ESPNcricinfo presents the pivotal clashes to watch out for during the Sri Lanka-England Test series, which kicks off in Galle on Monday
Andrew McGlashan in Galle25-Mar-2012Andrew Strauss v Chanaka Welegedara The England captain needs a strong series with the bat. He has not scored a Test hundred since Brisbane in November 2010, but if he is to get one on this trip the challenge will not just come from the spinners. Chanaka Welegedara removed Strauss in three innings out of four during the series in England last year, restarting the debate on whether technical issues existed against left-arm quicks. Zaheer Khan’s injury during the India series that followed removed an enticing battle. Opening batsmen falling to opening bowlers should not come as a surprise, but Sri Lanka will see it as an opportunity to make an early opening in conditions where new-ball wickets are so crucial.Kevin Pietersen v Graham Ford This is a pairing between one person who will be in the middle and another who will be in the dressing room. Graham Ford is now the Sri Lanka coach but has been a huge figure in Pietersen’s career, a mentor he has sought out during times of struggle. Following a poor 2010 season, Pietersen went to South Africa and worked with Ford prior to the 2011 Ashes, during which he proceeded to score a double-hundred in Adelaide. Now Ford is in charge of the opposition and will have the inside track. Pietersen, for his part, is brimming with confidence. Will the pupil or the teacher come out on top?Graeme Swann v Mahela Jayawardene To call Graeme Swann’s current situation a slump in form shows what high expectations there are of him – even being below his best, he took 13 wickets at 25.07 against Pakistan. He remains England’s No. 1 spinner, though, his hold on that title is now a little more tenuous. It hasn’t been a particularly easy start in Sri Lanka for him, either, firstly with the strong comments about an opposition batsman not walking, then match-figures of 1 for 132 against the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI. Things will not get any easier. Swann is about to bowl against one of the finest players of spin around. Mahela Jayawardene put huge dents in Monty Panesar’s confidence four years ago, and his nimble footwork allied to deft touch will pose Swann a huge challenge.England v the heat It may be clichéd to talk about England cricketers coping in hot conditions – as much as commenting on an overseas player wearing a few sweaters in May at Lord’s – but the temperature will play a key role for them in this series. It is why there is such debate about four bowlers verses five. Do such stifling conditions demand an extra option? And the heat does not just take a physical toll … England’s players have already lost their cool once in the middle when they were not impressed by an umpiring decision and it’s easy to crack.
Plays of the day from second day of the second Test between India and Australia in Bangalore
Sidharth Monga at the Chinnaswamy Stadium10-Oct-2010The cruelty
Sreesanth must have done something really awful to Ian Gould some time in the past. The revenge act was one of the worst possible. When finally Sreesanth put a good spell together, he thought he had been rewarded when Tim Paine chased a wide delivery and edged. Sreesanth was done thanking the heavens, the relief was writ large on his face, when Gould asked Paine to wait. For the second time in two Tests, an umpire was not sure about the legitimacy of the ball he had not called immediately. The replays showed the suspicion was well founded, and that Sreesanth had overstepped. Just to rub it in further, Paine drove Sreesanth through the covers and midwicket later in the over.The inexplicable field
A man trying to save his career had just moved from 95 to 99 with a streaky boundary past slip. He would obviously be anxious about that hundred. The Indian field settings suggested otherwise. Three men waited on the on-side boundary, and singles were there to be taken everywhere. Sure enough North did that, spending no time on 99.The turnaround
The Bangalore crowd came in for a fair share of criticism on day one after their random booing of all Australians. Today, though, they were going to make up for it. Paine’s fifty, the partnership’s fifty and hundred, and North’s hundred were cheered heartily. When a disappointed North was walking off after holing out to deep midwicket, he acknowledged the full house’s appreciation. All was well again.The message
Sachin Tendulkar may have become the first man to reach 14,000 runs today, but that doesn’t quite make today his day. However, there are other reasons that do. As pointed out by a spectator, and displayed on the big screen, it is October 10, 2010 today, which is conveniently written as 10-10-10: 10dulkar will want to score big and make tomorrow his day too, never mind the date.The repeat offence
Rahul Dravid has, for no explicable reason, developed a weakness against left-arm seamers of late. And it’s not the ones that swing the ball in, and create doubt. It’s the ones that angle it across, and get him chasing. Chanaka Welegedara has had his share of success against Dravid, and so had Doug Bollinger in the first Test of the series. Australia were ready to exploit that chink. As soon as Dravid came to bat, Ponting called back Mitchell Johnson, put in three slips, and asked his main fast man to bowl full and wide. Six balls later, the edge was induced, and the catch taken at third slip.
Leeds United's attempts to secure an automatic promotion place in the Championship this season have left a little bit to be desired so far.
The Whites are seven points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place and four points behind Southampton in third, whilst they are a staggering 17 points off Leicester City in first.
Daniel Farke's side have only won two of their last six league matches and failed to score more than one goal in all four of the games they failed to win.
This suggests that the Yorkshire-based outfit have lacked a cutting edge at times and it has cost them in the race to secure a top two position in the division.
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They lost three games by one goal in that run and would have been in second place had they managed to turn those defeats into wins with two more goals in each match.
Latest Leeds transfer news
The Whites appear to have acknowledged their need for additional firepower as Fabrizio Romano has named them as one of the clubs in the race to secure the signing of Fabio Carvalho this month.
Leeds are said to be pushing to sign the talented attacking midfielder on loan until the end of the season, but they are not the only team in the running.
Fellow Championship high-flyers Southampton and Hull City are also trying to win the race to land his signature in January as they look to bolster their respective attacks.
However, Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen on the Liverpool starlet and this could make it a difficult deal for any of the second tier sides to complete.
Fabio Carvalho Liverpool
Leeds could attempt to persuade Carvalho that a move to Elland Road is his best option to play regular football, which may not be available to him at a top-flight team.
Farke's reputation with young talent, particularly at Championship level, could also play a key role as the German tactician was pivotal in the development of James Maddison and Emiliano Buendia during his time at Norwich City.
Both of those players, albeit Buendia is currently out injured, have gone on to become impressive Premier League performers after shining in the second division as attacking midfielders or wide attackers for the now-Leeds boss at Carrow Road.
Leeds pushing to sign "special player" with contact made
Daniel Farke is keen to take him to Elland Road…
BySean Markus Clifford Jan 7, 2024
If Leeds and Farke can convince Carvalho to make the switch to Yorkshire then they could land a similar attacking talent to those two Championship superstars, whilst also landing the German boss' own version of Pablo Hernandez.
Marcelo Bielsa had the mercurial Spanish wizard at his disposal to carve open opposition defences on a regular basis in the club's last promotion to the top-flight and the Liverpool youngster has the potential to be a similar creative force from an attacking midfield or wide position
Pablo Hernandez's Championship form under Bielsa
The impressive magician played two seasons in the Championship for the Argentine head coach and caught the eye with his terrific contributions at the top end of the pitch.
Hernandez played 39 matches and started 37 during the 2018/19 campaign, which was Bielsa's first at Elland Road, and racked up 12 goals and 12 assists.
He also created 16 'big chances' for his teammates and this shows that the exciting whiz was a consistent creator who could open up opposition defences for his teammates.
The magical Spaniard followed that up with nine goals, nine assists, and 13 'big chances' created in 36 Championship appearances during the 2019/20 campaign, which ended in promotion to the Premier League.
He ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) with 0.32 per 90, along with being in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (6.67) per 90.
Appearances
16
Goals
Zero
Assists
Two
Big chances created
One
Sofascore rating
6.75
As you can see in the table above, Hernandez was not able to translate his immense Championship form over to the Premier League the following year, as he entered the final throes of his playing career.
However, there is no doubt that the now-38-year-old was a sensational operator in the second tier with his ability to score goals and create chances from a number ten or wide position for the Whites, and Carvalho could follow in his footsteps at Elland Road.
The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Carvalho
The 21-year-old dynamo has struggled at the top level since Liverpool decided to sign him from Fulham in the summer of 2022 after his second tier exploits.
Carvalho made 13 appearances for the Reds in the Premier League throughout the 2022/23 campaign and contributed with two goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created.
His inability to make the step up led to Jurgen Klopp making the decision to send him out on loan during the first half of the current term.
fabio-carvalho-liverpool-opinion
He spent time on loan with RB Leipzig in Germany but was not able to provide a single goal, assist, or 'big chance' created in nine Bundesliga matches.
However, his form for Fulham in the Championship, prior to his move to Anfield, suggests that the quality is there for him to be Farke's own version of Pablo Hernandez during the second half of this season.
Carvalho was instrumental in the Cottagers' promotion to the top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign as the young ace showcased his attacking capabilities.
The £41k-per-week ace, who was hailed as a "real gem" by talent scout Jacek Kulig that term, racked up ten goals and eight assists in 36 league outings for Fulham.
Chris Willock
1
Harry Wilson
2
Morgan Gibbs-White
3
Callum Robinson
4
Bobby Reid
5
This means that, like Hernandez did in the 2019/20 promotion campaign, Carvalho produced 18 direct goal contributions in those 36 matches – one every other game on average.
The former Fulham star also created 13 'big chances' for his teammates and ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and forwards within the division for xAG (0.31) per 90.
These statistics suggest that the Reds youngster is a player who has the ability, having proven it at Championship level, to be a Hernandez-esque figure for Farke as both a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield, which is why Leeds must push hard to win the race for his signature.
Manchester United have struggled for consistency at both ends of the field this campaign, but particularly in attack, where they’ve netted just 18 goals in 17 Premier League matches.
In turn, this poor form in attack has put Erik ten Hag’s side seventh in the table with 28 points.
With that in mind, the boss will look to bolster his attacking options in January in an attempt to increase his side's output in the final third.
Man Utd transfers latest – Donyell Malen
Christian Falk took to X (formerly Twitter) earlier this month to announce that a meeting between Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund took place regarding a swap deal between Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen.
If the English side does not agree to the player exchange, then the Bundesliga side will demand £26m for their Dutch winger.
A move in January is possible, with Malen looking to leave Dortmund and the club not opposed by his potential departure.
How Donyell Malen compares to Marcus Rashford
The Dutch forward has featured 15 times for BVB this season in the Bundesliga, scoring five goals and registering two assists, with his goal tally being one more than Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund combined, based on Premier League stats.
Man Utd could move Hojlund aside by signing "terrifying" £70m ace
Erik ten Hag wants to sign a centre forward in January.
ByTom Lever Dec 20, 2023
Malen is a versatile forward who can play across the front three with ease, but this season he was featured mainly off the right, which is where he has scored each goal.
The right-wing role is currently a problem position for Ten Hag, which makes the interest understandable. The ex-PSV player would bring goals to the side, with his goal-scoring instincts making him “simply unstoppable” at times, according to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.
donyell-malen
The 24-year-old is more of an inverted forward who focuses on scoring goals rather than creating them, using his pace and movement to get into dangerous positions, which is very reminiscent of Marcus Rashford. The table below shows how the two attackers compare based on their stats from the last year across the top European leagues.
Goals
0.55
0.46
Assists
0.20
0.15
Key passes
1.02
1.10
Touches (Att pen)
5.76
6.14
Shots total
3.96
3.34
As you can see by the low completed passes and key pass statistics, Rashford and Malen are goal scorers who rarely create or get involved in build-up using passing. They are both direct, like to shoot at any given opportunity, and thrive inside the box, which most likely stems from years as centre forwards throughout their youth careers.
#1 Marcus Rashford
#2 Moussa Diaby
#3 Samuel Chukwueze
#4 Raheem Sterling
#5 Rafael Leao
Data via FBRef's 'similar players' model
United’s number ten on the left and the Netherlands international on the right would provide a balanced attack that has goals on both sides, not just the left, and with Bruno Fernandes drifting over to the left and Luke Shaw at left-back, Malen would often find himself drifting to the back post to get on the end of crosses.
With Antony failing to score all season in 18 appearances, it is no wonder that Ten Hag wants to sign an attacker who can feature off the right. If the deal was to go through, Malen and Rashford could become one of the most prolific duos in the Premier League, and £26m does seem like a bargain for the BVB star.
Tottenham are now "battling" to keep a player who is "keen to move on" as injuries expose manager Ange Postecoglou's lack of depth in the squad.
Spurs injury list in full
In the last 11 days, Spurs' absentee list has grown to such an extent that it's brought into question their ability to truly contend near the top of the Premier League table. Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and young goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman were already on the treatment table before killer blows for both Micky van de Ven and James Maddison really gave Postecoglou a problem.
The star summer signings were both hauled off in Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea the week before last, with Maddison suffering ankle ligament damage and van de Ven pulling up with a serious hamstring issue. The latter has formed an incredible partnership with Cristian Romero at the heart of Spurs' defence, and his pace is seen as pivotal to Postecoglou's high line. Meanwhile, Maddison's creativity in midfield has been a god-send since his £40 million move from Leicester City.
Tottenham's star duo are both expected to be back in early 2024, by the time January's transfer window will be open, but you could still make a very serious argument that sporting director Johan Lange needs to back the Spurs boss with more options in key areas.
Ahead of a long season, the Lilywhites may not be able to rely on their traditional starting eleven all of the time. Indeed, when Postecoglou's favoured stars aren't available for selection, it is imperative that the Australian has quality alternatives to choose from.
Tottenham now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg
Contrary to recent reports, which stated that Spurs are open to the possibility of selling midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in January, TEAMtalk now believe the north Londoners have pulled a U-turn on this decision.
The outlet shares that Tottenham are now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg in January, coming amid their real lack of squad depth. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will also be off to the Africa Cup of Nations early next year, which would leave Postecogloiu with just Rodrigo Bentancur and Oliver Skipp as senior options in midfield if Hojbjerg does depart.
The Denmark international, though, is "keen to move on" after only being used sparingly before a succession of Tottenham injuries handed him more game time.
Passing
Through balls
Concentration
Ball interception
Called "sensational" by members of the press (Seb Stafford-Bloor), Postecoglou has said that Hojbjerg is a "very important" player at Tottenham.
"It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg last month.
"He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us."
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is set to raid the January transfer market as he eyes a solution to his injury crisis at Old Trafford, according to reports.
Man Utd updates: Ten Hag future, Greenwood permanent exit
Football Insider have delivered a worrying piece of Manchester United news concerning Red Devils boss Ten Hag's handling of the dressing room at Old Trafford, amid a backdrop of unsavoury incidents behind-the-scenes this term.
Antony, Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho have all been caught up in off-field scenarios over the course of Ten Hag's tenure in charge, while Harry Maguire was stripped of the captaincy at Old Trafford, and the Premier League giants' hierarchy are now believed to be worried that the Dutchman lacks the 'soft skills' to efficiently manage his group of players.
In other news which concerns Manchester United's takeover, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is poised to complete a deal to assume control of 25% of the club, will look to 'accelerate' plans to expand Old Trafford to a capacity of 90,000 following widespread discourse that the facilities at the club need to be modernized, as per The Times.
The Glazer family have come under heavy scrutiny for their neglect of one of the most famous stadiums in world football and now it seems as if Ratcliffe has designs on correcting that issue. Ratcliffe reportedly bargained hard in negotiations to improve club infrastructure.
Controversial loanee Greenwood, who is on the books of La Liga side Getafe after being allowed to leave the Red Devils during the summer, is at the centre of a new Manchester United transfer update from The Mirror, which claims that Sevilla are among a batch of clubs in Spain vying to secure his signature permanently.
Greenwood is under contract at Manchester United until 2025; however, he is not expected to play for the Red Devils again after a lengthy investigation into his behaviour away from the field.
Manchester United's last five results – all competitions
Competition
Opponent and result
Venue
Premier League
Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
Old Trafford
Champions League
Manchester United 2-3 Galatasaray
Old Trafford
Premier League
Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace
Old Trafford
EFL Cup
Manchester United 3-0 Crystal Palace
Old Trafford
Premier League
Burnley 0-1 Manchester United
Turf Moor
Manchester United transfer news – Marc Guehi
Football Insider have issued another Manchester United transfer update, this time detailing that Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has emerged as a target for the Red Devils following Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both suffering injuries in the opening period of the 2023/24 campaign.
The England international has also been tracked by the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur over the last couple of years, but after it was revealed that a centre-back is the Glazers' next transfer priority, it seems United are well in the mix for the Palace star.
Marc Guehi
Guehi has made nine appearances in all competitions for Crystal Palace this term and has also found his way into the England squad as he continues to be a pivotal player for Roy Hodgson's men (Guehi statistics – Transfermarkt).
Labelled a "brick wall" by Club Brugge goalkeeper Josef Bursik, Guehi's stock continues to rise and a move to Manchester United could help the 23-year-old showcase his talents at the elite level.
Liverpool have reportedly been boosted in their efforts to sign a hugely exciting Premier League player, with a new update now emerging in the saga.
Latest Liverpool transfer news…
The Reds saw their squad significantly change during the summer transfer window, with the midfield the sole era that Jurgen Klopp focused on revamping completely. Out went Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived at Anfield, adding youth and dynamism in the middle of the park that has already stood out this season.
The time will eventually come when other areas of the pitch need addressing, however, with Virgil van Dijk now 32 years of age and Mohamed Salah only a year younger, for example. The latter has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad seeing a £150m approach turned down for Salah, and a 2024 exit isn't out of the question. Should that happen, Liverpool may look to sign a replacement, and one player who has emerged as a potential target is Wolves ace Pedro Neto.
The 23-year-old is being backed to join various Premier League clubs, and while he is contracted with Wanderers until the summer of 2027, that doesn't appear to be putting off potential suitors.
Do Liverpool want to sign Pedro Neto?
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool could be handed a boost in their quest to snap up Wolves star Neto, with the Midlands club now "ready to cash in on him while his stock is high". The report goes on to add that the Reds are "firmly in the mix" to sign the 23-year-old, but "they are not alone as interest also stems from Tottenham, Newcastle United and Aston Villa", as well as Arsenal.
Superb dribbler
Injury-prone
Expert crosser
Lacking in aerial duels
Can play on either flank
Finishing can be erratic
This is a clear boost for Liverpool, who may well be having one eye on life without Salah at some point in the near future, even if his time at Anfield doesn't come to an end next summer. The 31-year-old is almost an irreplaceable figure, considering he has been one of the best players in the world over the past five years or so, but in Neto, the Reds could have a fantastic option.
The Wolves man, who shares the same agency as Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, has made a fantastic start to this season, chipping in with four assists in just seven Premier League appearances, one of which came in his side's 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, when he gave Joe Gomez a torrid time. At 23, he is still a young player who should only get better, and while injuries have dogged him in the past, the hope is that he has overcome the worst of them.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has lauded Neto as a "huge talent" in the past, and he is one of the most impressive wide players in the league at the moment. His directness, pace and end product are all attributes that are similar to Salah's, and that could well appeal to Klopp, making this one to watch.
It must be difficult not to get carried away if you’re a Birmingham City fan at present.
After all, £10m was recently splurged out on Kyogo Furuhashi to boost an already potent forward line, on top of the fact that pre-season action kicked into gear with a bang as the new-look Blues confidently beat Spanish titans Sevilla 3-1.
Any naysayers doubting Birmingham ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign might well have been silenced after this impressive victory, with more new signings now being tipped to join the exciting St. Andrew’s rollercoaster before pre-season is up.
Birmingham now targeting move for Premier League star
Despite a barrage of fresh signings entering the building, only Phil Neumann out of all the summer buys would be unleashed from the get-go against Sevilla, as Davies dripfeeds minutes to his whole camp before the second tier comes into view.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Taichi Hara could soon be another option the Blues boss tests out across the remaining pre-season fixtures, with reports suggesting that Birmingham have added the Japanese gem to their shortlist after he has impressed out in the J1 League with Kyoto Sanga.
Alongside him, Birmingham could tap into the Asian market even more by snapping up Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Hwang Hee-Chan.
Hee-chan Hwang.
Indeed, a development from South Korean journalist Han June has suggested that the newly promoted side views the Old Gold number 11 as a main target due to his top-flight experience in England.
This might well result in Birmingham pulling off another ambitious swoop like the Kyogo deal, with both players in question hailing from Asia, but both well-known and exciting entities when plying their trade in some demanding divisions up and down the United Kingdom.
Why Hwang could be Kyogo 2.0
Whilst Hwang has fallen down the Molineux pecking order since Vitor Pereira’s arrival on the scene, his goalscoring record at the very top for Wolves at his prime will be enough to convince Blues fans that this is a worthwhile capture to chase after.
22 Premier League goals have come his way since he moved to the West Midlands for £14m, with 12 of those being fired home across the 23/24 season, leading to then Old Gold boss Gary O’Neil hailing the South Korean marksman as “excellent” for his clinical nature in front of goal.
On top of that, his goalscoring expertise also stretches out to a standout spell leading the line for Austrian side RB Salzburg, with a bumper 45 strikes collected, with three of those goals even coming in the illustrious Champions League.
Kyogo is well-versed in what it takes to be a goalscoring menace at this intimidating level, too, with three of his mammoth 151 career strikes falling on Europe’s grandest stage.
CF
168
61
35
LW
45
9
4
RW
32
5
3
AM
8
0
0
CF
177
105
29
LW
99
31
22
SS
11
2
1
RW
11
3
1
But, as can be seen looking at the table above, they both won’t just be vying to steal the striker limelight off Jay Stansfield or Alfie May, with Hwang and Kyogo more than comfortable sneaking out to the left wing if needed, alongside also slotting nicely into Davies’ 4-2-3-1 system as a presence just behind by the main striker.
Hwang wasn’t just labelled as a talent who has “got everything” by ex-Arsenal great Ian Wright by fluke, with the 29-year-old a real standout purchase for the Blues if it goes through.
wolves-hwang-hee-chan-pedro-neto
There are some hurdles for Birmingham to overcome in terms of fee and wage costs, but if Birmingham wants to accelerate to that next level quickly, it might well be worth throwing the necessary cash at Hwang, much like they did when forking out £10m for Kyogo.
Birmingham City could sign "special" star who'd be Kyogo's dream winger
Birmingham City could soon win a dream attacking partner for Kyogo Furuhashi by securing a deal for this special forward.
The January transfer window is fast approaching and Liverpool could be tempted back into the market to bolster their squad as they compete for the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp's side are currently second in the division and next month could provide them with an opportunity to give the team a boost ahead of the second half of the campaign.
Over the summer, The Daily Mail reported that the Reds have a long-standing interest in Bayern Munich superstar Joshua Kimmich and would be keen to secure a deal if he became available.
This is worth remembering as Sport BILD recently claimed that selling the Germany international is no longer unthinkable for the Bavarian side, as his contract is due to expire in 2025.
Klopp could now land his own version of Manchester City star Rodri by tempting Bayern to cash in on the defensive midfielder in one of the next two windows.
Rodri's season in numbers
The Spain international is a rock in the middle of the park for the Cityzens with his outstanding play in and out of possession in front of the back four.
Over the last 365 days, Rodri ranks within the top 4% or higher of his positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European Competitions for progressive passes (8.81) and passes attempted (95.76) per 90.
This shows that the former Atletico Madrid prospect is an exceptional passer who is able to dictate the tempo of a match with the volume of passes he gets off whilst also being able to progress his team up the pitch with line-breaking, forward, passes.
The 27-year-old battler has also displayed his defensive awareness in the Premier League this season with 3.2 tackles and interceptions and 7.2 ball recoveries per match across 14 appearances, which shows that the talented gem can break up opposition attacks on a regular basis.
The statistics that show Kimmich is similar to Rodri
Liverpool could now sign their answer to Rodri in a swoop to bring Kimmich to Anfield as the German maestro has similar qualities to the Spaniard.
The £322k-per-week whiz, who was once hailed as "phenomenal" by Jose Mourinho, is also a fantastic passer who can contribute out of possession as well.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
Over the last 365 days, Kimmich ranks within the top 3% or higher of his positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European Competitions for progressive passes (9.47) and passes attempted (87.32) per 90.
This shows that the Bayern star actually progresses the ball up the pitch through his passes more often than Rodri despite attempting fewer passes overall.
However, the 28-year-old ace falls slightly behind the City enforcer when it comes to the defensive side of the game. Kimmich has averaged 2.8 tackles and interceptions combined and 6.3 ball recoveries per match over 11 Bundesliga appearances this season.
These statistics show that the Liverpool target can be an imposing presence in front of the defence by winning possession back for his team on a regular basis, albeit not quite as regularly as Rodri.
Overall, the Bayern metronome is similar to Pep Guardiola's midfield star in what he offers on and off the ball, and that is why Klopp should swoop for him in January or next summer.
West Ham United have gone from relegation contenders to Europa Conference League champions and a side comfortably sitting in mid-table all in the space of a year. And this is all whilst losing star man Declan Rice during the summer window. David Moyes' side have so far enjoyed an impressive campaign despite some inconistent performances, having qualified out of their Europa League group and risen to ninth in the Premier League.
They won't want to just simply sit back and rest on their laurels now that they're back to their best, however. Instead, reports suggest that they've already turned their attention towards one particular January target.
West Ham transfer news
Those at the London Stadium spent the Rice money incredibly well during the summer transfer window. James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus have continued to impress throughout the current campaign to make their former golden boy's exit somewhat of an afterthought. If West Ham can qualify for European football once again, meanwhile, then Rice's exit may even be looked back on as a blessing in disguise.
The Hammers will reportedly look to repeat their transfer genius in January to land even more upgrades. According to Rudy Galetti, West Ham are considering an attempt to sign Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in January and have already asked their London rivals for information about their left-back.
Maatsen's current Chelsea deal is due to run out in the summer of 2025, meaning that the Blues have just over a year to cash in before facing the risk of losing the reported West Ham target on a free deal.
"Pacy" Maatsen needs minutes
Maatsen's stats expose just how desperately he needs a move during the January transfer window. The young Dutchman is yet to start a single Premier League game and has played just 106 minutes – the same as just over one full game. Even when Ben Chilwell has been unavailable, it has been Marc Cucurella who has been given the role, perhaps leaving Maatsen to wonder what more he has to do to break into Mauricio Pochettino's side.
West Ham could offer the full-back the minutes he so desperately needs though. Maatsen would be left competing with former Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri, but would also have the chance to feature in Europe – something that Chelsea cannot currently offer.
At his best, Maatsen has been at the centre of praise, including from Burnley boss Vincent Kompany upon the start of his loan move at the Clarets last season. Kompany told the club's official website: “We’re pleased to add Ian to our team, he’s a talented, energetic and pacy player, who can defend and get forward well. Ian will be a great addition to our team on and off the pitch.”