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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

In a fairly uncharacteristic moment from Idrissa Gueye, the Everton man was the hero for his country thanks to a bright piece of attacking play.

You wouldn’t associate the 29-year-old with any form of goalscoring instinct seeing as he failed to find the back of the net in 33 Premier League appearances last term, but he came up trumps for Senegal against Benin to send them into the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Significantly, this wasn’t just a one-off burst of attacking intent from Gueye – he has been far more productive in the final third for his country in just a handful of games this summer than he was at Everton all last season.

The former Aston Villa man had just two assists to show for his efforts last term, whereas he has already grabbed a goal and an assist in four games at AFCON and matched his entire tally for goal involvements from 2018/19.

What’s different? For Senegal, Gueye plays in a midfield three, whereas he plays in a two alongside Andre Gomes for the Toffees.

Thogden challenged himself to DM 100 footballers on Instagram. Find out who replied in the video below…

In Aliou Cissé’s 4-3-3 system, the 5 foot 9 midfielder seems to be afforded more freedom going forward, as he has Stoke ace Badou Ndiaye and Henri Saivet alongside him to help out defensively – at Everton, he has to do the bulk of the work alone as Gomes isn’t as focused on the defensive side of the game – his 1.4 tackles per game compared to Gueye’s 4.3 in the league last term proves that.

However, Marco Silva can take a look at Gueye’s impressive attacking performances for Senegal this summer and take solace in the fact that he too can use a three-man midfield and get a different type of performance from Gueye.

The former Hull man could throw in Morgan Schneiderlin or Tom Davies alongside Gueye and Gomes for games where he feels he needs to take it to the opposition a bit more than usual, and he can take comfort in seeing just how effective the Senegal international is at getting forward when he has more help in midfield.

Silva may not want to change too much too soon, but Gueye’s versatile performances prove that the Toffees boss has new options available to him if he wants to use them.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to a report from Italian publication La Lazio Siamo Noi, Leicester are interested in landing defender Bastos from Lazio before the window shuts.

What’s the word?

Leicester’s hand could well be forced before the transfer market closes if Harry Maguire does indeed close out a move to Manchester United.

The Foxes have done some impressive work in landing both Ayoze Perez and Youri Tielemans but they could still be faced with a potential major exit.

In preparing for that eventuality, a central defender may have to be signed. Lewis Dunk was touted with a £45m move earlier this month but they’re now being linked with a defender in Serie A.

Per La Lazio Siamo Noi, centre-back Bastos is attracting the interest of both Watford and Leicester. The report claims he could be available for between €15m-€13m (£13.7m-£11.9m).

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Cunning ploy from Rodgers

At the age of 28, adding someone like Bastos, who only started 11 times last term, might seem somewhat questionable.

However, it could be perfect for what Leicester need at the moment and it might also enable the Foxes to put in place an intriguing strategy with their defenders.

If Maguire does leave then a replacement will be needed but landing the Lazio man could be the ideal stop-gap signing.

Leicester have some top young defenders coming through at the moment but whether they’re ready to be thrust into Premier League action remains to be seen.

Filip Benkovic has come back from a loan spell at Celtic but admitted himself he’s a magnet to injuries whilst Caglar Soyuncu seems to be out of favour after playing just two times in 2018/19.

If you think the rumoured £80m for Harry Maguire is too much, check out how much his potential replacement will cost in the video below…

Therefore, bringing in an experienced defender like Bastos could help to plug the gap for a year.

As a result, it can allow both Benkovic and Soyuncu to develop themselves away from the limelight before a potential route into the first team next season.

After all, the Angolan defender will come with the qualities necessary to fit in at Leicester.

He’s a good passer, achieving a success rate of 86% last term whilst making 1.2 tackles across the minimal game time he was afforded too.

This would be smart work if Leicester get a deal over the line.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are sick and tired of the rumours linking Qatari Sports Investments with a takeover of their club.

The story once again resurfaced on Monday as Le Parisien wrote an article covering it.

It’s been well over a month since the first report linking the PSG owners to a takeover of the Yorkshire club came out, and there have been multiple conflicting reports since then.

Fans have been sent through a range of emotions, from excited to concerned, but now it just seems that they don’t really care all that much.

It’s hard for them to take any update on this saga seriously as so many different things have been reported, and the general attitude amongst the fanbase is that they just want it to be concluded one way or the other.

The QSI investment could change the course of the club forever, but despite this, it seems like supporters are sick of hearing about it.

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Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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Arsenal have been handed a boost in recent days, with reports suggesting that Lucas Torreira does not want a move away from the Emirates after all.

Unai Emery will now be looking to add to his current squad ahead of the new season. Today’s Gunners transfer roundup includes an update in the pursuit of a French defender, interest in a 21-year-old Swiss and a link to a Ligue 1 ace.

Saliba deal close

According to ESPN, Arsenal are close to securing a deal for Saint-Etienne’s William Saliba. The Gunners will pay €25m (£22.3m) for the defender, with the 18-year-old to stay with Les Verts for a season on loan in an effort to continue his development.

Arsenal want Comert

The Daily Mail is reporting that Arsenal are to step up their interest in Swiss defender Eray Comert, who currently plays for FC Basel. The 21-year-old, who played 31 games in all competitions for the Swiss League runners-up last season, reportedly wants the move.

Keita Baldé of interest

AS Monaco winger Keita Baldé is on Arsenal’s radar according to Le10Mercato. The Senegalese was on loan at Inter Milan last season, but the Italian side were unwilling to pay the €34m (£30.4m) the Ligue 1 outfit wanted for the player. Arsenal are yet to make an approach but are reportedly very interested in the player who scored five times last term.

أبدى ديفيد ألابا ظهير بايرن ميونخ سعادته بعد التأهل إلى نهائي بطولة كأس العالم للأندية على حساب الأهلي المصري.

وفاز بايرن ميونخ مساء اليوم أمام الأهلي بهدفين دون رد، في مباراة نصف نهائي البطولة المُقامة حاليًا في قطر. أهداف مباراة الأهلي وبايرن ميونخ

وكتب ألابا عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع “تويتر”: “لأننا نحب النهائيات”.

ويلتقي بايرن ميونخ مع تيجريس أونال المكسيكي في نهائي البطولة يوم الخميس المقبل.

‘Cause we love finals… pic.twitter.com/oFunJqGdqp

— David Alaba (@David_Alaba) February 8, 2021

The 2019/20 Premier League season is finally here and the array of optimism filters across the country ahead of this weekend.

Opening fixtures are always difficult to predict. New signings, new tactics and a new beginning – what teams will gel together the fastest?

Whether your ambition is survival or pushing for the Premier League title, it is a time for every fan to get excited about the new campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool kickstart the 2019/20 campaign against newly-promoted Norwich City at Anfield and they will be determined to accelerate from the very start.

This season promises to be a thoroughly entertaining spectacle with multiple teams set to contest for a top-six finish; starting the season on a positive note could be the crucial difference between achieving a European spot or mid-table mediocrity.

But what do the stats suggest could happen this weekend? Here is every club’s opening day record in the Premier League from worst to best…

Brighton – W0, D0, L2

The Seagulls narrowly avoided relegation last season and they will be hoping to break their opening day jinx against Watford this weekend.

Brighton have lost both of their opening Premier League match-ups and the closest they came to a result was against Manchester City, but could only hold them off for 70 minutes and lost the match 2-0.

Bournemouth – W1, D0, L3

Eddie Howe has established Bournemouth as a competitive, Premier League side but their opening day stats are not overly impressive – winning just once out of four attempts.

The Cherries host newly-promoted Sheffield United this weekend and is certianly a game they will be eyeing three points from.

Norwich City – W1, D3, L4

Another newly-promoted outfit is Norwich, returning to the top-tier of English football for the first time since 2016.

The Canaries’ only opening day victory was against Sunderland four years ago and it will take something special to beat Liverpool this weekend.

Burnley – W1, D1, L3

Burnley flirted with relegation in the 2018/19 campaign and they will be eager to push themselves away from the drop as early as possible.

The Clarets drew 0-0 against Southampton at St Mary’s on the opening day last season and this weekend the fixture is reversed as they play host to the Saints; finding a winning formula would be an excellent start for Sean Dyche’s men.

Southampton – W2, D10, L8

Southampton have a habit of drawing their opening Premier league fixtures and have done so 50% of the time.

Ralph Hassenhuttl steered the club away from the drop last season and his attacking philosophy could prove too hot to handle this weekend against the aforementioned Burnley.

Leicester City – W2, D5, L6

The Foxes faced a difficult opening encounter last season as they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford and they will clash with another tricky opponent this time around – Wolves.

Leicester have only won twice on the opening day and they will have to be on top of their game if they are to overcome an exciting Wolves outfit.

Watford – W1, D3, L2

The Hornets have participated in six Premier League seasons – only winning one opening day clash.

Watford got off to a flying start last season and beat Brighton 2-0 on the opening day – this fixture repeats itself this weekend and they will be hoping for a similar outcome.

Crystal Palace – W3, D2, L5

Palace have won 30% of their opening Premier League fixtures and they will be seeking to improve that come Saturday.

The Eagles play host to Everton this weekend and they will be desparate to distance themselves from the relegation zone early on.

Newcastle United – W7, D7, L10

Newcastle have played in 24 of the 27 Premier League seasons, winning seven of their opening day encounters.

This weekend they face a testing clash against Arsenal at St James’ Park and they will have to perform to the highest standard if they are to avoid adding another defeat to the stats.

Everton – W7, D11, L8

The Toffees have only ever missed one Premier League season and their opening day record is fairly impressive, averaging 1.23 points per match.

Everton have made some solid signings this summer and they will be optimistic of starting the season fast at Selhurst Park this weekend.

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Manchester United have strengthened their squad this summer with the arrivals of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but it looks like more faces could be set to come in to Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly in the market for more signings.

The Red Devils have looked sharp in pre-season, winning every single one of their games – including a 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur – but despite their encouraging form it’s difficult to escape the feeling that the squad still needs an injection of new talent.

And according to Sky Sports, it appears that United could be set to bring an elite player into the club.

The report suggests Juventus may be willing to include Paulo Dybala in a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku go to Turin.

The Belgian forward joined Manchester United from Everton back in 2017 and is now subject to interest from the Serie A champions as well as from Inter Milan.

If the reaction to the report on Twitter to the latest report is anything to go by, it’s fair to assume that United fans are huge advocates of a potential part-exchange swap deal involving Lukaku and Dybala.

Here’s what they’ve had to say…

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Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan has reportedly returned to training quicker than imagined.

Villa’s players were back for pre-season at the start of the week but despite him being entitled to more time off, is back trying to ready himself for the new season.

Birmingham Live claim he reported to Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday morning for fitness testing.

And it was news that had Villa supporters praising him for his good attitude, despite the outcast struggling at the club after his £12m switch from Bristol City.

Fans took to Twitter to applaud his efforts as one said he was a top guy, hoping he got his chance to shine at some point. Another supporter offered similar sentiments, saying he should be given an opportunity next term.

A further fan applauded him for trying, hailing the fact he wasn’t just draining Villa of their resources.

Hogan’s time at the club has been far from impressive, scoring just seven goals since moving in 2017. He was previously one of the most potent forwards in the Championship, netting 14 in 25 before arriving at Villa Park.

However, following a loan spell at Sheffield United after being frozen out of the Villa team, he’s been linked with another temporary switch to QPR.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Liverpool fans are confident that the club do not need to make any signings in the summer transfer window after Jurgen Klopp claimed that the club’s youngsters could break into the first-team after a busy pre-season, per the club’s official Twitter account.

The club have signed 17-year-old defender Sepp van den Berg this summer and reports suggest they are closing in on the acquisition of Fulham youngster Harvey Elliott.

Last summer, of course, the Reds embarked on a spending spree, bringing in the likes of Fabinho and Alisson Becker as they prepared for a season in which they lost just once in the Premier League and won the Champions League.

The likes of Manchester City, who pipped the Reds to the title, and Tottenham Hotspur have already broken their transfer records to sign Rodri and Tanguy Ndombele respectively.

But Klopp is confident in the club’s production line, insisting that youngsters can make an impact as they head on a pre-season tour of America.

He said: “These boys, they are our future if they want to be our future. That’s how it is, and for that they need to take all the steps. But for them, this pre-season is, of course, exciting.

“So we need all of them, and it’s nice and using only as an example…Paul Glatzel and Bobby Duncan, wow. Our offensive line, that played most of last year, are coming pretty late to join us in the pre-season so there will be moments of course when they have to play and not only Tranmere or whatever but for sure in America as well.

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“When you are already in the club, then the door is always open for you to the first team, the only thing is you have to go through by yourself. We only open the door, we don’t push you through it.

“So I’m open, I’m very open for exciting football players and if the boys show up, good for them and good for us.”

And fans believe that the former Borussia Dortmund boss knows what he is doing with the club’s youngsters and trust him to mastermind yet another title challenge in 2019/20.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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Friday’s Liverpool transfer roundup shed light on an enquiry made for a Dutch superstar, Bundesliga interest in a young striker and comments from Jurgen Klopp on the club’s transfer policy. Today’s edition shares an offer made for a former Anfield star, eyes on a Russian forward and a Championship club after a young Reds goalkeeper.

Liverpool lodge Coutinho bid

Calcio Mercato is reporting that Liverpool have made an offer to take Philippe Coutinho back to Merseyside. Klopp and co have tabled a two-year loan bid to FC Barcelona, with an option to then purchase the Brazilian for £88m. The 27-year-old has apparently accepted the proposal.

Reds eye Chalov

Liverpool have entered the race to sign CSKA Moscow’s Fedor Chalov according to The Mirror. They have a lot of competition for his signature, though, with Manchester City, Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also mentioned. The 21-year-old scored 17 goals for the Russian outfit last term.

Huddersfield favourites for Grabara

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Huddersfield Town are “red-hot favourites” to sign goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. The deal mentioned is of a loan variety. The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with Danish side Aarhus GF.