Chelsea want to get a deal to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund done 'very quickly' and may not have to pay his full release clause.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Chelsea want Gittens 'very quickly'
Release clause more than reported €60m
But Dortmund happy to sell for less
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues are keen to make another forward signing before the Club World Cup begins next week, after Jadon Sancho's loan spell from Manchester United came to an end. Bild in Germany report that the deal could move rapidly this week.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
THE BIGGER PICTURE
It had initially been reported that Gittens' release clause sits at roughly €67m. Bild state that the figure is much higher than €60m – but that Dortmund may still be happy to sell for around that amount after the winger's average performances in the second half of the 2024-25 season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bild add that Gittens is very keen on the move back to the club where he spent time as a child. He has informed Dortmund of his decision and looks set to leave the club he has scored 17 goals for in 106 appearances.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR GITTENS?
Gittens looks set to play in the Club World Cup whether a deal gets done before the initial transfer window closure on 10 June or not. Dortmund get their campaign under way against Fluminense on Tuesday 17 June, while Chelsea kick off against Leon the day before.
A vitória do Palmeiras sobre o Corinthians por 1 a 0 no último foi especial para Zé Rafael. O meia atingiu a marca emblemática de 200 jogos com a camisa alviverde, se tornando o sétimo jogador do atual elenco a bater essa marca.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasApós dois dias de folga, Palmeiras se reapresenta com foco em duelo direto no BrasileirãoPalmeiras16/08/2022Fora de CampoEx-Atlético-MG, Turco Mohamed exalta Flamengo: ‘É muito mais do que o Palmeiras’Fora de Campo16/08/2022Fora de CampoGlobo vende cota de patrocínio para Copa do Mundo à casa de apostasFora de Campo15/08/2022
GALERIA
>Veja as principais contratações dos clubes brasileiros
TABELA
> Clique e confira a tabela completa e simulador do Brasileirão!
Agora ao lado de Dudu (383 jogos), Weverton (251), Marcos Rocha (219), Gustavo Scarpa (217), Raphael Veiga (207) e Gustavo Gómez (202), o camisa 8 comemorou o feito e falou sobre a boa vitória no clássico.
– Muito feliz por alcançar essa marca. Sabemos como é difícil, ainda mais em um clube gigante como o Palmeiras. Fico muito feliz de estar escrevendo uma bela história aqui, com 200 jogos e alguns títulos. Espero poder continuar ajudando essa equipe – afirmou o meio-campista, que prosseguiu:
– Era um clássico, o jogo valia seis pontos. Conseguimos fazer um bom jogo, consistente. Jogar lá sempre é difícil, trouxemos mais uma vitória fora de casa, seguimos aumentando os pontos. Isso é muito importante no Brasileiro, ganhar jogos fora, ainda mais clássicos. Espero que continuemos evoluindo e sendo consistentes para chegar ao fim da temporada e conquistar o título.
Por fim, o meia palmeirense projetou a sequência do Brasileirão e o confronto direto com o Flamengo. Segundo ele, é uma partida propícia para ’embalar’ na tabela e na busca pelo título.
– Será mais um jogo importante, decisivo para nós. O Flamengo tem uma equipe muito qualificada, que vai vir para buscar o resultado. Estão logo atrás da gente e temos que fazer um grande jogo para aumentar a distância para o segundo colocado. É um jogo chave, vai ser importante para a sequência. Espero que possamos estar inspirados e fazer um grande jogo, conseguir mais essa vitória e embalar mais no campeonato – concluiu.
Ao todo, Zé Rafael acumula 120 vitórias, 44 empates, 36 derrotas, 22 gols marcados e 18 assistências concedidas, além dos títulos da Copa do Brasil, do bicampeonato do Paulistão e da Libertadores, e da Recopa Sul-Americana.
Injury to Shadab Khan hurts hosts as Ravi Bopara’s 88 not out goes in vain
ECB Reporters Network26-May-2023
Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 72 from 42 got Somerset home•Getty Images
Tom Kohler-Cadmore led the way with 72 as Somerset made it two wins from two in the Vitality Blast, chasing down a target of 184 to beat Sussex Sharks by five wickets with three balls to spare at the 1st Central County Ground.The game had been held up for nearly ten minutes in the seventh over of the Somerset reply when Nathan McAndrew and debutant Shadab Khan collided on the Hove outfield going for a high catch offered by Kohler-Cadmore.Both players spent several minutes on the ground receiving treatment from Sussex’s medical staff before being helped to their feet. McAndrew was able to bowl his four overs after passing a concussion protocol but Khan, the Pakistan legspinner who was making his Sussex debut, had to leave the field.Sussex coach Paul Farbrace said, “Shadab is okay, although he’s got a bit of a sore neck. The doctor felt it was best to take him out of the game. We tried to replace him with Henry Crocombe but the match referee said it had to be like-for-like which is why Harrison Ward came on. It could have been a lot worse but that can happen when you’ve got two committed players going for the same ball in a swirling wind. The good thing is they are both okay.”It left Sussex skipper Ravi Bopara, who had earlier scored an unbeaten 88, without one of his key bowlers and with Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 2.3 overs costing 51 runs Bopara was left with little room for manoeuvre, especially when Kohler-Cadmore started to move through the gears.Kohler-Cadmore, who joined Somerset from Yorkshire during the winter, relished a flat pitch and fast outfield as he shared a match-winning stand of 104 off 63 balls with skipper Tom Abell. Kohler-Cadmore hit five sixes and five fours from 42 deliveries and when he was caught off Tymal Mills trying to guide the ball over third, the target was down to 22 from four overs.Abell was run out off the final ball of the penultimate over for 42 with both he and Lewis Gregory stranded at the same end, but Gregory hit the second ball of the final over for four to seal the deal for Somerset.Until he lost one of his key bowlers, Bopara must have thought his innings would have been the difference. The 38-year-old had warmed up for the Blast by scoring 144 from 49 balls in a second team match against Middlesex on Tuesday, and although there was never any danger of a repeat against an experienced Somerset attack he played superbly nonetheless.In his 440th game in the format, Bopara came in after Sussex had lost Tom Clark and Tom Alsop in Craig Overton’s first two overs and he barely played a false shot until the last over when Abell dropped a difficult diving catch at midwicket.Bopara hit seven sixes and three fours with principal support coming from Ali Orr who scored 33 including three successive boundaries off Matt Henry before he was superbly caught one-handed in his follow through by Gregory.Michael Burgess helped Bopara add 57 in 42 balls for the fifth wicket but the total swelled when Henry was taken for 16 off the last four deliveries of the innings as Bopara swung him over midwicket for six off a no-ball and guided the free hit to the backward point boundary.Despite losing Will Smeed in the second over, Somerset had 50 on the board after four thanks to Tom Banton’s assault on Hudson-Prentice whose over went for 29, including successive sixes.Banton was well caught by the diving Orr trying to help a bumper from Mills over long leg but after the delay, with a second Hudson-Prentice over costing 16 as Kohler-Cadmore hit him for successive sixes, Somerset always had the chase under control.
Sourav Ganguly cannot understand the process behind Ajinkya Rahane getting the Test vice-captaincy after spending nearly 18 months on the sidelines. The former India captain has called for “consistency and continuity” in the selection process.Rahane, 35, was out of favour for one-and-a-half years but was India’s best batter in the World Test Championship final against Australia earlier this month, with scores of 89 and 46 at The Oval.Related
Rahane: 'I'm young and there's a lot of cricket left in me'
Time to temper expectations as India enter Test transition
Jaiswal and Gaikwad in India's Test squad for West Indies
Jaiswal a far cry from Dravid and Pujara, but can make No. 3 his own
Gavaskar defends 'loyal servant' Pujara
Just one Test after he had made a comeback – he played his previous Test in January 2022 – the national selection committee headed by interim chief Shiv Sunder Das re-appointed Rahane as Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the West Indies Test series.So was it not ideal to groom someone like Shubman Gill for the role?”Yeah I think so,” Ganguly told during an exclusive interaction from London.Ganguly suggested that the allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, a certainty in India’s Test XI both home and away, could have been considered for the role.”I won’t say it’s a step backward,” Ganguly said. “You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don’t understand the thought process behind it. There is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a long time and a certainty in Test matches, he is a candidate.”… but to just come back and straightway become vice-captain after 18 months, I don’t understand. My only thing is that selection shouldn’t be hot and cold. There has to be continuity and consistency in selection.”The Indian selectors have hit the transition button by excluding Cheteshwar Pujara from the squad for the West Indies tour. Ganguly wants the selectors to have clear communication with Pujara, who has played 103 Tests for India, about his future.”Selectors should have a clear idea about him [Pujara],” Ganguly said. “Do they need him to play Test cricket anymore or do they want to continue with youngsters, and communicate it to him. Somebody like Pujara can’t be dropped, then picked, dropped again and then picked. Same with Ajinkya Rahane also.”Ganguly feels Yashasvi Jaiswal has proven himself not just in the IPL but in first-class cricket as well•Bangladesh Cricket Board
‘I feel for Sarfaraz Khan’
The selections of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad for the West Indies tour suggests the selectors have emphasised IPL performances over those in domestic cricket, but Ganguly doesn’t believe this is the case. He hopes, however that Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran, who have been prolific in the Ranji Trophy over recent seasons, will get their chance too.”I think Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored tons of runs in Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy. I think that’s why he is in the squad,” Ganguly said. “I feel for Sarfaraz Khan. At some point he should get an opportunity for the amount of runs that he has scored in past three years.”And same thing for Abhimanyu Easwaran for the tons of runs he has scored in last five to six years. I am surprised that both of them have been omitted but they should get a chance in future. But Yashasvi Jasiwal is a good selection.”Ganguly has observed Sarfaraz from close quarters as director of cricket at Delhi Capitals. He rubbished the idea that Sarfaraz has a weakness against fast bowling.”If you don’t play him against fast bowling, how do you know?” he asked. “If he had problems he wouldn’t have scored so many runs all around [India]. I personally feel he has no problems against fast bowling and he should be given an opportunity.”
Farbrace recruits veteran seamer and reliable allrounder for 2024 season
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2023Chris Wright, Leicestershire’s veteran seamer, will join Sussex from the start of the 2024 season on a two-year contract, with Lancashire allrounder Danny Lamb also making the move to the south coast.Wright, who turns 38 next month, has claimed 567 wickets at 32.30 in a 196-match first-class career that has spanned 20 seasons. His best innings figures of 7 for 53 came against Gloucestershire at Bristol in 2021.He will be available for all formats for Sussex, having picked up 174 domestic white-ball wickets in his career. This season, he has found a strong vein of form with the bat as well, averaging 56.8 in 10 innings in the County Championship. This includes twin scores of 66 not out and 40 not out in a memorable win against Yorkshire at Headingley.”I am delighted to be joining Sussex for the 2024 season and beyond,” Wright said. “I have long admired the club and am looking forward to contributing to its future success.”Speaking to Paul Farbrace [head coach] and having played against the team a number of times I am excited to be joining such a talented and ambitious group. Hopefully, I will take lots of wickets and provide some valuable experience to the team.”Farbrace added: “I’m delighted that Chris has committed the next two seasons to joining our project at Hove. He is a vastly experienced cricketer who will bring skill, experience, and a huge passion for the game.”Chris is someone I have admired for a long time, and his quality with the ball will be fantastic for our developing team and will help us to win matches.”Sussex will be the fifth county of Wright’s first-class career, following earlier stints at Essex and Middlesex, as well as a successful period at Warwickshire between 2011 and 2018, where he helped win the County Championship in 2012.Related
Sussex close in on victory to cap a season of awkward progress
Paul Nixon leaves post as Leicestershire head coach under 'mutual agreement'
Yorkshire bring Moriarty in as Championship spin cover
Paul Nixon relieved of duties as Leicestershire head coach
Lamb, meanwhile, joins on a three-year deal. “I’m extremely excited for the opportunity,” he said. “A brilliant new challenge and one which I feel has come at the right stage in my career.”I’ve always enjoyed playing against Sussex and at Hove. I like what Sussex are about and the vision for the future with Paul Farbrace at the helm of a young ambitious squad. I can’t wait to get going and I look forward to contributing to the team in all formats.”Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket, said: “Danny has found first-team opportunities limited over the last couple of years, so we completely understand the decision he’s made moving to Sussex. We wish him all the best for the next stage of his career.”A medium-paced allrounder, Lamb has an impressive record across formats but has struggled for game-time at Lancashire this year and has recently been playing for Gloucestershire on loan.
اختتم اليوم الجمعة، فريق الهلال السعودي، مبارياته ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، في أمريكا.
وفاز الهلال السعودي على باتشوكا المكسيكي بهدفين نظيفين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من دور مجموعات كأس العالم للأندية، لحساب المجموعة الثامنة.
وكان الهلال السعودي تعادل إيجابيًا بالجولة الأولى أمام ريال مدريد، بهدف لمثله، في افتتاح مشواره بـ كأس العالم للأندية، بينما فاز سالزبورج على باتشوكا بهدفين لهدف.
طالع| موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة الهلال وباتشوكا اليوم في كأس العالم للأندية.. والمعلقين
وشهدت الجولة الثانية تعادل الهلال السعودي وسالزبورج النمساوي، سلبيًا، فيما فاز ريال مدريد على باتشوكا بثلاثية لهدف.
وفي الجولة الثالثة فاز الهلال السعودي على باتشوكا 2-0، سلبيًا، فيما فاز ريال مدريد على سالزبورج بثلاثية نظيفة.
وبعد انتهاء الجولة الثالثة، تصدر ريال مدريد ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 7 نقاط، وجاء الهلال في المركز الثاني برصيد 5 نقاط، ليصعدان إلى دور الستة عشر.
ويحتل سالزبورج المركز الثالث في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 4 نقاط، بينما يأتي باتشوكا في المركز الرابع دون نقاط، ليودعا البطولة رسميًا. ترتيب مجموعة الهلال في كأس العالم للأندية
A estreia de Tiquinho Soares pelo Botafogo não vai acontecer a curto prazo. Apresentado pelo clube na tarde desta quinta-feira no Estádio Nilton Santos, o atacante chegou ao Glorioso com uma lesão muscular.
RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo doa camisa exclusiva à rifa solidária para ajudar ex-goleiro MangaBotafogo17/08/2022BotafogoBotafogo x Flamengo: CBF altera horário do clássico pela segunda vezBotafogo16/08/2022BotafogoJunior Santos está registrado no BID da CBF e pode atuar pelo BotafogoBotafogo16/08/2022
+Botafogo: Tiquinho superou Bruno Fernandes e Luís Díaz em conversão de gols em Portugal
O novo camisa 9 do Glorioso está com uma lesão muscular. Ele se machucou no último jogo que fez pelo Olympiacos, nos playoffs da Liga Europa. André Mazzuco, diretor do Botafogo, explicou que a situação não tirou o interesse do Glorioso.
– Feliz de estar aqui novamente apresentando o mais novo camisa 9 do Botafogo, Tiquinho Soares. É importante frisar uma informação relevante: começamos a negociação entre julho e agosto, não foi uma negociação fácil com o Olympiacos. Ele tinha contrato vigente por lá, já acompanhávamos ele. Por uma felicidade o Tiquinho já mostrou vontade de voltar para o Brasil.. Foi uma negociação um pouquinho tensa, mas contamos com a ajuda do Tiquinho – afirmou.
– Tivemos um evento na última partida dele, ele saiu sentindo nos acréscimos mas isso não mudou em nada, ele é um projeto de médio/longo prazo. É importante frisar, uma das condições do Olympiacos foi que ele fizesse essa partida (Liga Europa), mesmo que ele (Tiquinho) não quisesse. O Olympiacos quis que ele fizesse, infelizmente aconteceu – completou.
Mazzuco deu uma previsão de retorno de três semanas para Tiquinho. Se cumprida, o camisa 9 deve estrear contra América-MG no começo de setembro.
– Tivemos uma previsão de retorno do Tiquinho é que ele esteja apto a jogar em três semanas. Tudo acordado e controlado por todos, ele já está tratando. Espero que evolua bem nesse período e aí sim a gente terá a estreia do Tiquinho. Mas é para agradecer por ele, porque ele se prontificou a jogar para o clube não correr o risco de não liberá-lo ao Botafogo. Estou feliz de ter um jogador com o seu histórico, é uma contratação marcante para nós – contou.
It will be a historic few months for David Moyes and Everton. The Toffees are all but guaranteed survival in the Premier League this season, sitting comfortably on 34 points in 15th in the table. In the long run, that will be vital.
A new era is afoot for one of England’s biggest clubs. The Merseysiders are set to leave Goodison Park and move to their new ground, Bramley Moore Dock, at the end of the campaign. The fact they will be playing top-flight football there is huge, for financial and footballing reasons.
Whilst Everton will look to build on this season in 2025/26, they might have to do so without star centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been linked with a move away.
The latest on Branthwaite's future
Toffees fans may be in for another turbulent summer when it comes to Branthwaite’s future. The defender was constantly linked with a move away in 2024, with Manchester United and Man City a reported destination, for as much as £60m.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
As we now know, the England international ended up staying at Goodison Park but might not be at the club for the first season in the new stadium. Fresh reports from various outlets, including Sky Sports, suggest the defender could leave the club in 2025.
It’s stated that the defender is ‘expected to further consider his Everton future’ in the coming weeks and months. This comes after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, which could increase his chances of a departure.
Branthwaite will not be short of suitors. Sky suggests the centre-back is a target for Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Real Madrid have reportedly scouted him, and United are also believed to be interested still.
Replacing the 22-year-old won’t be easy. He’s played 90 minutes in every single one of Moyes’ games in charge so far and is a crucial part of a defense which has certainly improved under the Scot.
Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite
However, perhaps the replacement for Branthwaite is right in front of Everton’s eyes, in their academy.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The academy star who can replace Branthwaite
Everton have had plenty of success over the years from their academy. Wayne Rooney is, of course, the most famous example, but the likes of Leon Osman are also recent success stories from the Toffees’ youth system.
Well, perhaps Reece Welch will be the next in line to represent the academy in the first team. If Branthwaite departs the club, he could be the man to step into his shoes, with the young centre-back making a real impression in the youth sides.
This term, the 21-year-old has played 11 times at youth level, captaining the side in the Premier League 2 seven times, keeping two clean sheets in that time. He also spent the first half of the season on loan in Belgium, for KMSK Deinze, but played just three games.
However, the Huddersfield-born defender did enjoy a more successful loan spell last season with League 2 outfit Forest Green Rovers. Despite the struggles they endured, he played 23 times for the club and was a key part of their backline.
Indeed, the stats via Sofascore suggest that, although it was a struggle for the team, Welch more than held his own. Per 90 minutes, he completed 43.1 passes, made 3.5 tackles and interceptions and won three aerial duels per 90 minutes.
Welch stats for Forest Green (2023/24)
Stat
Per 90
Total
Minutes
68.5
1438
Passes
43.1
689
Long balls completed
3.3
52
Tackles and interceptions
3.5
55
Aerial duels won
3
48
Stats from Sofascore
Welch, who was described as a “special talent” by one tactical analyst, has already played for the Everton first team. With that being said, he only has two games and 65 minutes under his belt.
If Branthwaite did leave the club at the end of the season, Welch could be a ready-made replacement. He has already played first-team football at various levels and is a talented defender with the stats to back that theory up.
Premier League, Everton, Everton news, Everton latest news, Everton academy, Everton U21s, Everton analysis, EFC news, EFC latest news, EFC academy, Sean Dyche, Reece Welch
He could be the ideal option for the Toffees should their number 32 depart in the summer.
Moyes may already be staring Everton's very own Trent disaster in the face
Everton may lose one of their star players in the transfer market this summer.
Liam Dawson half-century fails to overcome troubled start by visitors at Hove
ECB Reporters Network16-Jun-2023
Oli Carter smashed 64 off 33•Getty Images
Sussex 183 for 6 (Carter 64) beat Hampshire 177 for 9 (Dawson 59, Currie 3-27) by six runsOli Carter and Bradley Currie were the unlikely heroes as Sussex Sharks upset Hampshire Hawks at Hove to claim only their third win in this season’s Vitality Blast.In quick-scoring conditions at the 1st Central County Ground the reigning champions dragged things back well after Carter (64) and skipper Ravi Bopara (30) took Sussex to 127 for 2 in the 12th over with a stand of 98 in nine overs. They departed in successive overs and although Sussex got to 183 for 6 it didn’t look enough.But by the second ball of the third over Hampshire had slumped to 15 for 3 and were soon 24 for 4. Although Liam Dawson made 59 off 34 balls and their lower-order batters kept swinging Sussex won by six runs.Debutant Currie started his first over with two wides but then had James Vince caught at deep mid-wicket before Toby Albert played on to the next ball. The hat-trick delivery was also a wide but Sussex were celebrating again when Ben McDermott was pinned in front of middle stump by Ari Karvelas at the start of the next over.The 24-year-old left-armer, who will be playing for Dorset in the National Counties Trophy against Wales on Sunday, took his third wicket in his second over when Ross Whiteley dragged on, leaving Hampshire 24 for 4.Joe Weatherley (33) and Dawson rebuilt in a stand of 51 and even after Weatherley fatally swung across the line to a straight ball from Bopara, Dawson didn’t give up.He reached his sixth fifty in the format and had just hit George Garton into the flats overlooking the ground for his fifth six when the left-armer hit the top of off stump with his next ball.But this was a night for Currie. He added to his three wickets with a sensational catch when he made ten yards to his left and dived full length on the mid-wicket boundary to take a two-handed grab and remove Howell. Even then, with 22 needed off the final over, Nathan Ellis scored 12 off the first three balls but was leg before to the fifth from Karvelas as Hampshire finished on 177 for 9.The unexpected star of the Sussex innings was 19-year-old Carter, who smashed 64 off just 33 balls in only his sixth game in the format. His previous highest score was 27 against Essex earlier this month but he made the most of his chance at No.3 to hit six fours and four sixes, including successive maximums off James Fuller to become only the third Sussex batter to lodge a fifty in this season’s Blast.Skipper Bopara has made two of them and when he and Carter were putting on 98 from 54 balls for the third wicket the holders looked a little rattled.But, as experienced sides tend to do, the Hawks held their nerve and Sussex struggled to regain the initiative after Bopara, who had just heaved the returning Howell over mid-wicket, played on trying to repeat the shot to the next ball.Carter played shots all around the wicket and demonstrated eye-catching improvisation, but he departed four balls later giving himself room to heave over cow corner only to pick out Ellis, who took a good catch, instead. That was in the 12th over and Sussex didn’t score another boundary until the 17th as Howell and Dawson, whose four overs cost just 21, kept things tight.
Aston Villa are seriously interested in a move for a “world-class” player this summer, and he is now set to be available for half the original asking price, according to a report.
Villa targeting big-name signings
Villa have started to reestablish themselves as one of Europe’s top clubs, having progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals, which means they should be in a strong position to attract some big-name signings from across the continent this summer.
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final, has now emerged as a target, with the Villans keen on signing the £54m-rated forward, while they are also pushing to sign Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
It seems as though strengthening in attack may be one of Unai Emery’s priorities this summer, amid other links to Chelsea’s Joao Felix, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Aston Villa now pushing to beat Leeds in race to sign £20m+ Rangers star
Aston Villa are in a fierce race to sign a midfielder who has been impressing this season.
2 ByBrett Worthington Mar 27, 2025
While bringing in new attacking options is of key significance, with Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford also in line for potential permanent moves to Villa Park, a new report suggests Emery is also keen on bolstering his options at the opposite end of the pitch.
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now strongly considering a move for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan this summer, with the goalkeeper set to be available for 50% of the original asking price.
AC Milan's MikeMaignan, Luka Jovic and Yunus Musah
Maignan was valued at around £67m last summer, but if he is unwilling to sign a new contract, he is set to be on the market for roughly half that figure, around £34m.
The Serie A side may be forced to cash-in on some key players if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, and the 29-year-old could be in line for a move to Villa Park, but there may be competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Maignan ranked among "world's best" keepers
Just under two years ago, the Frenchman was lauded as the “world’s best” goalkeeper by football writer Carlo Garganese, and he has a plethora of experience at the top level, having made 32 appearances in the Champions League.
That said, there are doubts over whether the Cayenne-born goalkeeper would be a necessary addition for Villa, given that he is less than three years younger than Emiliano Martínez, who has also proven himself to be a top goalkeeper.
Moreover, while the “world-class” France international remains his country’s first-choice goalkeeper, mistakes have started to creep into his game this season, which be a major concern for Emery.
As such, there is little reason to risk upsetting the apple cart by bringing in Maignan to replace Martinez this summer, and Villa would be better off investing the money into other areas of the squad, such as striker, with a replacement needed for Jhon Duran.