakkara, reprieved on 2, brought up his second half-century of the tournament. The rest of the Dhaka batting line-up threw away starts with, with Mehedi Maruf, Nasir Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Seekkuge Prasanna and Ravi Bopara not going past 20. Junaid Khan picked up three wickets.

Leeds United are set to lose star forward Rodrigo Moreno for pennies on the dollar as former Sporting Director Victor Orta looks to bring him to Sevilla.

Leeds United transfer news – Rodrigo Moreno

Since Leeds were officially relegated from the Premier League, there have been rumblings of a player exodus.

A lower level of competition and huge wage cuts make it hard for relegated sides to keep a hold of their star players, and that certainly looks to be the case for striker Rodrigo.

According to Spanish outlet El Paritdazo de COPE, the Spaniard is set to join Sevilla on a free as the Yorkshire club looks to free up their wage bill going into next season.

The fact that the current sporting director of the Spanish giants, Victor Orta, is also Leeds' former Sporting Director probably helped, despite Orta denying it, saying: "With this rumour, maybe from there, things have got a bit exaggerated."

What has Conor McGilligan said bout the situation?

McGilligan was quick to point out that the idea of losing a player for such a small amount of money was a painful one, especially as it's their former sporting director that has seemingly got him.

Speaking on the One Leeds podcast, he said: "It hurts the fact that we've spent £31m on a player and our recruitment director is going to go back to Seville and then pinch him for €3.5m."

However, McGilligan was eager to point out that the problem could be much bigger than just Rodrigo and that Orta could know a lot more about the inner workings of the club than the fans realise, adding: "Now I think my worry with all this is that Victor Orta was top of Leeds United transfers because Andre Radrizzani didn't have a clue about football and Orta was running everything especially when it came to player contracts, release clauses, everything.

"I am massively worried that he knows the release clauses, he knows the players, and he knows what moves they may favour. Victor Orta has got a lot of our future in his hands now he's part a system at Sevilla which is a winning system when it comes to European trophies, and it's massively attractive it will be attractive for any of our players to go to Sevilla."

How good was Rodrigo last season?

The departure of the Rio-born forward will certainly be a blow to the Peacocks, as he scored a respectable 13 goals in the Premier League last season and produced one assist.

According to WhoScored, he also averaged a decent match rating of 6.81 across his 31 games last season, which considering the dysfunctional nature of Leeds last year, looks quite good.

His underlying numbers look strong as well. According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Rodrigo is in the top 12% of players for non-penalty goals and, surprisingly, the top 11% for tackles per 90, showing that he isn't afraid to do the defensive work.

The club will miss him for his off-the-pitch influence as well.

Following a game with the Leeds development squad in 2021, Mark Jackson, the team's coach, hailed the Spaniard as "a fantastic influence on the young players."

With Rodrigo looking as good as gone, only time will tell if Orta plans on taking any more of his ex-players.

Arsenal seem to be closing in on their top target for the summer, with reports referencing a deal close to completion…

What's the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

That's according to Football Insider, who claims that Edu has agreed terms with West Ham United's captain Declan Rice.

The Gunners are set to make an initial bid of around £92m, with £8m worth of add-ons to take the deal into a nine-figure sum.

The 24-year-old has also agreed personal terms, seemingly rendering this deal all but done. Having won the Europa Conference League with the Hammers, their chairman David Sullivan admitted that his exit was an almost certainty. This latest report seeks to confirm that.

Would Declan Rice improve Gabriel Jesus?

Whilst the acquisition of someone who was originally a defensive midfielder might have little impact on a striker on the surface, what Rice has accomplished this season alongside his growth has made him much more than someone to simply protect the back four.

His 7.19 average Sofascore rating for the term, whilst largely buoyed by defensive figures, is also married to the nine goal contributions he recorded in all competitions. This was partnered with an 88% pass accuracy, one key pass, 2.1 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

What is set to make the England international so important in bolstering Jesus' numbers is a mix of all those statistics just mentioned, as not only will he provide the defensive foundation for the Brazilian to occupy better goalscoring areas, but this added creativity from midfield could prove crucial.

In what has been an injury-hit debut year in north London, the former Manchester City finisher still notched 11 goals with seven assists. However, his main role ended up being the spearhead of Mikel Arteta's pressing system, rather than the goalscoring monster he likely dreams of being.

By signing Rice, who boasts incredible football intelligence as well as technical proficiency, he could perhaps occupy spaces that the ageing Granit Xhaka could not, offering further fluidity and athleticism to allow his would-be 26-year-old teammate to apply more of a focus on finding the back of the net.

After all, he was not lauded as a "world-class" asset by manager Danny Cowley for nothing. His efforts in dictating the play could see the Gunners exert even more control over games than they have done, surely resulting in more chances for the forward.

Rice has starred in a struggling Irons team, and the step-up will likely not phase someone so confident and talented.

Arteta and Edu will hope that he can be the final piece to complete their side, arguably improving everyone around him.

Newcastle United may be aided in their ambitious pursuit of Nicolo Barella due to Inter Milan's financial situation, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Nicolo Barella?

According to Telegraph Sport, Newcastle United are 'pushing hard' in their attempts to bring Barella to Tyneside this summer from Italian giants Inter Milan.

The report states that the proposed deal could be worth around £50 million and Leicester City playmaker James Maddison is said to be their other key target this window.

Football Insider contradict these claims and state that it may take as much as £70 million to entice Barella away from San Siro ahead of next term.

This would mean that the Magpies would have to smash through their transfer record to capture Barella, overtaking Alexander Isak as the most expensive signing in club history following the Sweden international's move from Real Sociedad last year for £63 million.

Capology understand that Barella earns around €178,077 (£152,922) per week at the Italian giants on a contract that runs until June 2026.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that although Inter Milan will be reluctant to sell star players such as Barella and Alessandro Bastoni, who has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, something may have to give due to their financial reality.

Jacobs told FFC: "Barella is another one that Inter are adamant they're going to keep on to; Bastoni, Tottenham have looked at in the past as another player that Inter swear until they're black and blue in the face if you like because that's their club colours, that they're adamant he won't go anywhere, but something's got to give because their financial situation."

Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Barella would be a very bold statement signing from Newcastle United as they prepare to host Champions League football at St James' Park next term.

In 2022/23, the Italy international made 52 appearances in all competitions for Inter Milan, registering nine goals and ten assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per WhoScored, the 26-year-old was an inventive presence during the campaign and managed an average of 1.6 key passes per match in Serie A.

Barella was also a driving force in Inter Milan's midfield and successfully performed 146 shot-creating actions in total across the season, as per FBRef.

Newcastle United are in an exciting moment as a club and bringing in someone like Barella would be a major coup for the Magpies as they look forward to 2023/24.

No fewer than 141 overs were lost to rain but Australia, led by their captain Steven Smith, secured a dramatic Test and series victory with the last hour to spare at the MCG

The Report by Daniel Brettig at the MCG30-Dec-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA double-century from Azhar Ali. Pakistan batting until after lunch on day three. No fewer than 141 overs lost to rain. Fifteen wickets in four days on a surface more concrete than pitch. Australia won the Boxing Day Test. Yep, really.Pakistan fined for slow over rate

Pakistan have been fined for a slow over rate during the second Test against Australia at the MCG. Match referee Ranjan Madugalle imposed the fine after Pakistan were ruled to be two overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.
Players are fined 10% of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined 20%, in accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. Misbah-ul-Haq was hence fined 40% of his match fee; he pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.

In a conjuring act to rival those of Sydney 2010 and Adelaide 2006, Steven Smith’s men produced a Test and series victory from seemingly nowhere. Nowhere that is, apart from Pakistan’s unrivalled propensity for either triumph or disaster, with little in between.This, we had been told, was a sturdier Pakistan, capable of fighting a match out in the manner they did at the Gabba after a horrid start. This was also the Pakistan side that had ascended to No. 1 in the world earlier in the year. But their descent from the summit has been just as rapid as Australia’s: both sides know what it is like to lose five consecutive Tests from the moment they reached the top of the ICC’s rankings.From the opening moments of the day, Pakistan had looked a team worried about defeat, Australia a team alert to the prospect of victory. After Smith and Mitchell Starc supercharged their scoring rate so effectively as to post the highest ever Test total in Melbourne, a pair of early wickets either side of lunch gave the hosts a glimmer.It was exploited brilliantly by Nathan Lyon, who in the space of a single spell unseated Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq. Under extreme pressure to hold his spot entering the final day, Lyon’s response was emphatic, but not enough to cause Smith to keep him on after the tea break: he is not the first Australian spin bowler to struggle to retain the full confidence of his captain.That being the case, the final blows were struck by the seamers. Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird and Starc all found deliveries incisive enough to cut through the tail, much to the delight of a final day crowd that swelled the total attendance to 142,188, a figure as admirable in the rain-affected circumstances as Australia’s charge to victory.Much of Pakistan’s early bowling and fielding had been lacklustre when placed under pressure by Smith and Starc, personified by Sohail Khan’s wretched drop of Starc at long-off. Sohail finished with three wickets but was one of four expensive bowlers, none able to contain even with the help of Misbah’s often defensive fields.So quickly did Smith and Starc score that the home captain had the luxury of declaring before the interval, meaning the visiting openers were compelled to survive two bursts of the new ball either side of lunch.Mitchell Starc ripped out Sarfraz Ahmed with reverse-swing•Getty ImagesIn four overs before the interval, Pakistan lost the wicket of Sami Aslam, dragging a ball from Hazlewood onto the stumps via his body. The first over of the afternoon brought another, when Babar Azam was struck on the pad by a Starc inswinger that the umpire Ian Gould judged to be hitting leg stump – a decision the batsman’s referral showed to be marginal.Younis scored freely enough until Lyon’s introduction, when a fraction of extra bounce saw him turn an offbreak in the air towards short leg. Peter Handscomb moved forward to claim the chance a matter of millimetres above the turf. Misbah, out of sorts with the bat all series so far, tried a sweep first ball and then repeated it to his second, the top edge well caught around the corner by Nic Maddinson.This double left the door ajar for Australia, and it opened further when Shafiq advanced and pushed Lyon directly to Handscomb, who this time hung on after a juggle. Lyon, for so long this summer a harried figure, was now dictating terms, and his team could sense a remarkable result.It was a surprise when Smith did not keep Lyon on when play resumed, preferring Starc from the Great Southern Stand End. Hazlewood had found a modicum of reverse-swing and his tight lines were rewarded with Azhar’s wicket, the opener’s guard finally let down after 476 deliveries across two innings. Again, Gould ruled marginally in Australia’s favour on an lbw.That opened up an end, and after Bird surprised Mohammad Amir with a quicker delivery that was dragged onto the stumps, an exultant Starc blasted out Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah in a fashion that would have impressed Wasim Akram.Australian celebrations were unrestrained and it was not hard to work out why. For most of the past five days it appeared that time was getting away from both sides; in the end Australia toasted victory with the last hour to spare.

The Greater Noida Sports Complex ground can now stage international matches between Full Members

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2016

The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground can now stage international matches between Full Members.In December, the ICC granted the stadium its approval to stage matches between Associates, paving the way for it to become Afghanistan’s adopted home. The stadium has also staged domestic cricket, notably the 2016-17 Duleep Trophy, which was played under lights. According to a BCCI release issued on Friday, the ICC inspected the venue again last week and confirmed that it met all the minimum requirements to stage Full Member matches.”I’m pleased to announce that the SVSP Cricket Stadium, Greater Noida is now fully compliant to 

host international matches with Full Members,” Anurag Thakur, the BCCI president, said. “BCCI had organised Paytm Duleep Trophy for the first time in day-night format using the pink ball from August 23 to Sept 14, 2016, that tested the venue’s infrastructure and facility. The Afghanistan national team had also used the venue for their home games earlier this year. I am confident that this approval will inspire the authorities to take this stadium to next level.”