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O Flamengo saiu na frente pela ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil após vencer o Athletico-PR por 1 a 0, na última quarta-feira, em Curitiba. A partida coroou a ótima fase de Hugo Souza, que foi o herói da equipe de Domènec Torrent, inclusive com a defesa de um pênalti. E o técnico fez um discurso incisivo antes de a bola rolar na Arena da Baixada.

No vestiário, o catalão estimulou os jogadores a, na “dúvida”, procurar Pedro e Bruno Henrique para evitar bolas perdidas na defesa, como ocorreu contra o Internacional (domingo último). Além disso, pediu para a equipe jogar com a bola pois “é muito melhor do que eles (Athletico)”, cobrando também uma pressão física e mental perante diante dos adversários.

– Quando tiver dúvidas, não pode acontecer o que aconteceu no último jogo. Temos Pedro e, na esquerda, temos um jogador muito poderoso, que é o Bruno (Henrique). Mas precisamos jogar… Vocês com a bola são muito melhores do que eles. Mas, o mais importante é que vocês, sem a bola, jogarem com agressividade, pressão, pressão… Eles não poderão ter tempo para pensar. Mas não só pressão fisicamente, mentalmente também. Temos que mostrar a vontade que queremos ser campeões da Copa – disse o técnico em parte de sua fala.

E o Fla cumpriu o pedido do Dome de não sofrer gols no mata-mata. O jogo da volta será no dia 4, no Maracanã. Antes, porém, o Rubro-Negro receberá o São Paulo, neste domingo, pela última rodada do primeiro turno do Brasileiro.

Assista acima ao vídeo da fala de Dome na íntegra.

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Manchester United have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just five times across four matches while securing only two wins from these Premier League ties, and it’s evident that Erik ten Hag has to change things up if he wants his team to contend for the title.

Marcus Rashford led the way last season, scoring 30 goals across all competitions, yet he has yet to catch fire this term, netting only once in four league outings, indicating that perhaps he needs more time to get back into his stride.

Bruno Fernandes also proved to be a key attacking outlet for the Red Devils last season, netting 14 times, but like Rashford, he has failed to really get going thus far and Ten Hag will require others to step up and begin contributing.

The Dutchman went all out to sign Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund in the summer transfer window, spending £72m to secure one of the most highly-rated talents on the continent.

Having missed the start of the season due to injury, the youngster will need to hit the ground running and prove to the United faithful why this sort of money was splashed out on him.

How good is Rasmus Hojlund?

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Dane scored 16 goals in all competitions, which included nine for Serie A side Atalanta, having made the move to Italy from Sturm Graz last summer.

He only started 20 league matches for the club, yet ranked third for goals and assists (11), second for shots per game (1.7) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.9), indicating that he settled into life well in Serie A, despite his tender years.

Despite these encouraging statistics, when compared to positional peers, Hojlund only ranks in the top 30% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.42), while also ranking in the top 33% for total shots per 90 (2.81), demonstrating that he isn’t quite the finished article yet and there is still some developing to do.

The striker has only scored 27 senior club career goals and Ten Hag is perhaps expecting too much with regard to the youngster leading the line for the Old Trafford side, thus putting a heap of pressure on his shoulders already.

Given their struggles in the final third, what the former Ajax boss would give to have a former United sensation as his main striker right now. The likes of Andy Cole is one such player. He had everything to thrive under the Dutchman, certainly proving to be a bigger talent than Hojlund is currently.

How much did Manchester United sign Andy Cole for?

Sir Alex Ferguson was the master at signing players who were either just about to hit their peak years or had proven that they could thrive in the Premier League.

Andy Cole fits into both of these categories, having spent the previous two and half seasons scoring for fun at Newcastle United.

The Englishman netted 12 goals in the old First Division as the Magpies gained promotion to the Premier League and during the 1993/94 campaign, he exploded into life, making the top flight his stage.

Cole scored a staggering 34 goals across 40 matches as Newcastle finished the season in a wonderful third spot under Kevin Keegan and the good times finally looked to be coming back to St James’ Park.

Ferguson needed another goalscorer and earmarked Cole as the player who could spearhead the United attack for the foreseeable future.

The wily Scot eventually secured his signature for a fee of £7m in January 1995 and although his signing couldn’t help United win a third consecutive league crown, the future was bright.

How many goals did Andy Cole score for Manchester United?

His first two full seasons saw Cole hit just 11 and six league goals respectively as he struggled to live up to the vast hype, numbers indicative of Hojlund's embryonic years in football. Yet, the former finally hit the ground running during the 1997/98 campaign, scoring 25 goals across all competitions.

Having lost the league to Arsenal, Ferguson made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of this by luring striker Dwight Yorke to the club, and it proved to be a stroke of genius, with him and Cole forming a deadly partnership when deployed up front together.

Their stunning link-up play against Barcelona in the Champions League during their first season together was a joy to behold, and the duo received praise from a variety of figures, including Ferguson himself.

He said: “Andy Cole had a great time with us. He and Dwight Yorke had that fantastic season in 1999 that year they were the best partnership in Europe.”

Commentator Clive Tyldesley even lauded the pair, saying “They are out of this world,” as they led United to a stunning treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during the 1998/99 season.

Cole would remain at Old Trafford for the next two and half years before making the move to Blackburn Rovers in 2002, where he won the League Cup just a few weeks after his arrival.

Overall, the 15-cap Englishman made 275 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 121 times in the process while winning five league titles and the coveted Champions League in what was a golden era for the club.

Can you imagine a player like this in the current United team? With creative talents such as Fernandes and Mason Mount producing chance after chance for the striker, and Rashford linking up well from a wide position, it would be a match made in heaven.

Hojlund is still young and relatively experienced at senior level, playing just 88 matches over the previous three seasons but will need to start scoring before the pressure hits unbearable levels. He could well use Cole's example as inspiration.

The latter had everything to be a top-level centre-forward. He was pacy, and could outmanoeuvre even the best of defenders while having a ruthless streak which enabled him to be the main man at Old Trafford for over half a decade.

Hojlund is a wonderful talent and has already shown glimpses of his ability in Italy, but the pressure is greater in Manchester and in order to build on his solid start to life in senior football, he could certainly learn a thing from the success Cole enjoyed at the club.

Plenty of strikers have already tried to crawl out of Cole's shadow and failed; it's now time for the Norwegian to show he won't have the same difficulties. Over to you, Rasmus.

Arsenal's start to the season has been less than convincing, despite having claimed three wins from a possible four and having remained unbeaten in the Premier League.

However, it is worth noting that two of those three victories came courtesy of a slender one-goal lead, and even against Manchester United they seemed to struggle at times as Mikel Arteta scrambles to recapture their form of old.

Last season saw the Gunners run Manchester City incredibly close for the title against all the odds, winning 26 matches and missing out by just a five-point margin. Given they led the race for the majority of the campaign too, it stung to see them push ahead at the final hurdle to claim the first of three pieces of silverware in the same year.

The hope is that the north London outfit can emulate something similar to such a historic success now, with their summer additions certain to aid them in that pursuit.

Fees via Transfermarkt

However, whilst Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and David Raya could all play a big part in that brighter future, it will mainly be built on the foundation set by last year's heroes. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba made up a youthful spine that will only continue to evolve, with the latter having perhaps enjoyed the most surprising of standout terms.

Why is William Saliba so good?

Saliba, who actually joined back in 2019, had largely become a forgotten man by many as he returned to his homeland for a string of loan spells. First sent back to Saint Etienne, where he had initially moved from, he would enjoy stints with OGC Nice and Marseille before his integration into Arsenal's first team.

However, this was a plan clearly well-thought-out, as his development has been exemplary, and his newfound importance within their side is monumental.

It is a testament to his quality that their failure to win the title last season is often attributed to the back injury he sustained in March, which saw him ruled out of action for the rest of their campaign.

Pundit Jamie Carragher even noted: "After the World Cup, they were looking completely different defensively. They were still getting the results, but they were conceding goals. Then, without Saliba, they drop even further.

"I don't think him being there for the full season would have meant that Arsenal would have gone on and won the title. I’m sure they would have been a lot closer, but there are still things he needs to improve on.”

His 6.98 Sofascore average rating in the league last term marked an admirable return, but the 22-year-old now seems poised to reach even loftier heights, having seen that rating rise to 7.28 this year after just four games. Such a lofty figure, which makes him Arsenal's seventh-best performer, is buoyed by his 95% pass accuracy, 1.5 interceptions, 5.8 ball recoveries and three clearances per game.

Although he might not be ranked as their outright best performer, history has dictated just how important he is to this side, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood even telling Premier League Productions (22/05/23): "He will get better. If they keep him fit, all of the season, then they will win the league again or they have a chance of winning the league."

Given his continued presence throughout their unbeaten start in the current campaign, this is a claim that could still come true.

How much was William Saliba worth at Saint Etienne?

Having emerged through the Saint Etienne academy after youth stints with some lesser-known outfits, he swiftly made a name for himself as one of Europe's best up-and-coming young defenders given his pace, power and technical prowess.

The north London club wasted no time to invest, perhaps paying over the odds at the time with the trust that the £190k-per-week titan would one day repay that faith.

After all, his value had overseen a sharp rise in just one year, jumping from €3m (£2.5m) in 2018 to €25m (£21m) just 12 months later. Given he had only played 36 senior games for his side, this was likely a figure inflated by the interest he was garnering.

How much did Arsenal sign William Saliba for?

When comparing the valuation above with the fee paid, there is not too much of a disparity to suggest Edu was taken for a ride by the Les Verts.

After all, the £27m they invested has already begun to look like a bargain given the importance he now holds within Arteta's squad, even if it took two years for him to break into the senior side.

If they were to sell Saliba now, that fee could even be tripled given his incredible skillset for someone so young, thus making this quite a shrewd piece of business from Edu during a tumultuous period in the club's history, as Unai Emery sought to lead his side into a brighter future.

What is William Saliba's market value now?

This is a notion supported by the new market value of the France international, who has unsurprisingly seen a sharp upturn given that exposure to the elite level, both on the world stage and in the Premier League.

CIES Football Observatory offers their findings on his value, setting it at an astronomical €80m (£69m).

However, this should come as no surprise given everything aforementioned including the various glowing testimonies, what his figures suggest and that added experience which grows with each passing week. The sky truly is the limit for this young centre-back.

Why is William Saliba worth so much?

To explain why he is worth that much is merely to showcase their drop-off when he was not in the team, with FlashScore summing it up rather succinctly.

Indeed, when Saliba is on the pitch, Arteta's team only concede an average of 0.9 goals per game but without him, that figure remarkably doubles to 1.8. Intriguingly, there is also a difference between the number of points scored per game (2.4 with him vs 1.8 without him). Worryingly, their win ratio of 77.8% drops to just 40% too.

Not only this, but his absence clearly would have a detrimental effect on his teammates, given how highly they rate him. Aaron Ramsdale even noted: "He has fit in really well. It is a credit to him that he has been put straight into the team. He is a bit of a Rolls-Royce with the way he moves and he has never seemed phased.".

The most frightening thing about Saliba is that he is still very much in the infancy of his career, and should he continue to grow at his current rate, he could soon be one of the world's best defenders in no time at all.

Tim Paine keeping up to the stumps for Jackson Bird and Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith posting himself as a solitary slip, Nathan Lyon querying the shape and condition of the ball with the umpires. It was that sort of barren day in the field for Australia, as an ill Pat Cummins shared his time between the bowling crease and the change room toilets.If the pitch and the 35C heat contributed to these scenes at the MCG, then so did the absence of Mitchell Starc due to a bruised heel. With Cummins less than 100%, Smith lacked the high pace with which to pressure England in general and Alastair Cook in particular, allowing the erstwhile out of touch opener to reassert his value to Joe Root’s team. Whenever Cummins was off the field, he was replaced by a Thomson; regrettably for Smith it was Blake, rather than Jeff.”I was pretty proud of Pat,” Nathan Lyon said while outlining the extent of the fast bowler’s difficulties. “You go through moments where you don’t feel very well in Test cricket but the way he stuck at it and was able to put in that massive effort for us was quite pleasing to see. He’s a world-class bowler, to see him play the way he’s played, hats off to him. At tea time he slept pretty well the whole 18 minutes of it. Hopefully he’ll see the doctor tonight, get some fluid on board and have a good night’s sleep so he can come back tomorrow morning.”There was a hint of dead-rubber syndrome about things too. Smith dropped Cook on 66 when slightly misjudging the speed of a chance sliced his way off Marsh’s bowling – something it would have been hard to imagine seeing in the first three Tests. Smith’s generosity then extended to taking the final over of the day himself, then serving up a full toss and a couple of short ones to allow Cook to glide to his century with two balls of the day to spare.Australia had to some degree created these problems for themselves with some inattentive batting on the second morning. The slowness of the pitch required the patience and application shown by Cook, but instead the hosts exhibited an eagerness to get after the bowling that resulted in a trio of chop-ons from Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine amid the loss of 7 for 67.”Steve’s in some pretty good form, he’s the No. 1 batter in the world,” Lyon said. “To get out the way he got out I think he was pretty disappointed, but cricket’s a funny game and you can find ways to get out. No doubt he’ll go back and look at his game as always and he’ll try to get better each and every day like he does.”But it was a measure of how much Starc’s injury affected the balance of Australia’s bowling attack that by the close a first-innings tally of 327 was looking decidedly inadequate against an England side that had only once gone past that mark all series.”You’ve got two world-class batters on a pretty flat wicket,” Lyon said. “There’s not much spin wise, there’s definitely no seam movement and the ball’s not really swinging that much as well. The favour is in the batter’s corner but you’ve got to give credit where it’s due. I was pretty proud of the bowlers’ effort, the way they stuck at it there, and hopefully we’ll sit back tonight, recover well and make sure we come back fresh in the morning and have a couple of new plans for Joe and Alastair.”Nathan Lyon tosses a beach ball back into the stands•Getty Images

Having been put through a quite unrelenting day in the field, Australia’s bowlers were happy to be blunt in their assessment of the batting display that had led to it. On ABC Radio, Josh Hazlewood agreed that the batting display on the second morning had been “complacent”, and added his own assessment that it had been “lazy”. Lyon, meanwhile, acknowledged that batsmen and bowlers alike had failed to stick to the crease for long enough.”Yeah it’s fair to say that,” Lyon said when asked whether the batsmen had lacked ruthlessness. “But then you’ve got world-class bowlers in James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowling extremely well with a reversing ball, so credit to them as well. This Test match is a roller coaster, it’s an arm wrestle, so I know what we have to do, we have to come back, freshen up in the morning, make sure we’ve got our own plans.”When we get our chance with the bat in the second dig our batters have got to make sure we go big and really set the game up. We missed out in our first innings, especially the tail order, we pride ourselves on our batting and we let the team down today as a batting group and we’ll be better for that experience. But our prep was exceptional leading into Christmas and the first day. There’s never a dead rubber if you ask me.”Had he been fit to play, Starc would have offered Smith speed, reverse swing and a level of variety not available to the six right-arm over bowlers tried. But the fact that this Ashes series is already decided, and that there is a four-Test tour of South Africa looming in February and March, served also to underline why his absence was a necessary evil for Australia.To be at their best, which they so far have not been in Melbourne, they need Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood at their speediest and most hostile. Otherwise there will be more days like this one, where the Australians look just like any other team struggling for inspiration and wickets on a docile Test-match deck.

Tottenham Hotspur have started life without Harry Kane impressively, drawing away against Brentford before beating Manchester United in London, but the club still need to sign a new centre-forward.

Kane, Spurs' record goalscorer, completed a £100m move to German giants Bayern Munich this month and is yet to be replaced, with the £13m signing of Argentinan striker Alejo Veliz, aged 19, deemed one for the future at this stage.

The transfer window is now only one week away from closing, and if new manager Ange Postecoglou wishes to provide his squad with the best chance of reclaiming a place in the Champions League, a talisman must be targetted.

What's the latest on Jonathan David to Tottenham?

According to reporter Ben Jacobs, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs Podcast, the Lilywhites are considering a bid for Canadian striker Jonathan David, with the Lille striker also open to moving to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would be willing to meet the French side's reported £55m valuation, however, remains to be seen.

How good is Jonathan David?

David has maintained his shooting boots wherever he has played thus far during his career, having scored 59 times from 138 games for Lille after plundering 37 goals from just 84 matches during the maiden period of his career for Gent.

The 23-year-old has also posted 25 strikes from 42 caps for the Canadian national team, and he has been hailed as a "phenom" and "one of the best strikers in the world" by radio host Tony Marinaro.

It's hard to dispute that David is not one of the most consistent goalscorers around, having scored 26 goals from 40 displays last season and opened his account with one strike from two games this term.

He even ranks among the top 3% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

This illustrates a ball-playing faculty to mirror that of Kane, who himself ranks among the top 10% of positional peers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.

Having been lauded as an "unbelievable finisher" and a "predator" by Goal reporter Austin Ditlhobolo in the past, there is no doubt that David boasts the pace and the link-up play to thrive in the central striking position with Spurs.

With the creative James Maddison pulling the strings and orchestrating the play from the centre, he could maintain his exemplary rate of scoring, with the three-cap England international already bagging two assists from the opening two games of the season.

Maddison completed a move to Tottenham from Leicester City for £40m this summer after the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League.

This was despite the £170k-per-week playmaker's best efforts, scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists from just 28 starting appearances.

He even ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for progressive passes per 90.

Maddison's creativity and David's dynamism would create a marvellous blend of fluidity and cohesion, with the Brooklyn-born attacker benefitting from his peer's supplementation while returning the favour and dropping deep at times too, weaving the play together and allowing the likes of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski to make forward inversions and opening up a wealth of new dimensions.

Therefore, David could prove to be the perfect profile as the focal point to latch onto Maddison's creative ingenuity, and Tottenham would only benefit from securing his services as a resurgence is targetted after a miserable campaign.

Journalist Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato has shared an update on West Ham United and their plans for Rennes winger Jeremy Doku.

Who will West Ham sign?

Hammers boss David Moyes, technical director Tim Steidten, sporting director Mark Noble and the West Ham hierarchy could be set for a busy final few weeks of the transfer window.

Indeed, West Ham have confirmed the arrivals of both Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse so far this summer, but there could be plenty more through the door very soon.

Moyes' side are believed to be chasing a deal for Ajax star Mohammed Kudus, while Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is also edging closer to an east London switch.

Reporter Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, even suggested that West Ham could bring in a total of five new players before deadline day on September 1.

"It feels like a good opportunity West Ham could take advantage of," said Jones on their links to Chelsea midfielder Trevoh Chalobah.

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"I think he could actually survive at Chelsea, just about, but I also think he has bigger aspirations than that, and I’ve heard he has been open to listening to new opportunities.

"We’re looking at a massive month ahead for the Hammers, they will sign five players and have to find a way to make this all add up so they have a much stronger squad."

Aouna, taking to X recently, has shared an update on West Ham's transfer plans and believed they're close to reaching an agreement for Kudus.

Shedding light on their transfer plans after they potentially seal a move for the Ghana international, the Foot Mercato reporter claims Doku of Rennes is next on the agenda.

"West Ham a close to a full agreement with Ajax for Kudus," said Aouna.

"Deal – £35m. West Ham have already agreed personal terms with Ajax player. As revealed today, Tim Steidten is in Amsterdam to seal the deal. Next target: Doku."

The Belgium international is also being chased by both Tottenham and Man City, but previous reports have suggested that West Ham are indeed the most advanced.

How good is Jeremy Doku?

The direct forward boasts better dribbling stats than the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe from the 2022/2023 season, with Doku averaging more successful take-ons per 90 than any other Ligue 1 player (WhoScored).

The 21-year-old has also been called an "exciting" player by members of the media like Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder, while Mbappe is also a big fan of Doku's.

The latter superstar heaped praise on the West Ham target's "power" from a standing position and believes he has huge potential.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

"Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me because of his speed qualities, that is (Jérémy) Doku, at Rennes," said Mbappe in 2021.

"In 5 years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.

"In terms of an incredibly quick player, I would also put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang."

If West Ham sign Doku after sealing Kudus, it could be seen as quite a promising bit of business for Moyes.

Nottingham Forest are set to continue their summer of spending, as Steve Cooper seeks to finally sort out his squad after a year of vast overhaul.

Who are Nottingham Forest signing this summer?

This window has not been half as hectic as the same one exactly a year ago, but some key additions have still been made regardless.

Anthony Elanga and Ola Aina are set to immediately battle for first-team spots, whilst the activated buy clause for Chris Wood will provide ample backup for Taiwo Awoyini.

However, a fresh report has emerged that suggests they are set to align with the former acquisitions, maintaining a youth focus by signing Andrew Omobamidele from Norwich City.

That is at least the suggestion made by TEAMtalk, who report their interest and the upcoming battle they are set to endure for his services, with a fee of more than £20m likely to be required.

Football Transfers value the youngster at just €5m (£4m).

Who is Andrew Omobamidele?

Despite being only 21 years old, the experience that the centre-back boasts goes far beyond his actual age.

He has made 52 appearances for the Canaries in both the Premier League and the Championship, even bursting into the Republic of Ireland national team too, where he has made six caps.

Such is his quality, Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig arguably offered him the ultimate praise by suggesting he resembles the legendary English defender Rio Ferdinand. This was due to a host of strengths, which he listed: “pace, tackling, athleticism, passing, heading, anticipation, positioning”.

Boasting a surprising turn of pace to match his 6 foot 3 frame, it is not just his physical assets that liken him to the six-time title winner – who was arguably 'one of the greatest ball-playing central defenders of his era', according to the Premier League's official website.

Omobamidele is equally as adept with his feet, as showcased by FBref. When compared to other centre-backs across Europe in the Men's next eight competitions, he ranks in the top 11% for passes attempted per 90, and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90.

He knows exactly how to use his immense stature to thrive, with a short stint in the top flight showcasing his potential to one day shine regularly at this level.

Despite only making five appearances at the back end of the 2021/22 campaign, he maintained a 6.82 average match rating, bolstered by his 84% pass accuracy alongside 1.6 tackles one interception and 2.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Arguably the fairer assessment of his skillset would have been in the Championship last season, where essentially replicated these figures across 34 appearances. Boasting another 6.82 average rating, his pass accuracy rose to 88% as well as his 1.2 tackles and 2.7 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Teammate and defensive veteran Grant Hanley expects plenty in the future from his young understudy, and waxed lyrical to Norwich’s official website: “He’s been outstanding in the last couple of games – so composed as a young lad coming into the first team ready to take his opportunity. He deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Whilst he might not burst straight into Forest’s first team, in signing one for the future they could showcase their dramatic shift in transfer strategy from last year’s madness to this year’s methodical plan.

If he enjoys half as successful a career as Ferdinand, which the early stages of his career suggest he could well do, this would certainly mark a wild success.

Tottenham Hotspur have potentially been offered the chance to sign Bayern Munich defender, Benjamin Pavard, with the Frenchman tipped to be included as part of a deal that would see Harry Kane head in the other direction.

How much is Pavard worth?

As per 90min, the Bundesliga side are keen to step their interest in the Spurs talisman by arranging a meeting with chairman Daniel Levy, with Thomas Tuchel's side having already seen two bids for the 29-year-old knocked back so far this summer.

The piece reveals that the German giants have 'floated the idea' of including a member of their first-team squad as part of their next bid to sign the England skipper, with Pavard among those who could be 'on the table'.

The belief is that the World Cup winner – who has reportedly been valued at €30m (£26m) with just a year left on his current contract – may be 'attached' to what would prove to be a club-record offer from Bayern of around £86m.

The report does go on to note that 'there is little to suggest that this will entice Tottenham', despite the fact that the north Londoners are yet to sign a new centre-back – amid ongoing talks with Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven.

How good is Benjamin Pavard?

As the reported noted, Tottenham man not initially be enticed by the idea of signing the 27-year-old, although the versatile ace – who can also feature at right-back – could well emerge as a real leader at N17 if he is to join Ange Postecoglou's ranks.

Previously described as "underrated" by Tuchel – while also being hailed as "outstanding" by former Bayern president Uli Hoeneß – the £83k-per-week machine could prove to be a wise investment for Levy and co, particularly amid his apparent statistical similarity to Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, according to Opta's Player Radars.

That likeness between the pair is illustrated by just how comfortable the two men are when playing out from the back, with Pavard ranking among the very best in Europe for touches made as a sign of his willingness to get on the ball, while Van Dijk ranks in the top 2% in that regard.

In a defensive sense, the duo are both able to offer a real physical presence at the heart of the backline and rarely give opposition forwards a moment's peace, with the Anfield icon ranking in the top 10% for aerial duels won, while Pavard ranks in the top 24% for that same metric.

That ability to sense danger can also be seen in the fact that the former Stuttgart titan ranks in the top 26% with regard to possession won, while Van Dijk is only just behind as he ranks in the top 36%.

To be likened to the influential Dutchman is high praise indeed, with the 32-year-old having been a real driving force for the Merseyside outfit over recent years, with ex-Liverpool man Jamie Carragher stating earlier this year that no centre-back "has ever had" such an "impact" on a team in the Premier League era.

With Pavard only slightly older than Van Dijk was when he joined the Reds from Southampton back in January 2018 – having been 26 at the time – perhaps the Frenchman can have a similar 'impact' for Spurs over the coming years.

Newcastle United are plying some astute work on the transfer front this summer after emphatically returning to Champions League football following a two-decade absence with a fourth-placed Premier League finish.

While the return to European competition has been met with universal praise – and adulation from the Magpies support – manager Eddie Howe and technical director Dan Ashworth have not rested on their laurels and are seemingly making the requisite moves to preserve success.

Sandro Tonali was the first to arrive on Tyneside, completing a £55m transfer from AC Milan earlier this month while sharp-shooting winger Harvey Barnes recently finalised a £38m move from relegated Leicester City.

The club are also in pursuit of Tino Livramento, having seen a £30m offer rejected for the precocious Saints full-back, and with rumours of interest in Juventus' Federico Chiesa also persisting, the Magpies could unveil an imperiously refreshed squad in a matter of weeks.

Are Newcastle signing Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian journalist Marco Guida – speaking to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) – Newcastle are 'seen as an option' for Chiesa this summer, though he would prefer a transfer to Liverpool or Bayern Munich.

Guida said: “The player would be more inclined to sign for a classic top club, such as Liverpool or Bayern Munich.”

He did state, however, that should such parties fail to act, the player could wind up at St. James' Park, with Juventus expected to demand around €50m (£43m) for the flanker.

Is Federico a left or right-wing player?

Chiesa has been lauded as "world-class" by former Italy international Alessandro Pierini for his past performances, having scored 22 goals and served 20 assists from 94 outings for the Old Lady and having played an instrumental role in his nation's Euro 2020 triumph, but saw progress derailed by a detrimental ACL injury last year.

The 25-year-old has missed 62 matches due to injury over the past two seasons but did look to reclaim some of his former verve towards the business end of the recently-concluded Serie A campaign, registering two goals and assists apiece across the final five fixtures.

The "diamond" – as he has been dubbed by talent scout Antonio Mango – is as dynamic as they come and has found success across both attacking wings, also competent in a more central striking role, which could entice Howe into pushing ahead with a transfer, given the increase in football that inevitably comes with European qualification.

With Allan Saint-Maximin nearing a departure from Newcastle and Barnes seen as a more focussed replacement – having scored 13 Premier League goals last term despite the Foxes' relegation – Chiesa could provide another dimension to the attack.

Indeed, the £154k-per-week Italian ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, whereas Barnes stands out with his goalscoring threat – among the top 6% for goals per 90.

Howe's task lies in crafting a state of equilibrium across the alternating sides of the Magpies' frontline, and this could be emphatically achieved with Chiesa's signing.

Given that he can play across both flanks, Chiesa could also provide the club with a different approach when Barnes' method has been negated by the opposing defence.

In essence, the 42-cap Italy "wizard" – as lauded by writer Roger Bennett – would take the ascension to the next level; Newcastle's progress has been remarkable, and the Toon torrent looks set only to gain momentum and the transfer activity suggests the approach is calculated and composed – there is a belief that the cogs will combine to create a lasting machine.

If Chiesa could cast aside the injury woes that have hampered his progress over the past several years, he might just cement a regular starting berth in a Newcastle side destined for a continuing rise to the very top of the game.

Sunderland's search for another new striker appears to have gone continental as they are reportedly chasing Bologna forward Sydney van Hooijdonk.

What players have Sunderland signed?

Tony Mowbray's side have brought in four new players since tasting defeat to Luton Town in May's Championship play-off semi-finals, with each of those aged 20 or younger as the Wearside outfit look towards the future.

Nectarios Triantis, 20, was first to arrive, followed swiftly by Jobe Bellingham, 17, Luis "Hemir" Semedo, 19, and Jenson Seelt, 20, as the Black Cats impressively got the majority of their transfer business out the way before the end of June.

However, Mowbray revealed last weekend that he is still after another attacking player, having seen star performer Amad Diallo return to parent club Manchester United at the end of last season.

According to The72, Van Hooijdonk is being targeted by Mowbray's men, though they could face competition from second-tier rivals Southampton for the Dutchman's signature.

Who is Bologna forward Sydney van Hooijdonk?

Van Hooijdonk joined Bologna from NAC Breda in July 2021, but he made just four Serie A appearances for the club before being loaned to Heerenveen, where he spent 18 months.

The 23-year-old is now back at Bologna, but it appears as though the Italian side are ready to cash in on a player who is on wages of £13k-per-week, according to Capology.

Van Hooijdonk was previously touted as a target for Premier League side Nottingham Forest and Scottish Premiership heavyweights Celtic, but a move did not go through and another full season in Eredivisie has only boosted his profile.

The Breda-born forward, who is the son of former Netherlands international Pierre van Hooijdonk, scored 16 goals in 33 top-flight appearances last season – only Xavi Simons and Anastasios Douvikas (both 19) scored more times – and assisted another.

Once described as "prolific" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Van Hooijdonk looks well suited to leading the line for Sunderland, who currently have only new signing Hemir available in that position.

Hemir has zero senior experience from his time at Benfica, so Mowbray will be eager to get Ross Stewart back up and running as soon as possible.

Stewart was statistically the Black Cats' best-performing attacker last season, scoring 0.86 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref.

The next best on the list was Ellis Simms – now a Coventry City player – with 0.56, meaning Mowbray is in need of another player capable of regularly chipping in with goals.

Having scored at an almost identical rate to Simms last season with 0.55 goals per 90, Van Hooijdonk can fulfil the Simms role of taking weight off the shoulders of Stewart once he has returned from injury.

In the short term, Van Hooijdonk – should he arrive – will be tasked with spearheading a young and talented side that many are again expecting to challenge for promotion.

On the basis of what he has done in Eredivisie, it makes perfect sense for Sunderland to make Van Hooijdonk their fifth – and possibly final – signing of the summer.