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Aston Villa were brought back down to earth by Nottingham Forest last weekend as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat that ended a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Unai Emery has built a side which can realistically challenge for the top six spot in the Premier League table this season and winning a trophy of some sort this term can’t be ruled out.

With progress in the Europa Conference League going smoothly so far, this Villa side can certainly go far and Emery has them well-drilled.

The Spaniard will still be looking to strengthen his team though and the January transfer window is fast approaching.

Having enjoyed success during the summer window, bringing in players such as Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo and Pau Torres, the former Arsenal coach appears to favour a quality-over-quantity approach and this is working well so far.

With this in mind, he could delve back into the market to bolster his squad in the coming months, especially as he seems to be light in a few areas, most notably at centre-forward.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to a recent report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Villa are reportedly keen on signing AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham next year.

The Englishman spent a season on loan at the Villa Park side during the 2018/19 season and he scored 26 goals and registered three assists across 40 matches as he helped the club secure promotion back to the Premier League following a three-year absence.

The former Chelsea frontman has a contract that doesn’t expire until 2026 and this could mean Jose Mourinho will place a big price tag on his head regarding any potential transfer.

According to Football Transfers, Abraham is currently valued at €39m (£34m) and with a few years left on his contract, Emery may need to make a bid nearer the £50m mark in order to secure his signature.

The club could face stiff competition for the 26-year-old however, as West Ham United and Fulham are also interested in luring him back to the Premier League according to the report and with Roma signing Romelu Lukaku on loan for the current season, it looks like Abraham could soon be on the move.

The question is, who will be best placed to sign him either in January or next summer? Emery will be hoping their current form and progress in Europe will tempt him back to the Midlands.

Tammy Abraham’s statistics for Roma

Having won the Champions League with Chelsea, the striker decided to move abroad and joined Roma in 2021, becoming an instant hit under Mourinho.

He netted 27 goals across all competitions during his maiden season in Italy and won another European trophy, this time the Europa Conference League.

The goals dried up slightly last term as he managed to score just nine times, yet he displayed his selfless side by grabbing seven assists as the Serie A side finished runners-up to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

A cruciate ligament injury has ruled him out until January at the earliest and this could mean Emery may have to wait until the summer in order to complete a potential swoop for the player.

The Spaniard has been too over-reliant on Ollie Watkins this season however, as the former Brentford forward has featured in every single match so far this term, scoring nine goals in the process and signing someone like Abraham would not only give him some competition, but he would also be an upgrade on Jhon Duran.

Jhon Duran's stats for Aston Villa

The 19-year-old has only been at the club for ten months, joining back in January from Chicago Fire, and it was clear he had bags of potential, having scored eight MLS goals.

Across 12 matches for Villa, however, he failed to get on the scoresheet, proving that the jump from American to England was perhaps tougher than anticipated.

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Stats via Sofascore

The Englishman could be an instant upgrade on the Colombian youngster, however. According to FBref, Abraham registered a higher percentage of shots on target (45.2% vs 28.6%) while also registering more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.37 vs 0) and winning a higher percentage of aerial duels per 90 (51.9% vs 41.2%), indicating that he could be a more effective option to lead the line.

Abraham also created more big chances (nine vs two) than Duran during his more productive stint at Chicago Fire, while also averaging more key passes per game (0.9 vs 0.3) and succeeding with more successful dribbles per match (0.6 vs 0.4), further evidence of how impressive Abraham was when compared to the youngster.

The former Chelsea gem could add further firepower to the Villa squad and would allow Emery to give Watkins a much-needed rest when required.

Former professional Stephen Elliot hailed Abraham as a “goal machine” back during his spell with the London side and his spell abroad has certainly improved his game.

His ability to create chances for others, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 5% when compared to his positional peers for assists per 90 (0.29), could be a big advantage for Emery, as he will be able to link up well with others and form a partnership alongside Watkins if required.

The striker also ranks in the top 15% when compared to peers for aerials won per 90 (4.3) and his physical presence and aerial ability would also allow him to thrive in the Premier League once again.

Duran is still young and has lots of raw potential, but Emery will be looking for a more experienced player if he is looking for someone who can come in and settle into life at Villa Park easily.

Abraham has spent a season in the Midlands before and this could be what makes the club stand out from the others who are keen on him with regard to a potential move away from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Rangers have held talks with a "successful" Frank Lampard alternative in Glasgow this week, as the search for Michael Beale's replacement intensifies.

Who could replace Michael Beale at Rangers?

After a poor start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, one which has seen the squad booed off on multiple occasions, Rangers made a big decision to relieve Beale of his duties after just 10 months in charge following the previous sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Glasgow giants are seven points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic already, with their title hopes in some doubt as a result. Beale was brought in from QPR to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst midway through last term, but it's now back to the drawing board for Rangers as they scour the market for another new manager in the space of a year.

Losing three out of a possible seven games was, quite frankly, unacceptable for one of Scotland's biggest clubs, and their Europa League group campaign took a bit of knock following their 2-1 loss to Cypriot first division side Aris Limassol in midweek. There have been many names mentioned by sections of the media as candidates to replace Beale, with reports suggesting Rangers have been considering the likes of Frank Lampard, Oliver Glasner and Kevin Muscat for the manager's job.

Initial talks were apparently held with Lampard over the vacant Rangers role, but reliable media sources have claimed that he is now out of the running to succeed Beale at Ibrox. However, the likes of Muscat and former AS Monaco boss Philippe Clement could still be hired by Rangers.

Will Rangers appoint Philippe Clement?

The latter coach, who has been praised for some of his successes in past seasons, has won four Belgian league titles across spells at Club Brugge and Genk. Clement would come as quite the decorated appointment, at least from Belgium, with Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell once calling him "one of the most prominent and successful coaches in Europe in recent years."

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"His profile as a modern coach, with his teams playing with great intensity and [is] daring, including on the continental stage," claimed Mitchell.

"His ability to combine titles and the development of young players have made him one of the most prominent and successful coaches in Europe in recent years."

A report from Voetbal Nieuws has shared an update on the prospect of his hire at Rangers, with Clement travelling to Glasgow this week for a meeting with Gers chiefs. The 49-year-old is apparently seen as a "great candidate" for the job, with both Clement and Rangers putting forward their visions for success during this apparent sit-down. However, it is by no means a done deal just yet, as clubs from Saudi Arabia are also after Clement. While the coach will have to convince Rangers he is the right man, Voetbal Nieuws claims the feeling is mutual on Clement's side.

If Rangers were to decide he is the top target, you can fully understand why.

The 2019 World Cup may be almost on the horizon, but Mark Wood is not giving up on his dream of playing Test cricket

George Dobell10-Jul-2018The 2019 World Cup may be almost on the horizon, but Mark Wood is not giving up on his dream of playing Test cricket.Bearing in mind how much has been invested in England winning the tournament next year – 50-over cricket has, since the 2015 World Cup, arguably become England’s priority for the first time – you could understand it if Wood or the England team management decided he should, for now at least, give up red-ball cricket. Adil Rashid and Alex Hales have already made that choice, after all. It would be understandable if a fast bowler went the same way.Equally, given the potential riches on offer for embracing life as a T20 specialist – and the risks to that living that attempting to play red-ball cricket might present – you could understand it if Wood were to reflect on the dozen Tests he has played (a sequence that includes taking the wicket that clinched the Ashes in 2015) and conclude it was time to call it a day.The reality of Wood’s speeds doesn’t always meet the reputation. But there are moments when it clicks and he offers England something different and dangerous. The most obvious example came in an important 2017 Champions Trophy match in Cardiff in which a set Kane Williamson seemed to be leading New Zealand to victory. While the rest of the attack were played with apparent ease, Wood suddenly persuaded a cross-seam delivery to burst off the surface, surprise Williamson with its pace and bounce and brush his glove on its way to the keeper.It was a decisive moment in a game that secured England’s place in the semi-finals. Wood still describes it as “probably my favourite” international wicket.But, put simply, it seems Wood’s relatively slight frame – and his left ankle, in particular – struggles to withstand the rigours of life as a fast bowler. So while his skills, and his ability to find life from a surface that looks flat for his team-mates, render him attractive to selectors for all formats, there is a danger of diminishing returns if Wood continues to try to play all three formats. And, given his importance to the World Cup dream, it could prove costly if he is below his best for the tournament.But Wood is having none of it. Whatever the logic, whatever the temptations, Wood remains committed to the goal of playing more Test cricket.”Test cricket is still the pinnacle for me to play and the moment I let that dream go I might not be the same cricketer,” he said. “In the garden, I always played Tests. I always watched Tests on the telly. I’m not saying there aren’t good players playing white-ball cricket but, if you’re regarded as a top, top player, it’s often through your Test performances. I want to play Test match cricket.”It was that commitment to playing Test cricket that persuaded him to leave the IPL early. He was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the tournament – albeit, he only played one game – but, knowing his selection for the Test series against Pakistan hung in the balance, he asked to return to England early in order to play Championship cricket and impress with a red ball.”I came back early from Chennai because I wasn’t playing there and it made sense for me to come back early and push for Test career,” he said. “I’d just been in the New Zealand Test. With me not playing, Chennai were really understanding and said ‘yes, we understand you want to play Test cricket’ and allowed me to leave and come home. Then I managed to do well in that game for Durham and keep my Test spot.”Unfortunately I didn’t keep it for the Headingley game but I’m raring to get back for at least one of the India games.”Mark Wood claimed England’s first wicket of the second morning•Getty Images

That experience in the IPL – while brief – left an impression. Certainly he speaks with something approaching awe of MS Dhoni’s knowledge and charisma.”I always thought he seemed so cool, calm and collected on TV,” Wood said, “and he literally is that guy: he’s so cool.”His knowledge of the game is incredible. There would be times when we were watching and he would predict not just the next ball but the next three balls! There was a game we played at home and he said: right, look at the field here; that means the bowler is going to go yorker, but he will not nail it, so next ball he will go for a slower ball and then he will try the yorker again. He went four, six, four from those three balls and they were exactly what he had said they would be. Incredible.”There would be times when we needed 70 off five overs and he would like nurdle one and we would be thinking ‘what are you doing?’ We would be trying to flay it out of the park.”But his thing is to take it deep. And the longer the game goes, the more nervous the bowlers get. And when they miss, he will hit it for six. Imagine having the confidence to say that?”He leaves it until people think he’s left it far too late. But nine times out of ten he knows that he will win in that situation. He is so calm.”Despite the talk of wanting to play in all formats, Wood admitted he is at his best when fresh. And he comes into the ODI series against India well-refreshed having been rested for the T20 games.”I’m sick of saying it but, as a fast bowler, you’re never going to be 100% fit,” he said. “But it’s true. I’ve been pretty good. My ankle has been fine. I’ve just been managing my body. It’s nice to say to people ‘I’ve been all right’ rather than people asking and me saying ‘yeah, I’m all right’ when really you think ‘I’m not all right’. But I actually AM all right.”I’ve played a lot since November. So I’ve never been 100% fresh. In the past, I’ve had period of injury and then come back flying because I was fresh.”England will anxiously hope that he is in such good shape going into the World Cup.Royal London, proud sponsors of one-day cricket, is celebrating unconventional greatness in the game by championing the independent spirit of players and fans

The batsman has been handed South Africa’s Order of Ikhamanga which recognises achievements of those in the fields of arts‚ culture‚ literature‚ music‚ journalism and sport

Firdose Moonda23-Apr-2018

A crisp Hashim Amla cover drive•Associated Press

Hashim Amla has become the first cricketer in 10 years to receive South Africa’s Order of Ikhamanga, a national award given out to recognise achievements of those in the fields of arts‚ culture‚ literature‚ music‚ journalism and sport.Amla was named as a silver award recipient by the Chancellor of National Orders, Dr Cassius Lubisi, who explained Amla is being honoured, “for his contribution to the sport of cricket. He has brought pride to our country with his many batting firsts in the international cricket arena and remains one of the leading batsmen of our time.”Amla is the only South African to have scored a triple-century in Test cricket, is their second-highest century-maker in Test cricket with 28 hundreds and the country’s leading ODI century-maker with 26 to his name. He is currently ranked 11th on the ICC Test rankings and 12th in ODIs and has captained South Africa in all formats.Prior to Amla receiving the award, Shaun Pollock, South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker, and Makhaya Ntini, the first black African to play Test cricket for South Africa, were named as Order of Ikhamanga recipients in 2008. The trio are the only cricketers to be named for the order during their playing days.Basil D’Oliveira received the award in 2003, when it was first established. Also that year, Eric Majola and Goolam Abed, who were selected for both cricket and rugby for black South African teams during the Apartheid era, were recognised. In 2004, Hassan Howa, after whom the Howa bowl, a cricket tournament for non-white players which ran from the early 1970s until unity in 1991 was named, was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga.

Taylor Rogers reportedly will no longer share a bullpen with his twin brother Tyler.

's Robert Murray reported Wednesday that the San Francisco Giants traded Rogers to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Braxton Roxby.

Rogers was due $12 million in 2025, the last season of his three-year deal he signed with the Giants in 2023.

Over nine seasons in the big leagues, Rogers has logged a 28–34 record, 3.34 ERA and 83 saves as one of the game's better left-handed relievers. He made the 2021 All-Star Game in his last season with the Minnesota Twins, who selected him in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB draft.

After one year split between the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, Rogers joined his twin brother, Tyler Rogers, in the Giants' bullpen. In 64 games last year, Rogers logged a 2.40 ERA and 9.6 K/9.

Rogers now joins the Reds' bullpen as another late-game option alongside Alexis Diaz and Emilio Pagan for manager Terry Francona to utilize.

Roxby, 25, has yet to make his MLB debut. The right-hander registered a 5.21 ERA and struck out 65 batters in 48 1/3 innings at Double-A last year.

Sheffield United are now on the verge of signing an “electric” £3.5 million attacker who Ruben Selles already knows well.

Like every other team up and down the country, the Blades are currently in the midst of their pre-season preparations as the return of domestic action gets closer and closer. United got another pre-season game under their belt on Tuesday night, as they faced non-league side York City and won 6-2.

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However, the Blades were without a few key players for the fixture, with midfielder Tom Davies one noticeable absentee. Selles has revealed that Davies has picked up a groin injury during their time in Girona, and he could now miss the start of the Championship season.

“With Tom Davies, it is a little bit different. He got an injury in Girona, and so we expect him to be out for some weeks. He will be back in approximately a month.

“He’s unlucky. The way we do things and the way we try to perform demand a lot from the players. And with Tom, the most important thing is that he recovers well, and when he comes back, he stays healthy for the rest of the season.”

Sydie Peck was another United player that missed out on Tuesday night, but Selles has revealed that Peck’s injury isn’t as serious: “Sydie picked up a late injury, so he has not been able to start pre-season with us.He has been training, but it was more about building him up, and hopefully, he will be involved in the next game.”

Sheffield United now close to signing Louie Barry on loan

As the Blades continue their pre-season preparations, they are now closing in on their third signing of the summer. According to Sky Sports, Louie Barry is now expected to join Sheffield United on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The report states that both clubs have agreed the deal, while Barry has also agreed to the switch, and he is now expected to join up with the Blades next week. This comes after Hull City agreed a deal worth £3.5 million with Villa to sign Barry, only for the deal to then fall through as the Tigers were hit with a three-transfer-window embargo.

This transfer will see Barry link up with Selles once again, as the pair worked together in the second half of last season, as Barry joined the Tigers after a successful first half of the campaign on loan at Stockport County.

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Barry, who has been dubbed “electric” by reporter Sam Byrne, struggled to make an impact at Hull as he picked up a serious injury. But during his time at Stockport, the versatile forward scored 25 goals in 46 games across two separate loan spells, and Selles will be hoping he can get that productivity out of the youngster at Bramall Lane.

Pakistan had a terrible time in the field against Afghanistan, dropping five chances in Abu Dhabi. Remarkably, Pakistan’s 18-year old debutant Shaheen Afridi was involved in all of the lapses. He was the unlucky bowler three times, but he also dropped two himself. Here are the excerpts from ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary:

The USMNT salvaged their CONCACAF Nations League title hopes with a last-ditch equalizer vs Jamaica to send the match to extra-time via an own-goal.

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Jamaica were leading 1-0 heading into 95th minuteUSMNT leveled match in the final momentsUSA win 3-1 after extra-timeWHAT HAPPENED?

A corner kick in the 96th minute, after five-minutes of stoppage-time were issued, saw Miles Robinson flick the ball on, only for Jamaica's Corey Burke to deflect it into his own net. The forward had no idea the ball was coming, with the fluke goal bringing the USMNT level.

The goal sent the match to extra-time, where the USA took advantage of the momentum, netting two more times to claim victory.

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It was nearly a disaster for Gregg Berhalter's squad, who played a disastrous 95 minutes of soccer. It was a shambolic performance across the regulation period, and the last-ditch effort saved their hopes of making it to the CONCACAF Nations League finals.

With a bit of luck, and some perseverance, they scored with what was the final touch of the regulation period to send the match to extra-time.

Then, super-subs Gio Reyna and Haji Wright found their footing, with the Nottingham Forest midfielder assisting the Coventry City forward on two different occasions for a 3-1 victory across 120 minutes.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The USMNT will play Mexico, who defeated Panama 3-0 in their semifinal, in the CONCACAF Nations League championship game Sunday. With a win, it will be three straight titles in the competition for the USA.

The left-arm seamer was sidelined from the Test series against Bangladesh after sustaining a groin injury during the third ODI

Liam Brickhill28-Oct-2018Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava has been ruled out of Zimbabwe’s two-Test series against Bangladesh after he sustained a groin injury during the third one-day international on Friday. Ngarava, 20, was in line to make his Test debut, but his injury means that Chris Mpofu has been called up as a replacement.Zimbabwe Test squad

Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Brian Chari, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, John Nyumbu, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu

“Ngarava sustained a groin injury and also complained of pain in the gluteal region after our last ODI,” said Zimbabwe national team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa. “Even with aggressive treatment, he will not recover in time for the Test series.””Ngarava is part of our plan to deliberately inject youth into the team and he has worked hard on this tour, on the sidelines, readying himself for an opportunity to play,” said Zimbabwe convener of selectors, Walter Chawaguta.”We had plans to possibly rotate our seamers and rest those who have played all matches since the tour of South Africa and this would have presented an opportunity for Ngarava.”As part of their preparations for the Test series, the Zimbabweans will take on Bangladesh A in a three-day practice match starting on Monday at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The first Test begins on 3 November in Sylhet, while the second starts on 11 November in Dhaka.Chawaguta is confident Mpofu’s experience will prove useful in the series. The 32-year-old seamer has played 15 Test matches since making his debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in January 2005. He has been on three further tours to Bangladesh since then.”Mpofu was with the team in the build-up to South Africa and, having toured Bangladesh before, he would know how to quickly adjust to conditions here,” said Chawaguta. “He is very experienced and would give us an opportunity to continue with our set plan of rotating our pace bowling department.”Zimbabwe suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series against Bangladesh, and Chawaguta said that they would look to make amends in the Tests with the senior players expected to lead the way.”The team was obviously saddened by our performance in the ODI series and we are looking to make amends during the Test matches,” he said.”It’s a different ball game demanding a specific set of skills. We have decent Test experience in the squad and are calling on our experienced players to carry the team and show the younger players how to play Test cricket.”

Chelsea’s dire need for a new first-choice goalkeeper became even more apparent at the weekend when Robert Sanchez made yet another howler against Manchester City.

In an attempt to collect a long pass to Erling Haaland from City ‘keeper Ederson, the Spaniard found himself in no man’s land, allowing Haaland to turn and lob the ball over him into an empty net.

The error was his fifth leading directly to a goal this season – the joint-highest total in the Premier League.

Speaking after the City game, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted that despite Sanchez’s propensity for errors, he trusts the 27-year-old between the sticks.

“We trust Robert for sure,” Maresca said. “He is completely aware he is making mistakes in this moment. We trust Robert. We have one entire week and we will see the reaction for the next game.

“Robert, for sure, is completely aware he has to do better,” he added. “He knows perfectly. In this moment it is like this. The good thing is he is the first one knowing, aware that he has to do better.”

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Interestingly, before the game, Maresca said that while he does trust Sanchez, he may not need to for too much longer.

Asked whether Sanchez can be Chelsea’s No 1 for many years to come, Maresca said: “For this season? No doubt. But then in the future, we don’t know. It is not only about Robert. It is not even about me, you know? I’m focused on this moment, this season.”

So come the end of the season, who could Chelsea bring in to replace Sanchez? Here, we’ve outlined seven possible replacements for the Spaniard.

1 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund

Gregor Kobel has been one of German football’s standout goalkeepers since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2021, keeping 46 clean sheets in 142 games for BVB, including 7 in 27 Bundesliga matches last season.

Though he’s struggled a little more this term, it seems to be more a reflection of Dortmund’s poor form as a team – leading to the sacking of Nuri Sahin – than his individual performances.

Kobel’s impressive stats and lack of errors last season make him an ideal candidate for Chelsea. His experience in European competitions would also be a significant asset.

2 Djordje Petrovic Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea)

Djordje Petrovic was Chelsea’s first-choice ‘keeper for much of last season under Mauricio Pochettino, but was deemed surplus to requirements when Maresca took over in the summer.

Now on loan with sister club Strasbourg, it would be easy for Chelsea to bring him back into the fold if they so desire, and it would certainly be a quick fix to a problem position.

The 25-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 and was recently described as “world-class” by Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior.

“We have seen huge progress from Petro,” Rosenior said of the Serb. “He is a world-class goalkeeper. We see it every day and it is still paying off today.”

3 Diogo Costa Porto

Diogo Costa has been one of the steadiest hands in Europe over the past few years, keeping 77 clean sheets in 181 games for Porto, including 11 in 19 league games this season.

However, it was his remarkable performance at last summer’s European Championship that truly captured global attention. In Portugal’s last-16 clash against Slovenia, Costa made history by saving all three of the opposition’s penalties in the shootout – a feat never before accomplished in the tournament’s 66-year history.

Following that heroic display, Chelsea reportedly approached Costa during the summer transfer window, but the 25-year-old ultimately stayed at Porto. In late 2024, CaughtOffside reported that the Blues remained interested in Costa, but that Porto are expected to demand a hefty £59 million fee for their star goalkeeper.

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ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025 4 Mads Hermansen Leicester City

According to reports, Maresca wanted to sign Leicester City shot-stopper Mads Hermansen in the summer, but instead ended up signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.

Hermansen was the Italian’s first-choice ‘keeper during his promotion-winning season at the King Power Stadium, keeping 13 clean sheets in 44 games.

Maresca is understood to be an admirer of the Dane’s ability to play out from the back, which is something Sanchez has struggled to do this term.

TeamTALK reported in November that Leicester would want £35m for their current No 1.

5 Kepa Arrizabalaga Bournemouth (on loan from Chelsea)

Kepa Arrizabalaga remains on Chelsea’s books, but the world’s most expensive goalkeeper is currently on loan at Bournemouth, where he’s played a key role for Andoni Iraola’s side this term.

The Spaniard has started 16 of the Cherries’ 23 Premier League games this season, keeping five clean sheets and saving 76.3% of the shots he’s faced (as per FBref) – which is the second-best record in the division, ironically level with Sanchez.

Though a return to Stamford Bridge for Kepa (which he supposedly wants) would make sense on paper, his record in west London makes for poor reading.

In his second season with Chelsea in 2019/20, the former Athletic Bilbao star recorded the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper in the Premier League, stopping just 54.5% of the shots he faced.

If Chelsea can get the Bournemouth version of Kepa back, great. If they get their old version back, less so.

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2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 6 Filip Jorgensen Chelsea

Signed by Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer, Filip Jorgensen has yet to make a significant impact in the Premier League, but has shown promise in cup competitions, keeping five clean sheets in 11 games.

He also boasts a mightily impressive save percentage, having stopped 80% of the shots he’s faced in the Premier League, while he’s saved 83.9% in the Conference League, as per FBref.

At just 22 years old, Jorgensen could offer a long-term solution for Chelsea in goal, and clearly has the potential to grow into a top-tier goalkeeper.

However, to do that, Maresca needs to give him more of a chance in the league rather than stick with Sanchez despite his continuous errors. Doing so will no doubt be frustrating the youngster and potentially putting a dent in his confidence.

7 Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool

Earlier this year, Liverpool’s Caiomhin Kelleher expressed his desire to leave Anfield, stating he wants to “go and be a number one and play week in, week out”.

Though he’s impressed when called upon, the 26-year-old has never been able to displace Alisson as Liverpool’s regular No 1. In August, the Reds also completed the £30 million signing of Valencia ‘keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will move to Merseyside next year.

Kelleher has kept seven clean sheets in 14 games for Liverpool this season and looks at home at a top Premier League side.