Unai Emery has strengthened his Aston Villa side substantially during the summer, especially as they will play Europa Conference League football this term.

Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans have all arrived in the Midlands for what could be a season to remember for the supporters if they can carry on the momentum from 2022/23.

With under two weeks left of the transfer window, could Emery secure another one or two deals in order to further bolster his squad?

Could Aston Villa sign Dani Ceballos?

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, Emery is ‘preparing’ an offer to reunite with the Spaniard as he looks to bring him to Villa before their European adventure begins.

A fee of around €15m (£13m) will be offered to Real Madrid and given that the La Liga giants have signed Jude Bellingham this summer, they could be tempted to move Ceballos on.

Read the latest Aston Villa news HERE…

This is despite the fact the midfielder only recently signed a new contract until 2027 and given that he featured under Emery during his spell at Arsenal, it could be a smart move.

Could Dani Ceballos improve Aston Villa?

The 27-year-old has won two Champions League crowns, a La Liga title and an FA Cup during his career, along with a plethora of other trophies and there is no doubt he could add a winning mentality to the Villa squad should he make the move to the Premier League.

Having played a total of 120 matches for Madrid, he is no stranger to performing at the highest level, while his stint at Arsenal has given him plenty of experience of the English top flight, which would stand him in good stead.

Ceballos has been lauded as “superb” by journalist Lucas Navarrete, and he is also statistically similar to Chelsea starlet Enzo Fernandez, suggesting he could be a wonderful signing for Villa.

According to FBref, the Argentinian World Cup winner is the second-most similar player to Ceballos and given his recent meteoric rise and big money transfer to the Blues following his heroics in Qatar last year, it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, the duo have registered similar statistics with regard to shots per 90 (1.04 to 1.51), pass completion percentage (90.6% to 87%) and successful take-on percentage (60.6% to 54%).

WhoScored suggests that both Ceballos and Fernandez excel at passing and have extremely high levels of concentration meaning they can circulate the ball well during matches and won’t let standards slip.

They both also like to shoot from distance and judging by their statistics, they always look to get their names on the scoresheet.

Emery could do worse than making a move for his former player in the dying embers of the transfer window, especially with Ceballos’ experience in the Champions League.

The Spanish dynamo could be a wonderful signing, and it reflects just how much of an extraordinary job the former Villarreal manager has done since taken charge in October 2022.

With three impressive signings so far, the 27-year-old could make it four should he swap sunny Madrid for the drab Midlands.

Aston Villa have had a summer to remember so far, with Unai Emery and Monchi bolstering the talent on show at Villa Park through their moves in the market.

The Spanish duo smashed the club record transfer fee to welcome Moussa Diaby to the Midlands in a deal worth £51.9m, as well as reuniting Emery with former player Pau Torres and capturing Youri Tielemans on a free transfer.

Following on from the highs of the 2022/23 campaign that was transformed by the former Arsenal boss, things are looking to be on a good route for the Villans, however the club could soon suffer their first blunder since the Spaniard’s arrival.

What’s the latest on Cameron Archer’s future at Aston Villa?

It wasn’t long ago that Emery gave a refreshing update on the status of academy striker Cameron Archer’s via BirminghamLive, during the club’s pre-season tour.

The manager spoke in reference to fellow young forward Jhon Duran when providing assurance over his plans to keep the promising duo at Villa Park for the season to come.

“He’s [Duran] a player we will need because he is our second striker with Cameron Archer and we have to use both as well as we have to give them chances to help us.”

Despite the reassurance delivered by the Spaniard, renowned journalist David Ornstein revealed on Wednesday that the dynamic youngster could be for “sale”, with the club “open” to his departure with “strong interest” noted.

How good is Cameron Archer?

Lauded by U23 scout Antonio Mango as being “undoubtedly the best finisher” in England’s U21 European Championship winning squad, Villa could be making a huge mistake in sanctioning the sale of Archer.

A product of the club’s academy, the Englishman – who has been valued at €10m (£9m) by CIES Football Observatory – made the decision to endeavour on a half-season loan spell in the Championship last term, with game time not sufficient enough for his development.

In 20 appearances for Middlesbrough, the striker contributed to 17 goals on their path to the play-offs, scoring 11 times and providing six assists in what was an instant impact at Riverside.

Described as “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Emery could not only lose a homegrown talent, but a player with gargantuan potential at a time where Ollie Watkins is only getting older and a successor will one day need to be identified.

With Watkins being Villa’s primary forward at present, the room is there for Archer to develop at his boyhood club next season, under a manager that has unearthed one of the best young talents in England, with his harvesting of Bukayo Saka most notable.

It would be a significant blunder for the claret and blues to part ways with the 21-year-old, who has shown evidence of the maturity he has added to his game by playing exceptionally at senior level, to elevate his raw talent.

The Villans are also in the process of completing the sale of fellow academy starlet Aaron Ramsey, in a move that is beneficial to the player, but an example that could come back to haunt Emery.

While there are a host of targets speculated to be wanted by Villa, there comes an instance where promoting homegrown talents could be the greater route to success, rather than a way to make profit.

انتظم لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك المصاب، في التدريبات الجماعية التي أقيمت مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، استعداداً لمواجهة نهضة بركان المغربي في ذهاب نهائي بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة نهضة بركان المغربي في ذهاب نهائي كأس الكونفدرالية، المقرر لها في العاشرة مساء يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 12 مايو الجاري على ملعب بركان البلدي.

وجاء انتظام حارس مرمى الزمالك، محمد صبحي في التدريبات عقب تماثل الحارس للشفاء من الإصابة التي كان يعاني منها وهي عبارة عن مزق في العضلة الضامة.

مران الزمالك | جوميز يطالب اللاعبين بنسيان الدوري.. وفقرة بدنية استعداداً لـ نهضة بركان

وخضع حارس الزمالك لبرنامج تأهيلي وعلاجي خاص للتعافي من الإصابة خلال الفترة الماضية تحت إشراف الجهاز الطبي بقيادة الدكتور محمد أسامة.

وشارك محمد صبحي في تدريبات حراس المرمى تحت قيادة لويس فيسنتي مدرب الحراس، بجانب التقسيمة الفنية بشكل طبيعي استعداداً للمباراة المقبلة.

يذكر أن الزمالك قد تعرض لهزيمة صعبة أمام سموحة بهدف وحيد في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء الأحد الماضي ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a move for AC Milan midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, as Unai Emery and Monchi look to add more reinforcements to their attack.

The Spanish duo have hit the jackpot so far in the transfer window, obtaining the signatures of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, however Monchi could face his first business blunder in chasing De Ketelaere.

Could Aston Villa sign Charles De Ketelaere?

As reported by news outlets in Spain, relayed by The Hard Tackle, Villa are keen on Milan’s attacking midfielder.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

It’s claimed that the Villans have learned the 22-year-old’s price tag, which sits around the €28m (£24m) mark, just one year after moving to the San Siro in a deal worth €35m (£30m).

The report added that Milan are ready to offload the Belgian, after a difficult first year in Italy following his move from Club Brugge.

How good is Charles De Ketelaere?

Having once been hailed as a “special player” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Juliper Pro League wizard has failed to impress in Milan in a move that has been a big blow for the Rossoneri.

There’s little surprise that the 22-year-old was snatched by Milan after showcasing his talents in an impeccable 2021/22 campaign in the Jupiler Pro League, in which he scored 14 goals and registered seven assists in 33 appearances for Brugge.

Unfortunately for the Belgian, his form has not been transferable to Italy, where he has registered only a single assist in 32 appearances in Serie A in a hugely underwhelming individual season on the back of such an impressive feat at his boyhood club.

Criticised as “awful” by football blogger Rajath Kumar after a poor performance for Milan, the youngster was described as “deflated and dejected” in what was a term to forget for the Villa target.

For Emery and Monchi, the season played by De Ketelaere should be a warning sign for the Midlands club, who could cause a disaster in taking the 22-year-old from the hands of the Italian giants.

There’s little to deny the talents that the youngster possesses, however at this time in Villa’s progression, the room for error this window is not necessary considering the calibre of deals that Monchi has already delivered.

The Premier League is a competition that many stars come from abroad to taste and realise that their palette isn’t perhaps destined to enjoy the spices the English game can deliver.

After two full league seasons with Club Brugge, De Ketelaere opted to branch out to savour what the European stage had to offer in Italy, in a move that perhaps came too early for the budding star, leaving a further move to the Premier League a questionable one.

In capturing the 6 foot 4 midfielder, Villa could add to their ranks in the creative department in attack, considering that the player averaged an impressive 1.61 key passes per 90 for Milan last term, however, his ability suggested in Serie A could place him low in Emery’s midfield pecking order.

John McGinn has been revolutionised under the Spaniard’s regime in the Midlands, captaining the side to the highs of the 2022/23 campaign and earning a new contract last month that takes his stay at Villa Park to 2027.

The form of the Scotsman raises questions as to whether De Ketelaere would be worthy of having a spot in the side ahead of the 28-year-old, who performed at a consistently high-level last season.

Spending over £20m on a player not guaranteed to better the likes of McGinn makes little sense, added to the earlier capture of Tielemans who is another midfielder for Emery to add to the mix.

Arsenal have already enjoyed a fine start to this summer's dealings, but could now add the finishing touches to a squad so nearly ready to dominate the Premier League.

How much would Raphinha cost?

Although the deal in question concerns a man who has spent only one year at the Nou Camp, rumours continue to persist linking Raphinha with an exit from Barcelona this window.

The Gunners are one of many clubs to have been touted as a suitor, as the Catalonian outfit continue to be plagued by financial troubles that could well need offsetting at any given moment.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Despite this, they are unwilling to back down on their lofty price tag, having demanded €80m (£69m) back in May and clearly sticking with it.

This is despite Football Transfers valuing the 26-year-old at just €41m (£35m), with the Spanish outfit having spent £55m to pry the Brazilian from Leeds United last summer.

How many goals has Raphinha scored for Barcelona?

Should the north London outfit once again look to Barcelona for transfers, it makes it hard not to reminisce about their last successful permanent export from such a footballing heavyweight.

In the summer of 2014, many clubs lined up to offer terms to the wantaway Alexis Sanchez. He had starred for three years in the famous blue and red jersey but sought pastures new, likely to climb out of Lionel Messi's impossibly large shadow.

Selecting the Emirates as his new home, it did not take him long to acclimatise to his surroundings following the £35m move. The electric Chilean would score 25 goals in all competitions during that debut year, assisting a further 12 and lighting up English football in an instant.

This was form that would remain unrelenting, as he posted 28 goal contributions the season following, and a magnificent 48 during an exceptional 2016/17 campaign.

Despite his unceremonious exit to join Manchester United, he remains one of the finest Arsenal players in recent history, with Manuel Pellegrini even branding him: "the best player in English football" in 2015.

Should Raphinha now seek to tread that same path, the hope will be he can enjoy even half as successful a tenure as Sanchez did, tearing up defences and hopefully propelling them to elite honours from the flank.

His form last term is suggestive of reaching such a level, as he notched ten goals and assisted 12 more across all competitions during his first year in Spain.

Shrugging off a tough start to the season, he would eventually earn huge praise from his boss Xavi:

"As for Raphinha, he was intense, he attacked spaces, and gave us key things in attack and he is doing decisive things.

“Now it seems to me that he stands out more as he is an extraordinary player."

Given he departed Elland Road following an 11-goal haul that kept them afloat in the Premier League, he arguably boasts even more experience than his predecessor did when he made the same switch.

Therefore, the odds are in his favour to thrive and even surpass those levels set by the current free agent.

After all, he was lauded as a "magician" by teammate Daniel James during his final year in west Yorkshire, as if to offer an additional endorsement of his qualities.

The north London outfit enjoyed a huge masterclass with their last permanent acquisition from Barcelona, so there is every reason to take that big-money risk again, with the possibility it could bring titles back to the Emirates.

Since the opening match of the Champions Trophy against India, where they conceded 319, the highest total they have conceded is 236

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2017A 4-0 series scoreline against Sri Lanka and consistent performances since the 2017 Champions Trophy are testimony to the fact that the Pakistan bowling attack has grown into one of the best in the world, according to their captain Sarfraz Ahmed.Speaking to the media after his side completed a seven-wicket drubbing of Sri Lanka on Friday, Sarfraz credited the success to the contributions of bowlers like Hasan Ali, who is now ranked No. 1 by the ICC, and a settled core of players for limited-overs cricket.Pakistan’s recent performances attest to the potency of their attack. Since the opening match of the Champions Trophy against India, where they conceded 319, the highest total they have conceded is 236. Their opponents in this period have included South Africa, England, India and Sri Lanka, and they have beaten them all.In the ongoing series, apart from Hasan, legspinner Shadab Khan and fast bowler Rumman Raees have also impressed in the opportunities they have been given, with Shadab even contributing a crucial half-century in the second ODI. In the matches before his bowling action was reported as suspect, Mohammad Hafeez was miserly, bowling at an economy rate of 3.30.”Yes, you can say that,” Sarfraz said, when asked if he considered his bowling attack the best in the world. “The way the bowlers have been performing since the Champions Trophy, we have bowled teams out for 240-230 and then chased them down well. Here, too, we are bowling well and chasing well. We should praise the bowlers, especially Hasan Ali, who is improving day by day. He is now the world No. 1 so I wish he keeps that and does well to win us matches. Shadab is doing well and so have Usman Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Rumman Raees and Junaid Khan. The bowlers are doing well and importantly our bench is getting strong.”Hasan’s growth as a bowler this year has provided an immense boost. The 23-year-old is currently the highest wicket-taker of 2017, has the most five-fors in the year so far (3) and was the Player of the Series at the Champions Trophy with 13 dismissals. In four matches against Sri Lanka, he has taken 12 wickets and Sarfraz lauded the bowler’s mindset and his commitment to self-improvement.”The best thing is that he bowls in an attacking manner, he tries to take wickets, tries learn with Azhar Mahmood [Pakistan’s bowling coach] and does his homework, asks other players how to bowl,” he said. “He asks me and my target is to get wickets through him. He attacks, and with every wicket, he is getting better and better.”Sarfraz felt the team atmosphere was well-balanced, with the selectors picking good players and the team management aiming to lift the confidence of the newcomers.”I will first give selectors the credit, they chose good players and our effort is that, whoever we play, we should give them confidence and tell them to play like they do in domestic matches. The best thing is that they are playing with confidence and whoever plays gives an impact. As far as seniors are concerned, they play their roles. We have two seniors and they are doing their roles and whenever they get a chance they motivate the players and contribute in performance.”

Arsenal fans rejoiced when the signing of Jurrien Timber was confirmed last month.

Gone, so they thought, were the days of a certain Rob Holding and his errant defending.

No one can fault the English centre-half's professionalism and commitment but his displays in the back end of last season arguably cost Mikel Arteta's men the title.

William Saliba was ruled out with a back injury in what turned out to be pivotal moment in the chase for the Premier League.

Timber, therefore, was meant to solve that problem, but sadly the Dutchman has been ruled out for an extended period.

When will Jurrien Timber return from injury?

Timber went down with an injury problem in the first half of Arsenal's opening weekend victory against Nottingham Forest.

It was perhaps a surprise to see him step out for the second period but down he went again shortly after the break before being substituted.

The severity of his injury was far worse than anyone could have imagined. The 22-year-old suffered an ACL problem and as a result, could miss the next seven to nine months in line with the traditional recovery time for such an injury.

Who could replace Jurrien Timber at Arsenal?

Fortunately for the Gunners, the transfer window is still open should they wish to replace their impressive young talent.

Full-backs such as Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Pavard and Kyle Walker-Peters have all been linked in recent days, although if Edu and co fancy saving themselves a pretty penny, they could turn to Hale End once more.

As this Arsenal team have become more and more successful, the chances for academy graduates on which this team were built have become slimmer.

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were the pillars of this team as Arteta sunk his teeth into management for the first time but those opportunities simply aren't there anymore.

Such an eventuality has led to Folarin Balogun's impending exit and Charlie Patino's second straight loan.

However, the door is now ajar in defence for a young prospect to make a name for themselves.

The most likely candidate in that regard is Reuell Walters.

Who is Reuell Walters?

An 18-year-old centre-back, the teenager really made a name for himself during Arsenal's run to the FA Youth Cup final last season.

Jack Wilshere's men enjoyed a fairytale run to the showpiece event at the Emirates, only to be dispatched 5-1 by West Ham.

Walters, however, stood out despite such a scoreline. He strode out of defence confidently and with great purpose, carrying the ball long distances or pinging balls into space for wingers and wing-backs to run onto.

Such a playstyle is in line with the way the aforementioned Saliba and Gabriel play. Indeed, both defenders like to stride forward before playing a measured long pass to feet.

Of course, the teenager might not be at that standard yet, but Wilshere certainly expects him to have a strong future in the game, reportedly holding the opinion that he could well become just as good as Saliba.

With Timber being signed and competition for places in a full-back position being fierce, any opportunity for Walters to play looked farfetched. After all, he wasn't even among the travelling party to the USA for the club's pre-season tour.

Yet, having appearing for the club during pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and been in plenty of matchday squads last term, Arteta clearly rates him. Boasting a success rate of 83% chipped passes per game in the EFL Trophy to Holding's 50%, it's clear to see why.

This is a player who is bold with his passing and more often than not, the risk pays off. Holding is anything but a clever gamble. Playing him would be a mistake.

Throwing Walters in as a regular starter in the Premier League is unlikely but the "outstanding prospect" – as dubbed by journalist Layth Yousif – deserves an opportunity to prove he could play second fiddle to Arsenal's defensive protagonists.

Tottenham Hotspur are "set to move for another centre-back signing" and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba is the "top target", according to reports.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy have already sealed a fair few major signings this summer, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, youngster Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz joining the club.

The new Premier League season is looming, and after Spurs' last pre-season friendly against Barcelona tonight, attention now turns to Brentford away on Sunday.

The north Londoners will have a new-look side from last term as Ange Postecoglou seeks to implement his philosophy and hand-pick players suited to his system.

Defensively, Tottenham were very poor last season, having conceded 63 league goals – which is more than any other side above 15th in the top-flight managed.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Those numbers will prove alarming for Postecoglou, who has a big task on his hands following in the footsteps of serial winner Antonio Conte.

The Australian also admitted to media recently that he wants to see more than one defensive addition this summer and has urged his side to make another signing at the back after completing a deal for van de Ven.

"It's not done yet," said Postecoglou.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

After this declaration of intent from Spurs' boss, reporter Pete O'Rourke has shared an update in a column for Football Insider.

The journalist, sharing news on Tottenham's transfer plans for the remainder of this window, relays Spurs are "set to move for another centre-back signing" after both van de Ven and Phillips.

Tapsoba, who has been repeatedly linked throughout the transfer window, is at the centre of their interest with the club, and by extension Levy, identifying him as their "top target" before September 1.

The Burkina Faso international is valued at around £45m by Leverkusen, a figure proving problematic behind-the-scenes, and that is apparently holding up advanced talks.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Tapsoba was an untouchable member of Xabi Alonso's starting eleven over 2022/2023, playing more league minutes than any other Leverkusen outfielder in the Bundesliga (WhoScored).

The 24-year-old ranked among their best for clearances made per 90 also, backing how truly solid of a presence he can be at the back (WhoScored).

Guardian journalist Ben McAleer, writing a piece for the outlet, has revered Tapsoba for his distribution and believes he would be a sure-fire fit for Postecoglou's system.

McAleer said:

"Postecoglou wants his centre-backs to play the ball out from defence, so Tapsoba would be a fine addition to the squad. He ranked fifth for passes per game (76.3) in the Europa League last season, and returned a solid pass success rate of 87.2%. What’s more, Tapsoba ranked second for forward passes (879) in the Bundesliga last season, looking to set his side on the front foot where possible."