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Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel wants his players to connect with their inner child if they are to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.

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Bayern to face Real Madrid for Champions League final spotTie level ahead of return at the Santiago BernabeuTuchel reveals what he's told his playersWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday aiming to secure a place in the final of the Champions League. The tie is delicately poised after a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the semi-final at the Allianz Arena. Tuchel has been asked what he has told his team ahead of the tie and had some unusual advice for his players.

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Tuchel told reporters: "It wasn't a declaration – I felt the need to say something again. We had an extra day to prepare, and we made the most of it. One topic was that we also enjoy a day like today. The tactical meetings are of course very much characterised by content. It's important to connect with your inner child and realise that we all dreamed of being in games like this as a child. It won't stop us from giving it our all tomorrow."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Champions League is the only piece of silverware Bayern can win this season after missing out on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen. They face a Real Madrid side who have already clinched the league title in Spain this season and knocked out holders Manchester City in the last round after a penalty shoot-out. The winners of the tie will play either PSG or Dortmund in the final at Wembley.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN

Tuchel is heading into his final few fixtures as Bayern boss ahead of his summer exit. The coach is said to be interested in returning to the Premier League, while it still remains to be seen who will take over from Tuchel in the Bayern dugout.

Manish Pandey’s second T20 hundred – his first since IPL 2009 – powers Karnataka, Sandeep Warrier takes hat-trick for Kerala

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2019Shreyas Iyer’s 55-ball century
Shreyas Iyer continued his rich vein of form, smashing his second hundred in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2018-19. Iyer now has scores of 147, 46 and 103* in the tournament to be the highest run-getter so far.Iyer’s innings meant Mumbai beat Madhya Pradesh by eight wickets, getting to 145 for 2 in just 16 overs after being 7 for 2 in two overs.Tushar Deshpande’s 4 for 28 had kept MP to 143 all out in 19.3 overs, and although Mumbai had an early wobble with openers Prithvi Shaw (off the first ball) and Ajinkya Rahane falling cheaply, Iyer took charge of the situation. He faced the majority of the strike during a 14-over partnership with Suryakumar Yadav, who played the supporting role with 39 off 36 in a stand that yielded 138 runs.Iyer hit a whopping 10 sixes and five fours during his innings, scoring 80 of his runs with boundaries.Manish Pandey’s 43-ball century
Manish Pandey walloped 111 not out off 46 balls as Karnataka smothered Arunachal Pradesh by 146 runs, the joint fourth-largest margin of victory (by runs) in a T20 match in India.Pandey’s innings drove Karnataka to 226 for 4 after he had won the toss and chosen to bat, and Arunachal were then shot out for 80 in 14.4 overs, with Shreyas Gopal picking up 5 for 11 in 3.4 overs.This was Pandey’s second hundred in the format, his only other one coming for RCB in IPL 2009 when he became the first Indian to hit a century in the Indian Premier League. For Shreyas, this was the first time he had taken a five-wicket haul in a T20 innings.Karnataka had not started at a frenetic pace, and were 52 for 2 in 6.1 overs when Pandey walked in. He was into his stride immediately though, as the run-rate picked up. His half-century came off 25 balls, and the hundred was raised off 43 balls.Arunachal might have gone down by a record margin were it not for opener Samarth Seth’s 49 off 35 – the next highest score was 6. Seth was run out in the 13th over by Shreyas, who picked up the next three wickets to finish up the innings and end with a five-for.CLICK HERE for all scorecardsBCCIIshan Kishan’s 54-ball century
Ishan Kishan became only the second Indian player to hit back-to-back centuries in T20 cricket, leading Jharkhand to a 121-run win over Manipur with his innings of 113* off 62 balls.Manipur chose to bowl first, and Jharkhand’s batsmen made them pay. Anand Singh and Kishan rocketed to a 54-run opening stand in just 4.3 overs before Manipur got their only wicket in the form of Anand, for a 12-ball 26.Virat Singh came in and kept pace with Kishan, as Jharkhand continued to score briskly. Kishan raised a half-century in 35 balls, and Virat followed a little while later, getting to his own fifty in 34 balls. Kishan then stepped up a gear in the final stages of the innings, getting to a century in 54 balls. His knock had 12 fours and five sixes, and carried Jharkhand to 219 for 1.Virat remained unbeaten on 73 off 46, with the partnership between the two worth 165 runs in 15.3 overs.Manipur’s reply stuttered from the start, and save Yashpal Singh’s 40 off 31, there were no substantial contributions as they ended on 98 for 9 in 20 overs. Utkarsh Singh took 3 for 7 in three overs on Twenty20 debut, while Rahul Shukla, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the previous match, picked up 3 for 14 this time around.Warrier’s hat-trickSandeep Warrier took a hat-trick in the final over as Kerala squeezed out an eight-run win against Andhra.Choosing to bat first, Kerala made 160 for 6, driven by Vishnu Vinod’s 70 off 61 at the top of the order. Andhra recovered from 92 for 5 thanks to Prashanth Kumar’s 57 off 36, and were 152 for 7 at the start of the final over, when Warrier struck. Warrier had KV Sasikanth, Karn Sharma and SK Ismail out off the second, third and fourth balls of the over, ensuring Andhra’s innings ended.Warrier took 3 for 27 in 3.4 overs to have the best figures for Kerala.

Leeds United may be without a win in their last two Championship fixtures but this season has been a great deal more positive than the last one at Elland Road.

The reigns of Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa are now long behind them but Daniel Farke has engineered a renewed attitude in this part of Yorkshire.

Leeds are now currently third in the table and few would bet against them returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Some intent in the January transfer window wouldn't go amiss either, with an exciting winger being lined up to help push their promotion bid.

Leeds United transfer news – Attacking recruits in the pipeline

The January window could well be dominated by news of Wilfried Gnonto's potential exit from Leeds. That was a saga that dominated the summer window too and if he does finally take his leave a winger will be required in the window.

One solution could lie in the form of Kerem Akturkoglu. Indeed, according to reports from Turkey, Aksam suggest that both Lazio and Leeds are interested in acquiring the player.

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Aged 25, an asking price has reportedly been set for the winger of around €14m (£13m). That would be a costly transfer for a side in the second tier of English football, although not out of the realms of possibility.

How Akturkoglu compares to Raphinha

Such a move for the young Turk would be an exciting one. You only need to look at the attacker's numbers this season for Galatasaray to understand why.

So far this term, the 26-cap Turkey international has found the net on seven occasions and also posted eight assists across 27 outings in all competitions.

It's interesting to note that two of those strikes came in the Champions League group stages where Akturkoglu bagged in both clashes against Manchester United. Impressive work indeed.

A left winger by trade, the Galatasaray star is also capable of playing on the right-hand side of attack and shares similarities with Raphinha.

The Brazilian was a wonderful asset to Leeds in the Premier League before a mega £55m move to Barcelona came calling in 2022. During his time with Leeds, the winger was a goal-scoring and creative asset, just as Akturkoglu could prove to be if he moves to Elland Road.

2020/21

30

6

9

2.1

1.9

2021/22

35

11

3

1.9

1.8

Stats via WhoScored.com

Across 67 matches for the Yorkshire side, Raphinha scored on 17 occasions and registered 12 assists as he proved his class at the highest level in England.

Previously described as “unstoppable” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, it's more than just goals and assists that compare the two players.

During Raphinha's last term in England, he produced 1.9 key passes per game in a team that didn't exactly enjoy the most possession. Akturkoglu on the other hand, has created 2.9 this season in the Turkish Super Lig.

They also both work hard in defensive phases, the Turkish superstar making 0.8 tackles per game and Raphinha making 1.5 during his final season at Leeds.

The latter is by far a greater talent but it's hard to ignore the qualities that Leeds' new target has at his disposal. Perhaps a move to England could well see him replicate the club's former Brazilian.

Left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed’s 3 for 33, and Shaiman Anwar’s 30-ball 62 helped UAE hold off USA’s pursuit of 183 in a 24-run win at ICC Academy in Dubai

The Report by Peter Della Penna16-Mar-2019Left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed’s 3 for 33, including the prized scalp of Steven Taylor, helped UAE hold off USA’s pursuit of 183 in a 24-run win at ICC Academy in Dubai.Bowling with the new ball, Sultan struck his first blow in the fourth over when he had a charging Monank Patel stumped down the leg side for 8. Fast bowler Zahoor Khan took another key wicket off the final ball of the Powerplay when Ahmed Raza took a sensational diving catch on the run at deep midwicket to remove Jaskaran Malhotra for 21 to make it 37 for 2.As a stiff breeze blowing across the ground picked up, UAE’s bowlers excelled at keeping the ball wide of the stumps to deny USA opportunities to lift the ball into the air to clear the short boundary on the west side of the ground. Instead, they forced the USA batsmen to hit into the wind towards the much bigger boundary to the other side. While USA added 99 runs when UAE bowlers were bowling into the wind, they only added 59 runs hitting into the wind.Shaiman Anwar launches Timil Patel over the leg side for one of his five sixes•Peter Della PennaWhile Taylor and Xavier Marshall added 72 for the third wicket, their struggles adjusting to the windy conditions meant the stand stretched across nine overs as neither batsman was able to find the boundary with regularity. By the time Marshall was well caught by Sultan at deep midwicket to start the 16th over, USA needed 74 off 29 balls.With pressure mounting, Roy Silva tried his best to beat the wind, shuffling across his stumps to flick Sultan over fine leg at the start of the 17th, but in his attempt to repeat the shot on Sultan’s next legal delivery, he failed to get the elevation and picked out Ashfaq Ahmed on the ring. Four balls later, Taylor charged Sultan and creamed a drive flat to Shaiman Anwar on the cover boundary for 49 to effectively end USA’s chances at 129 for 5 after 17 overs. Zahoor took the ball for the final over with USA needing 32 and a slower ball yanked to long-on by Elmore Hutchinson off the second ball of the 20th over mathematically sealed it for UAE.Shaiman’s crucial catch to dismiss Taylor followed his 62 off 30 balls that earned him the Player-of-the-Match honors. Arriving in the second over after Ashfaq was caught behind edging a drive off Jessy Singh, Shaiman added 81 for the second wicket with Rohan Mustafa in brisk time. Mustafa was the aggressor early in their stand, punching Hutchinson for three consecutive fours between cover and mid-off to start the fifth over.After a methodical start, the arrival of legspinner Timil Patel brought out the best in Shaiman. He hammered USA’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket for a pair of sixes over the leg side in the eighth over, then drove him over long-on for three consecutive sixes in the 14th, the first of which brought up a 26-ball half-century.Timil finally got his revenge off the fifth ball of the over, dragging his length back for Shaiman to scoop a catch to Silva at long-on, but by that stage UAE were in a commanding position. USA captain Saurabh Netravalkar produced a fantastic death-overs spell which handed him two wickets in the 18th to give USA hope, but Raza’s straight six off Jessy began a 12-run frame in 20th over to ensure the hosts had more than enough runs in the bank to clinch the two-match series.

While still firmly in the mix near the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal's title hopes have taken a real hit over the last week or so, having dropped points in each of their last two top-flight outings.

Although a 1-1 draw away to title rivals Liverpool is no disgrace, the subsequent loss at home to West Ham United will have come as a real setback for manager Mikel Arteta, with a response needed against Fulham this afternoon.

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That clash with the Cottagers will likely see Kai Havertz return to the fold following his absence due to suspension last time out, the £65m summer signing growing into a key figure for his new side after scoring three goals across his last six league outings.

Having drawn a blank on Thursday night, the Emirates outfit will be hoping that the German playmaker can continue his recent scoring spree against Marco Silva's men, with it also a chance for Eddie Nketiah to come into the fray to once again wreak havoc on today's opponents.

Eddie Nketiah's record vs Fulham

On the face of it, the Englishman's goal return against Fulham is not wholly eye-catching, having scored twice in only five career meetings with the west Londoners.

That being said, the Gunners academy graduate has regularly been a thorn in the side of the Craven Cottage outfit, only recently scoring in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier in the campaign, giving the hosts the lead only to see his effort cancelled out late on by Joao Palhinha.

The 24-year-old marksman had dazzled after coming off the bench in that entertaining encounter having made a 'superb impact' in the words of football.london's Kaya Kaynak, while even being handed the captain's armband late on.

A year earlier, the one-time Leeds United loanee was also impressive during his cameo off the bench in the 2-1 win on home soil, with journalist Charles Watts stating that he "caused Fulham so many problems" on the day.

That was a sentiment echoed by Kaynak in his player ratings pieces at the time, awarding the striker a 7/10 match rating while writing that he 'caused problems for the Fulham backline with his energy and intensity' – something he may look to replicate this afternoon.

Prior to that, the one-cap international memorably scored a dramatic, stoppage-time winner against the Cottagers back in April 2021 to nudge the visitors ever closer toward relegation, showcasing his predatory finishing instincts to prod home at the back post.

Eddie Nketiah's season by numbers

The Gunners could well be in need of that clinical presence on the evidence of the midweek defeat to the Hammers, with Gabriel Jesus having been particularly 'wasteful' – as per The Standard's Simon Collings – after missing two gilt-edged chances in the contest.

That outing has only enhanced the calls for a new centre-forward to be brought in during the January transfer window, yet in the short-term, Nketiah – who has himself been linked with an exit – needs to be trusted with the chance to show what he can do from the start.

While the £100k-per-week asset has been far from prolific this season, he does still boast a respectable haul of five goals and three assists from 18 league appearances – with only half of those outings coming from the start.

By contrast, that man Jesus has netted just three goals and provided only one assist in 14 top-flight games, begging the question as to why Arteta continues to persist with the Brazilian as his go-to number nine.

18 games (9 starts)

5 goals

1 assist

82% pass accuracy rate

1 big chance created

0.4 key passes per game

1 ball recovered per game

4 big chances missed

6.94 avg. match rating

Stats via Sofascore

If Nketiah does feature from the start this afternoon, it would represent an opportunity to showcase that he can have a long-term future in north London, even if a new striker is signed next month.

Having caused problems for Fulham on numerous occasions previously, why can't he do so again?

Luka Modric's time at Real Madrid may finally be coming to an end after his agent revealed plans for the Croatian's future.

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Midfielder's contract expires this summerInterest from Saudi Arabia and European clubsCould still extend his stay in SpainWHAT HAPPENED?

The former Ballon d'Or winner's future has been up in the air alongside midfield partner Toni Kroos as Real Madrid prepare for the arrival of Kylian Mbappe this summer. Modric has been a long-time servant for the Spanish giants but his departure could free up squad space and significant wages.

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Modric's agent recently revealed that nothing has been decided yet regarding the 38-year-old's future. He said: "So far there is nothing clear about Modric's future with Real Madrid. Next week things will be clearer for us. Real Madrid is Modric's homeland and together we will decide what is best."

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The likelihood is that Modric's next move will be decided after the Champions League final. Madrid have already won La Liga and are focusing all their attention on securing a record-breaking 15th European title. Croatia's 174-cap international has only made 16 starts in all competitions this season and is in the twilight of his career. Victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley would be a fitting end for the club legend.

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getty imagesWHAT NEXT FOR MODRIC?

Modric may want to have his future sorted before Euro 2024 in Germany but there is still work to be done for his current club. Madrid have three league games left before travelling to England for the Champions League final on 1 June. The ex-Tottenham man should have a huge list of teams to pick from if he does leave Spain, with Saudi Pro League and MLS sides reportedly expressing their interest.

Only a few months ago Kane Richardson had stopped thinking about his World Cup chances, but a combination of BBL success and misfortune to his namesake has opened the door

Andrew McGlashan09-May-2019Kane Richardson’s first World Cup memory is of buying the VHS of Australia’s 1999 triumph. Now, 20 years on, he has the chance to follow the “dream”, having as recently as six months ago assumed that he might never get the opportunity.Richardson was in the mix for the 2015 tournament on home soil but didn’t make the final cut. After that, he struggled to cement a position over the intervening four years. A difficult tour of England and Zimbabwe last year, where he suddenly found himself a senior figure in a threadbare side, finished with him out of the team and well down the pecking order.Before last season’s BBL, he spoke of having stopped thinking about international honours and having figured that he was a long way off selection. However, a prolific tournament for champions Melbourne Renegades, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker, brought him back in the frame and he featured on the tours to India and the UAE, although injury meant he only played two ODIs against Pakistan.Two strong performances to help Australia take a 5-0 series victory kept his name firmly up for discussion when the World Cup squad was picked but, as in 2015, he didn’t quite make it. However, this time he was next in line and over breakfast earlier this week he got the nod when Jhye Richardson was ruled out.”The first feelings are for him, he did everything he could to be fit and had an amazing last six months,” Kane said. “I’m over the moon because it’s a childhood dream for me, selfishly I’m super excited but at the same stage I’m feeling for Jhye.”I remember four years ago missing out the 2015 team and being in a few squads beforehand, and I thought I’m 24 then and the next one I’m 28 so that’s probably my shot if I get one. I still wasn’t thinking about it a month ago, but what struck me the most getting the call was I remember watching the 1999 World Cup and that’s one I went and rented the VHS and watched it back. It kind of hit then that these sort of things probably don’t come round ever again.”Though it was his performances in the BBL that propelled him back into the international reckoning, followed by two good showings at the death of tight games against Pakistan, Richardson is keen to be known as more than a bowler full of T20 tricks or just a man to close out an innings.”In the UAE that’s what JL [Langer] was happy with in those two games, right at the end in crunch times,” he said. “I think that’s my strength, but I want to be a well-rounded bowler in any stage of the innings. If I’m going to play a role at the World Cup I’ve got to be able to do that as well.”Part of that will be calling on the experiences of the torrid tour of England last year in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, which finished with a new-look side beaten 5-0. Amid the carnage, Richardson’s figures were actually respectable as he took six wickets in three ODIs at an economy rate of six. However, the T20 which finished that tour saw him taken for 59 off four overs and it was his last international outing until the recent Pakistan series.”We obviously got our bums kicked, but for me personally [with the ball], it was about starting well,” he reflected. “I still go back to that in these games here, trying to start well in the first two or three overs, set the day up without going for 30 in your first four overs otherwise you can be chasing your tail.”He was wicketless in the first two matches against the New Zealand XI in Brisbane but is confident of getting up to speed before Australia start their World Cup against Afghanistan on June 1. “I’m coming off two weeks off and two weeks in the indoor centre, so it’s just nice to get back bowling. I was pretty cooked by the end. But that’s the positive of getting together so early, we’ve still got just under a month to go.”

Wrexham striker Paul Mullin has been celebrating winning the League Two PFA Fans' Player of the Year Award.

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Wrexham striker wins yet another awardNamed PFA Fans' Player of the YearProud to share trophy with his familyWHAT HAPPENED?

Wrexham's talisman was nominated for the award after an exceptional campaign where he returned from suffering a punctured lung in pre-season to score 24 goals in 38 league games for Phil Parkinson's side. Mullin's goals were crucial for his team as Wrexham secured back-to-back promotions and a place in League One for next season.

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Mullin saw off competition from Stockport duo Ben Hinchcliffe and Isaac Olaofe as well as Notts County's Jodi Jones and Macaulay Langstaff to clinch the trophy. The Wrexham striker can add it to the Player of the Season and Top Goalscorer Award he's already received from Wrexham this season. The trophies clearly mean a lot to Mullin, and he is already looking forward to showing them off to his son Albi when he's grown up.

WHAT MULLIN SAID

He wrote on Instagram: "Thanks to everyone that voted!! Another something to show Albi when he's older."

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Getty/InstagramWHAT NEXT FOR MULLIN

Mullin has been keeping busy during the off-season. He's shown off a boxing work-out in the gym as he prepares for another campaign with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny's side. Wrexham will fly out to the United States again for pre-season, taking in games against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Vancouver Whitecaps in July.

Manchester United twice led against Spurs at the weekend, and twice they were pegged back. Manager Erik ten Hag will nonetheless be pleased to signs of life from an attack that scored multiple goals for just the seventh time in 21 Premier League matches this season.

Even after an improved showing, United have still recorded the fewest goals (24) of any side in the league's top 13, and they have the poorest goal difference (-5) of any team in the top 11. £72m summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has only been able to find the net twice in 16 league outings so far, and United would be wise to recruit another striker who can take the pressure off him. Those efforts, it seems, are already underway.

United make contact over Zirkzee

According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, United have enquired about Joshua Zirkzee at Bologna. Recruitment staff at Old Trafford have "a high opinion" of Zirkzee in light of what he's done this season, and they've listed him as a target for 2024.

"Talks took place" over a possible deal, but the Red Devils learned that "Bologna won't let him go" during the winter window. Come the summer, however, it could be a different story, with a €40m release clause (the equivalent of about £34m) due to come into effect.

"Graceful" Zirkzee gives United clinical touch

Zirkzee joined Bayern's academy in 2017 and, after loans at Parma and Anderlecht, he resettled at Bologna in 2022. His first year was quiet – he only started five league games and scored two goals – but he's enjoying a breakout season in 2023/24. He's bagged seven goals and set-up two more, form that had seen him start every single league game prior to a yellow-card suspension last time out.

Compatriot Rafael van der Vaart says the "very graceful" Zirkzee is "not normal", and European football expert Alex Barker has warned that he'll be a "terrifying" proposition if he maximises his potential. Journalist Zach Lowy, meanwhile, reckons he'll be "one hell of a bargain" if he leaves for £34m.

1

Lautaro Martinez

18

2

Olivier Giroud

10

=3

Domenico Berardi, Hakan Calhanoglu

9

=4

Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Thuram, Albert Gudmunsson, Matias Soule

8

=5

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE, Andrea Pinamonti, Dusan Vlahovic, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen

7

The numbers illustrate why. As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old is among the most prolific forwards in Serie A this season, and he's reached seven goals from an xG of just 4.5, which points to the clinical touch that United sorely need.

Serie A's player of the month for both November and December, it seems like only a matter of time before he earns a call-up to the senior Dutch national side, and it's not too late for him to play his way into their squad for Euro 2024

United should be wary of his former club Bayern, who negotiated a 50% sell-on clause as part of the sale agreement with Bologna. That means they're able to buy him back for €20m, and they might see that as a smart business move, because they'd be able to sell him on again for a significant profit.

Aston Villa are in the market for additions this window and could now submit an offer for a target in the coming week, according to a report.

Aston Villa look for star quality…

The Villans have been a consistent force in the Premier League this campaign and will be keen to prolong their excellent form for as long as possible; nevertheless, signings this month will be necessary to turn their ambitions into reality.

Rumours continue to do the rounds over who could come in at Villa Park to provide some star quality and Copenhagen sensation Roony Bardghji is a name that has been mentioned in connection with Unai Emery's side.

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Aston Villa have vigorously scouted Sweden international Bardghji and he is said to have impressed officials with his performances. At the same time, the report states that the Kuwait City-born winger may be available for a fee in the region of £20 million.

Roma attacker Paulo Dybala has also been in the headlines due to his potential availability this window and journalist Dean Jones has spoken about the Argentina international's future amid links with the Villans.

He said via GiveMeSport: "A deal for Dybala really would be sensational and obviously there will always be part of any Villa fan that would like that to happen, but Emery and the recruitment team have to be very careful that if they are to pursue something like that it is for the right reasons and he fits with the philosophy and character of the side."

Meanwhile, Crvena Zvezda right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic looks close to joining Aston Villa for a fee of under €9 million and will then return to Belgrade to see out the rest of 2023/24, according to Fabrizio Romano. Now, fresh information has come to life claiming that NSWE are in the process of preparing an offer for an exciting attacker.

Aston Villa preparing Semih Kilicsoy offer…

According to reports from Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are preparing an official offer for Besiktas winger Semih Kilicsoy that could land at some point in the next week. The 18-year-old is also believed to be attracting interest from Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Semih Kilicsoy's key statistics in all competitions – 2023/24 (Sofascore)

Shots per game

2.4

Shots on target per game

1.1

Goal conversion

26%

Big chances created

1

Tackles per game

1.1

Average match rating

7.51/10

The Old Gold have already seen an offer declined for the Turkey Under-19 international and now the Villans look to be increasing their efforts to land his signature. Kilicsoy is contracted until 2028 and there is no indication of the fee it could potentially take to prize him away from his current employers.

Labelled "frightening" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kilicsoy has made 15 appearances across all competitions this term for Besiktas, registering six goals and one assist (Kilicsoy statistics – Transfermarkt).

Despite his age, the Istanbul-born man is someone who has put up the numbers to suggest he could contribute in the here and now rather than being one for the future at Villa Park, so it may be a deal to keep an eye on.