All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United look set to overhaul their goalkeeping department this summer. David de Gea has departed the Old Trafford side following 12 years at the club, while Inter Milan sensation Andre Onana has now arrived.

The future of Dean Henderson appears to be away from United, with Nottingham Forest keen on signing him permanently and this could happen once Onana arrives. Erik ten Hag could therefore be lacking in options between the posts next season, and he could alleviate this problem by signing Yassine Bounou.

Will Manchester United sign Yassine Bounou?

According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, Ten Hag is keen on luring Bounou, more commonly known as Bono, to the Red Devils ahead of next season.

The report claims that a move would be ‘difficult, but not impossible’ and if United were to lose Henderson to Forest, the Dutchman would have to double his efforts to bring another ‘keeper into the squad.

The £15k-per-week titan has two years left on his current deal and Sevilla won't want to lose him cheaply, indicating that United would have to stump up a decent fee in order to sign him during the transfer window.

How good is Yassine Bounou?

Since emerging through the academy, Henderson has made a grand total of 29 senior appearances for United, with the majority of them coming during the 2020/21 season, where he played 25 times.

Talented as he is, given the fact he has already earned a cap for England, making his debut against Ireland three years ago, Ten Hag could soon forget about him with a move for Bono in the coming weeks.

The Canadian-born Moroccan international has enjoyed his greatest success at Sevilla, winning two Europa League titles during his four seasons in Spain. He has also kept 58 clean sheets in 140 matches.

Although not among the very elite across the continent, Bounou could certainly fit Ten Hag’s tactical philosophy of playing out effectively from the back as he ranks in the top 17% across Europe’s big five leagues for touches per 90 (41.8), suggesting that he is comfortable on the ball and is trusted during games to begin attacks from the back.

The 32-year-old became a household name during the 2022 World Cup as Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinals of the competition.

Across seven matches at the tournament, he kept three clean sheets and succeeded with 100% of his run-outs, keeping his best performance for the last 16 tie against Spain.

The 6 foot 2 colossus made two saves in the penalty shootout after the game finished 0-0 and became an instant hero, with compatriot Romain Saiss praising him following the match, saying:

"It is amazing for him. He had a heroic game today, not only during the penalties. He just wanted to show why he was named the best La Liga goalkeeper last season. He is a great keeper, he proved it against Spain. We owe him a lot today."

Shining on the world stage should allow him to settle in well at United, and given his impressive performances for both club and country, he could certainly allow Ten Hag to forget all about Henderson.

Leicester City are "in the mix" for securing the signature of Manchester City's highly rated Cole Palmer for a season-long loan deal, claims journalist Ben Jacobs

Is Cole Palmer joining Leicester City this summer?

There is no escaping from the fact that the last year has been nothing short of a total disaster for Premier League-winning Leicester, a disaster that culminated in relegation from the top flight.

That said, since relegation was confirmed, the Foxes have been working hard to prepare their squad for life in the second tier, with the club welcoming four new players to the King Power as some of their stars have gone the other way.

Of their new arrivals, it's probably been Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Winks and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady that have sparked the most excitement as the pair of them could probably have found moves to stay in the Premier League had they wished to do so.

Another of the new faces is Manchester City youngster Callum Doyle, who has made his way to the East Midlands for a season-long loan to try and make a name for himself before going back to Manchester and fighting for a place in possibly the greatest team the top flight has ever seen.

It looks like the Foxes are trying to maximise new manager Enzo Maresca's connection to the Cityzens, as journalist Alan Nixon has reported that they are now looking to bring striker Palmer to the King Power as well next season.

It won't be an easy deal to pull off, however, as the likes of Burnley – with Vincent Kompany's connection – and Brighton & Hove Albion are both interested in signing the £20,000-a-week gem on loan as well.

That said, the club remain in the "mix" to secure his signature.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Leicester City and Cole Palmer?

Jacobs confirmed that the Foxes were indeed interested in the player but that it could be problematic with clubs from the Premier League also keen to sign him.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "I think Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion are also there. So, there is significant transfer interest, and Leicester will be in the mix there, but he will also have Premier League options.

"So, it will be intriguing to see what happens with that one."

How good is Cole Palmer?

Despite being just a fringe player for City over recent seasons and getting limited minutes to show the world what he can do, Palmer has still managed to impress with the time he's had.

Just last month, he played a leading role in England's triumph at the U21 European Championship, playing five games, scoring one goal and providing three assists while achieving an average rating of 7.26 per Sofascore.

Despite getting limited minutes under Pep Guardiola, the Spaniard is clearly a big fan of the 21-year-old, saying:

"Cole has a special quality in front of the box that is difficult to find."

His underlying numbers are also really impressive and indicate that he could become an outstanding player with a proper run in a team.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 1% for non-penalty expected goals, total shots, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches in the oppositions penalty area, and progressive passes received, all per 90.

If Leicester can convince Palmer to join them next season, they could well be back in the Premier League in no time at all.

While the new Premiership season is now just a matter of days away, the current focus for those at Celtic remains on bringing in further reinforcements to help aid their domestic and European charge, with returning boss Brendan Rodgers hoping to pick up where his predecessor left off.

Despite a rocky start to the summer that saw treble-winning coach Ange Postecoglou head off to pastures new, while wing wizard, Jota also sealed a £25m move to Al Ittihad, Rodgers has begun to steady the ship by putting his own imprint on the current Hoops squad.

The ex-Leicester City boss has already made five new signings as the Old Firm giants seek to retain their title in the upcoming campaign, with the Northern Irishman having most recently brought in Polish defender Maik Nawrocki from Legia Warsaw.

With another crack at the Champions League group stage to come, however, the Parkhead outfit may be in need of more high-profile and experienced additions to avoid a repeat of last season's disappointment in the competition, hence the intrigue in their apparent interest in Scotland international, Scott McTominay.

What is Scott McTominay's market value?

The Times have notably reported in recent times that the Scottish champions are among the clubs who are keen on signing the 26-year-old this summer, with the 6 foot 4 ace seemingly among the players who Manchester United could be willing to sell over the coming weeks.

It remains to be seen just how Rodgers and co would be able to fund a move for the £60k-per-week maestro, however, with reports indicating that the United academy graduate has a price tag of around £40m.

With the towering asset valued at closer to €30m (£25m) by CIES Football Observatory, however, that may be a more realistic sum for those at Celtic Park if they are to reinvest their Jota funds, while there may be a lingering hope that a loan switch could come onto the table.

Should Celtic sign Scott McTominay?

While the Red Devils ace has been restricted to something of a bit-part role under Erik ten Hag in recent times – after starting just ten Premier League games last season – he has proven his worth over the years at Old Trafford after racking up 209 appearances in all competitions to date.

Lauded as a "physical monster" by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the 41-cap machine – who has bagged five goals in his last four appearances for his country – could well follow in the footsteps of fellow midfielder Roy Keane in making the move from Manchester to Glasgow.

The iconic Irishman was signed by the Bhoys back in the winter of 2005 following an acrimonious end to his time with the Red Devils, having reportedly fallen out with Sir Alex Ferguson following his criticism of his United teammates while working for MUTV.

While the then-veteran asset would enjoy just a six-month spell in his new home, the Cork native certainly made his mark after helping the club to a league and cup double, while also earning the Man of the Match award for his standout display during his Old Firm derby debut in February 2006.

The hope will be that McTominay could go on to make a more long-term impact at Celtic if he was to emulate Keane and make the move, having even been the recipient of praise from the United legend himself in the recent past, with the 51-year-old stating:

"I do like the look of him."

Also described as a "nightmare to play against" by talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, McTominay could be the next enforcer to dominate the Hoops' midfield.

Chelsea tying down Levi Colwill to a new long-term contract at Stamford Bridge can provide a 'big boost' for Mauricio Pochettino's side moving forward, according to journalist Paul Brown.

How long is Levi Colwill's new contract at Chelsea?

As per Sky Sports News, Colwill has put pen to paper on a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge with the option of an additional year on his fresh contract.

The England Under-21 international has expressed his delight at the news, stating in an interview: "It's always been an easy decision. As I've grown up, all I've known is Chelsea. I've spoken with the manager and he's given me reassurance, that trust I needed."

90min have claimed that Colwill has seen a hefty rise in his weekly pay packet at Chelsea from his old deal worth around £5,000 per week and will now be set to pocket £100k-a-week in west London.

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool were big admirers of Colwill's talents during the spell of uncertainty that lingered regarding his future at Chelsea that has now been extinguished.

Last term, Colwill spent time out on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion, where he went on to make 22 appearances in all competitions, accumulating two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per The Guardian, Roberto De Zerbi's Seagulls were also keen on Colwill and even had a bid turned down for his services last month while they also mooted the possibility of him being part of a player-plus-cash deal involving Moises Caicedo heading in the opposite direction.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Chelsea being able to extend Colwill's stay at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future is a big positive for boss Pochettino looking ahead.

Brown told FFC: "It is a big boost, I think this guy's got a bright future. He certainly toyed with the idea of leaving again this summer. Chelsea had no intention of letting him go, whether this means that there is another loan on the cards, though, I don't know. I mean, Chelsea are little lights on defenders at the moment through injury, so it might be that he senses a chance and he's been promised that he'll get one. I wouldn't at all surprise me now if he starts the season in the team at Chelsea; we'll have to see. If he has a good pre-season and gets in there, there's no reason to think he can't start and that's always been what he's wanted at the club. We'll have to see, but it's good news for Chelsea certainly that the contract and the future there is tied up."

What now for Chelsea?

Chelsea look to be probing in the market to wrap up some extra reinforcements ahead of the new Premier League campaign getting underway.

The Blues are believed to be 'on the verge' of completing a deal to bring in Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks, as per The Daily Mail.

Monaco defender Axel Disasi is now close to joining Sanchez at Stamford Bridge and will arrive from the Ligue 1 outfit for a fee of €45 million, according to The Independent.

Reports in Spain claim that Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is trying to initiate a stunning deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Kylian Mbappe, though it remains to be seen whether such an ambitious move could successfully come to fruition.

West Ham United are set to be extremely active over the remaining weeks of the transfer window, and now a new update has emerged on enquiries made about a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on West Ham's interest in Randal Kolo Muani?

According to 90min, West Ham have made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt about the price tag of their star striker Randal Kolo Muani.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

As per the report, the Hammers are one of many clubs who have registered their interest in the goal-scorer with Bayern Munich and Manchester United also named as clubs who have shown interest in Kolo Muani this summer.

How good is Randal Kolo Muani?

There is no doubt that David Moyes will be feeling the pressure to confirm new additions over the coming days and weeks, with West Ham preparing for their Premier League opener tomorrow against Bournemouth.

The Hammers have seen two massive departures this summer with Declan Rice and Gianluca Scamacca already sold on, whilst Lucas Paqueta's future hangs in the balance due to a huge £70m offer made by Manchester City this week, according to reports.

As a result, the signing of Kolo Muani would be a great piece of business for Moyes as he attempts to bring in game-changers who can make an instant impact to not only improve their Premier League form, but help them to compete on the European stage this season.

Over 32 Bundesliga appearances, the 24-year-old machine – who has a reported price tag of £80m – scored 15 goals, registered 11 assists and created a whopping 11 big chances, as well as averaging 1.3 key passes, 2.4 shots on goal and 2.2 successful dribbles per game, as per SofaScore.

Not only that, according to FBref, the Frenchman ranks in the top 13% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues per 90 minutes played for assists, shot-creating actions, progressive carries and touches, proving that he is one of the most consistent performers in front of goal across Europe.

When comparing Kolo Muani's output to Scamacca's in the league last season, the Frankfurt star has comfortably outperformed the former West Ham striker in a number of key attributes including goal contributions (26 v 3), shots on target rate (40% v 33.3%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.59 v 2.33), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.75 v 0.10) and successful take-ons (44.1% v 42.9%), proving that he would be a huge upgrade on Scamacca.

Due to his outstanding performances in the final third for his German club, Kolo Muani has been the recipient of high praise, with German legend Lothar Matthaus waxing lyrical about the striker's strengths to French news outlet L'Equipe (via Bundesliga.com):

"He has remarkable technical ability, he's ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges. The most impressive thing is that he's performing in every game. I can't remember a match where he's played badly. That's the mark of a future superstar."

With that being said, if West Ham can meet Frankfurt's valuation for Kolo Muani there is no doubt he could have a huge impact on the Irons next season and provide them with a reliable goal-scorer for years to come.

The latest potential departure from Leeds United will be dealt with "in a totally different manner to the others" however, the impending deadline of September 1st means the club will have to make a decision regarding the "quality" player soon, per The Athletic's Phil Hay.

Leeds United news – what is the latest?

The last few months have been particularly miserable for the Leeds faithful, and unfortunately, things don't look like they'll be picking up too soon either.

The club's relegation to the Championship at the end of last season was bad enough, but as they say, when it rains, it pours.

During their drop-down to the second tier, the West Yorkshire outfit have had to contend with a prolonged and incredibly disruptive takeover from the 49ers group and an exodus of players that just seems to keep going.

Read the latest Leeds United transfer news HERE…

So far, the club have seen eight first-team players leave, with more like Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra soon to follow.

One of the reasons that so many of these crucial players have been able to just leave is because the club had agreed to clauses in their contracts that allowed them to either leave on loan or permanently should the club get relegated.

However, one player that didn't have a clause like that is Italian international Wilfried Gnonto, who has reportedly downed tools and refused to play after the club turned down an offer from Premier League side Everton, per the Daily Mail.

This has left the club with more leverage in this situation but also means they must choose to either reintegrate him back into the team or take the money for him, per The Athletic's Phil Hay.

He explained the situation on The Square Ball YouTube channel, saying:

"I think that is going to have to be dealt with in a totally different manner to others like Adams and Harrison, for example. There is no release clause. Our understanding is that he was going to train on his own now, and Farke, without naming him specifically, was brutally honest, I thought on Saturday in saying, 'If I have this where somebody doesn't want to play first, then he just won't train with us, he won't be in our dressing room he'll be off on his own.'

"So that's a scenario there, which means Leeds have to make this decision about what they do with him. Do they say to him, 'This is what you can go for, find yourself club, and if they pay that money, you can leave', or do they actually make him stick around [and], I don't know, try and find a way to resolve this in a way that lets him come back into the team?

"Although I don't think he'll have been deaf to what was going on at Saint Andrews on Saturday, particularly with the away end."

How much did Leeds United pay for Willy Gnonto?

According to The Athletic, Leeds paid FC Zurich around £5m to sign the then 18-year-old, in what was seen as a great deal for a young up-and-coming star of European football, a star that unfortunately looks like he'll be plying his trade away from West Yorkshire if things continue as they are.

He wasn't a runaway success in his debut Premier League campaign last year, but he did show enough promise and the odd glimpse of excellence to suggest that were he to stay at Elland Road and fight it out in the Championship, he'd be a brilliant asset for Daniel Farke to call upon.

In his 24 league appearances for the Whites last year, he scored two goals, provided four assists, took 0.9 shots per game, won one Man-of-the-Match award and averaged a match rating of 6.48, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are also a bit of a mixed bag, with FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 4% for blocks and the top 18% for progressive carries, but the bottom 33% for successful take-ons and the bottom 11% for non-penalty expected goals, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Leeds and Farke would certainly be better off keeping the player former Italy boss Roberto Mancini described as "quality", if he continues to push for an exit, and they can make a profit from his sale, he hasn't performed so well that they couldn't try and find a suitable replacement elsewhere, one that wants to stay and fight.

Chelsea appear to be well and truly setting their sights on a Michael Olise alternative as an update emerges on Lyon star Bradley Barcola.

Who have Chelsea signed?

Mauricio Pochettino's side, despite spending over £250 million already this transfer window, could move to strengthen further following their failed pursuit of Olise – with the Frenchman instead signing a new deal at Crystal Palace.

Midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia are the first team stars to most recently come through the door at Stamford Bridge, with the former costing a British-record £115 million to prise away from Brighton.

"Moises has proved himself as a standout player in European football over the past 18 months, and we are thrilled to add him to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad," said Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley.

"Moises possesses a rare midfield skill set and is a player we've been targeting for some time. We believe he will make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge this season – and in the years ahead."

Meanwhile, Pochettino has expressed his delight at the signing of Lavia from Southampton, with Chelsea's head coach revering the Belgian's quality after they announced a deal.

"We all know Romeo and his quality, his profile," said the Argentine.

"I think he’s a perfect player for this project. We are excited and we are so happy to add him in the squad.

"The club worked really hard on these signings. We have to congratulate the owners and the sporting directors Laurence [Stewart] and Paul [Winstanley], because the job was amazing."

Lavia and Caicedo join the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Angelo and young Brazilian ace Deivid Washington in penning deals at the Bridge.

Lyon star Barcola, following Chelsea's summer spending spree, could be another player to make his way to west London as journalist Fabrice Hawkins shares an update for RMC Sport.

Indeed, it is believed Pochettino's side are "fully" chasing the 20-year-old forward and talks have "intensified" very recently following Chelsea's collapsed deal for Olise.

Lyon have already rejected a bid from PSG for the player, and Man City's interest in Barcola has cooled down as they pursue a move for Rennes winger Jeremy Doku.

This could open the door for Chelsea, but during talks, Lyon have apparently quoted a fee of around £43 million to let Barcola leave.

Who is Bradley Barcola?

Barcola played just 1438 minutes for Lyon over the 2022/2023 campaign, but in that time, he registered an impressive five goals and eight assists.

The Frenchman stands out as an incredibly direct winger, having averaged a brilliant 2.5 dribbles per 90 in Ligue 1 according to WhoScored, with Lyon boss Laurent Blanc heaping praise on the player this year.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE..

"He surprises me on a physical level. He doesn't second-guess himself… he scores goals, even though he is not necessarily an out-and-out striker," said Blanc.

"He can easily eliminate his opponents with his technical finesse and speed.

"When he wasn't a starter, I told him to be attentive and serious because he was certainly going to be able to occupy an important position in the team. He must have thought I was crazy not to play him. But I already had a few ideas."

Leeds United clinched their first victory of the season in an enthralling encounter against high-flying Ipswich Town, with Daniel Farke's side defeating their newly promoted opposition 4-3 at Portman Road.

How did Leeds perform against Ipswich?

In what was one of the most frenetic openings to a match the 2023/24 campaign has seen, Leeds rebounded from Joe Rodon's early own goal to blast three past Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky inside 20 minutes, with Georginio Rutter, Wilfried Gnonto and new striker Joel Piroe the scorers.

Nathan Broadhead halved the deficit in the dying embers of the first half, but Luis Sinisterra's 72nd-minute strike all but confirmed Farke's first victory with the Elland Road side, before Conor Chaplin's goal gave the Tractor Boys a late consolation.

The defensive frailties that have plagued the Whites over the past few years were there to be seen, but the attacking intent was also on the front shelf, and Farke and his team will be delighted with the performance of Rutter, who could be set for a big season after struggling last year.

How did Georginio Rutter perform against Ipswich?

Before taking the job, Farke informed the Leeds hierarchy that the club would need to score 75+ goals in the league this season if they were to have a chance of securing an immediate return to the Premier League.

The fact that Piroe netted on his debut after his £10.5m move with Swansea City will have been galvanising for his manager and the endearing Whites support, who will now have renewed confidence regarding the outfit's seasonal prospects, with Piroe's record of 19 and 22-goal seasons across the past two years hinting that Leeds now have a thriving frontman.

The one-time PSV Eindhoven youngster impressed on the day, converting after Hladky failed to deal with Sinisterra's cross and earning an average Sofascore rating of 6.9, hitting the target three times, making one key pass and completing 79% of his total passes.

While Piroe did impress, Rutter's own maiden goal for the West Yorkshire team will have also left his manager delighted, and indeed optimistic when considering the Frenchman's future at the club.

Praised by The Athletic's Phil Hay for his “quality” effort, restoring parity after Town's opening goal, Rutter impressed with his blend of dribbling, incisiveness and creativity – truly a multi-functional offensive outlet.

The £70k-per-week gem recorded an average match rating of 7.7 – the highest of any Leeds player – complementing his driven strike with two key passes, success in three of his six dribble attempts and winning eight of his 15 duels, emphasising his tenacity and willingness to get stuck in to obtain three points.

The important thing is that Leeds got the win – against an in-form outfit that had won their opening three matches, no less – and while it was not a flawless performance, Farke now has a platform on which to build and a crop of players with a renewed passion to fight for a place back in the big time.

Aston Villa head into the last day of the summer transfer window with five new signings confirmed, however, in the dying hours before the transfer market closes until the turn of the year, Unai Emery could still have another trick up his sleeve.

The Villans have suffered serious injury issues since the start of their Premier League campaign with Tyrone Mings suffering an ACL injury which has prompted the signing of Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet this week, whilst Emi Buendia has also suffered a significant knee injury that is expected to keep him out of the squad for months.

Injuries to key players are the last thing that Emery needs at the moment, as he prepares his side to compete on the European stage in the Conference League, continue their form in the Premier League and be competitive in domestic trophy runs over the weeks and months ahead.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

As a result, the signing of a wide-forward who can emulate or improve upon the influence and impact Buendia has in the final third will be advantageous over the next few hours.

Who could replace Buendia at Aston Villa?

The Midlands club have been linked with numerous players ever since the transfer market opened at the start of the summer, however, there is one player in particular who has consistently sounded out for a monumental move to Villa Park.

This week, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor claimed that Villa will be one to "keep an eye on" when it comes to the future of Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.

Taylor told GIVEMESPORT:

"Keep an eye on Felix. I know this is crazy, but I think the later we get in the window, I really feel like he's going to leave Atletico Madrid, and he's going to be floated to a lot of clubs on loan.

"I don't know if Aston Villa would go in for Felix for the kind of money that would be offered, but I think he will probably be touted to Aston Villa. So keep an eye on that one."

Will Aston Villa sign João Félix?

There is no doubt that Felix would be the dream signing for Villa supporters to replace Buendia's contributions in the forward line over the season ahead, and as time ticks on in the transfer window it could become a reality.

Indeed, the former Chelsea loanee – once hailed a "pure talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – has been linked with a move to Barcelona over the past few days, but the La Liga giants have ongoing financial troubles that could stump their efforts to complete a deal in time, something the Midlands outfit could take full advantage of in the remaining hours of the window.

The Portuguese sensation – who is valued at around £39m by Football Transfers – has been one of the hottest young talents across the top five European leagues for a long time – ranking in the top 15% of his positional peers for shots on goal, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons and tackles per 90 minutes over the last 12 months, as per FBref.

When comparing Felix's output with Buendia's last season, he could even be an upgrade on the Villa ace with the Portugal international outperforming his position competitor in several key attributes including goal contributions (11 v 7), shots on target rate (38.9% v 22.4%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.39 v 3.36) and aerial duels won (31.3% v 29.9%).

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Aston Villa to seal a deal for Felix on deadline day as he could be exactly what Emery needs to ensure his team can compete across all competitions this season and would add the much-needed spark of creativity in the absence of Buendia.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard is a major doubt for his nation's upcoming international fixtures, and his manager has delivered an update on his fitness.

How much did Sunderland pay for Dan Ballard?

Last summer, Ballard made the move to the northeast from Arsenal for a reported £2m where he’s since gone on to make a total of 27 appearances to date, but despite Tony Mowbray not mentioning any problem regarding the player, there’s some slight worry.

During Saturday’s 5-0 Championship victory over Southampton, the centre-back is claimed to have sustained an undisclosed knock even though he wasn’t removed from the pitch and in fact ended up seeing out the entirety of the game, hence why nobody was concerned that he was carrying an injury.

With the international break now underway and countries getting ready to compete in their Euro 2024 qualifiers, the 23-year-old was initially named in Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland squad, but if the following update is anything to go by, he might not be featuring in any of the imminent fixtures due to the mystery problem picked up at the Stadium of Light.

What's the latest injury news on Dan Ballard?

Speaking following Northern Ireland's arrival in Ljubljana for their training camp and matches, O'Neill was asked for an update on his team's fitness, to which he mentioned that Ballard had suffered a setback and therefore may not be available for selection.

As quoted by The Northern Echo, he said:

"We have an injury concern over Daniel, however everyone else came through the weekend unscathed. The mood in the camp is good and the players are looking forward to the games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan."

How good is Dan Ballard?

Even though Ballard has only been at Sunderland for one full season, he’s made a fantastic impression on the side and has been hailed an “excellent” player by journalist Josh Bunting, so the fact that he could be out of club action upon his return is a huge blow.

The Stevenage-born talent, who pockets £12k-per-week, is averaging four clearances, 1.8 aerial wins and 1.2 tackles per second-tier game this season, via WhoScored, highlighting how much of a rock he is at the heart of the backline, but there's additionally so many more attributes that he possesses which make him an integral member of the team.

The former Arsenal talent, who has also recorded one assist since putting pen to paper with the red and white stripes, has the ability to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield alongside his usual role, so he provides the boss with welcome versatility which is useful given the relentless amount of fixtures.

Following Danny Batth's recent move to Norwich City, Mowbray has Jenson Seelt, Aji Alese and Nectarios Triantis as his three natural options at centre-back so he has reinforcements to cover should Ballard not be available for selection next weekend against QPR, but in an ideal world, the boss will hopefully have the latter back in the XI as soon as possible.