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Reputable journalist Pete O’Rourke has delivered his verdict on what Leon Bailey could offer to Aston Villa next season. 

The lowdown: Bailey’s frustrating first year at Villa

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £25m last summer (BBC), the winger struggled to make the desired impact at Villa Park due to persistent injury issues which saw the flying Jamaican miss nine games with a thigh problem.

The 24-year-old arrived in the Midlands having directly contributed to 65 goals in 156 appearances for Leverkusen and made a dream start to life as a Villan with an assist on his debut against Watford in the Premier League.

However, despite only managing 754 minutes of action in the top flight last term, one well-informed onlooker has suggested that Steven Gerrard could essentially view Bailey as a fresh addition to the ranks ahead of the 2022/23 campaign…

The latest: ‘Like a new signing’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that the 17-cap Jamaica dynamo can still be a ‘top performer’ for Aston Villa next term.

He said: “Leon Bailey did arrive with a lot of expectation on his shoulders after that big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen.

“Fitness issues prevented Villa fans from seeing the best of him, but I’m sure he will be hungry to prove a point this season and can show he can be a top performer for Aston Villa because he’s definitely got it in him, and he could almost be like a new signing for Villa if he goes and hits the ground running.”

The verdict: Tough ask

After completing the permanent capture of Philippe Coutinho, Gerrard is blessed with options in the wide areas, with Emiliano Buendia, Bertrand Traore and youth prospect Jaden Philogene-Bidace all at the manager’s disposal.

However, there can be little doubt that, at peak form and fitness, Bailey – who was described as an ‘explosive winger’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – can force his way into the 42-year-old’s plans and, most importantly, stay there.

Last season, the versatile £22.5m-valued Jamaican scored once and provided two assists in 18 appearances for the Midlands club in what was a stop-start first season in England for the attacker.

Sharing similar stylistic traits with the likes of Sevilla ace Lucas Ocampos, Lille sensation Timothy Weah and Everton forward Demarai Grey (FBRef) and possessing many of the requisite attacking attributes to succeed as an elite-level winger (WhoScored), Bailey could yet have a huge influence on Gerrard’s side.

Journalist Josh Bunting is thrilled with the news that Sunderland manager Alex Neil is expecting a couple of new signings for the Black Cats’ opening game of the season.

The Lowdown: Neil’s comments

Sunderland are set to start their Championship campaign on Sunday as they face Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.

And Neil has been speaking of his side’s activity in the transfer market ahead of the Black Cats’ opening game.

As quoted by Chronicle Live, the Wearside boss said: “Naturally, we want to try to add before the weekend, and we hope that one or two of those run their course, and we manage to get them in. But I won’t be spending all my time worrying about that if I can’t affect it.”

The Latest: ‘Exciting…’

Bunting was thrilled with the news that fans could be seeing multiple new faces in a Sunderland shirt this Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist exclaimed:

“Alex Neil saying Sunderland hope to have 1 or 2 more in the door by Sunday. Look he’s under no illusions he knows the squad needs to be strengthened.

“The club are working away on business in the background absolutely no time or no room to panic. Exciting few days ahead #SAFC”

The Verdict: Much needed…

With Ross Stewart being the only striker left at the club, it is imperative that Sunderland bring in a number of attacking players to provide Neil with quality and depth in the final third.

The chaotic schedule and all-round physicality of the Championship will need to be considered by the Black Cats, and it will inevitably require regular rotation and alternative options due to the likelihood of injuries occurring.

Therefore, the manager’s news will come as a huge relief to Sunderland fans, making them more confident for Sunday’s game against Coventry.

Journalist Ashley Preece has provided his thoughts on Aston Villa’s reported interest in PSV Eindhoven midfielder, Ibrahim Sangare.

What’s the word?

In a Q and A for Birmingham Mail, the Villa correspondent hinted that the Cote d’Ivoire international is a player who is seemingly on the radar of the Midlands outfit, albeit with it yet to be seen if there is firm interest in the 24-year-old.

Asked about any potential approach for the former Toulouse man, after manager Steven Gerrard was seen watching PSV in action against Leicester City last season, Preece stated: “Yep, spot on re SG being at PSV-Leicester mate; Sangare is one that has been mentioned in circles at Villa but nothing more.

“A lot of interest in him. I don’t know if Villa has an interest in that one. I’m sure they would have acted now if they did. We’ll have to see.”

This follows a recent report from Football Insider who claim that both the Villans and Leicester have enquired about a deal for the 17-cap gem, with the Eredivisie outfit reportedly set to demand more than £20m for his signature.

Supporters will love

As Preece alluded to, it may still be unclear as to whether Gerrard and co will make a concrete approach for the £27k-per-week ace, although the 6 foot 3 menace seemingly fits the mould of the type of player that the club are chasing, amid reports that the Premier League side are still keen on adding another midfielder this summer.

Despite having already signed Boubacar Kamara from Marseille on a free transfer, it would appear that the centre of the park is an area that the club are keen to strengthen further, with Sangare no doubt set to add real quality competition to the current options.

The £21.6m-rated colossus has been in sparkling form in Holland of late, notably netting three goals and providing two assists in 29 league outings last term from his defensive midfield berth, while also recording an impressive 86% pass completion rate.

Not only an asset in possession, he is perhaps more widely regarded for his ball-winning ability, having averaged a remarkable 3.3 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per 90 in the 2021/22 campaign, while also winning 74% of his aerial duels and 63% of his total duels.

That stunning form unsurprisingly saw the Koumassi-born brute record an eye-catching 7.38 average match rating, as per SofaScore, with that figure the fourth-highest among the PSV squad.

Such a dominant, imposing figure would seemingly thrive in English football, with supporters set to love seeing him at his brilliant, destructive best if sporting director Johan Lange manages to get his man this summer.

So long left without a genuine holding midfielder last term – leaving Douglas Luiz to take up a makeshift, defensive role – Sangare could well be the man to fill that void.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

Newcastle United don’t want to pay Maxwel Cornet’s Burnley release clause all at once, The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope reports.

The lowdown

Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports reported on Sunday that Newcastle hold a genuine interest in Cornet. They apparently deemed his price tag to be too high when they were offered the chance to sign him earlier in the window, but it looks like that stance has now changed.

Cornet is available for £17.5million after Burnley’s relegation triggered a release clause in his contract.

Newcastle do face competition for his signature, with Everton and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest also keen.

The latest

Hope corroborates Newcastle’s interest in Cornet, with Eddie Howe said to be an admirer.

But he says the structure of a potential deal could prove to be a stumbling block.

Newcastle are apparently reluctant to pay the clause in one solitary instalment.

The verdict

Everton may have already shown Newcastle a potential solution here. To appease Burnley, they would apparently actually pay more for the Ivorian overall.

The deal would involve a payment of just £5million this summer, but Everton would then be obliged to pay a further £20million next year.

Cornet deserves to be playing top-flight football again after standing out in a poor Burnley side last term.

He scored nine Premier League goals over the course of the campaign, three times more than anybody else in the squad.

One of his goals actually came against Newcastle on the final day of the Premier League season, with Cornet volleying home ’emphatically’ (in the words of journalist Liam Kennedy).

It was very much on brand for Cornet, who can score ‘spectacular goals’, according to Alan Shearer.

But ultimately, it wasn’t enough to keep Burnley in the top-flight as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Similar in profile to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Emmanuel Dennis, Cornet is capable of playing through the middle or out wide, and that versatility makes him even more appealing.

Tottenham Hotspur’s negotiations with Villarreal over an exit for Tanguy Ndombele are ‘speeding up so fast’, according to Spanish radio broadcaster Xavi Jorquera Marquez.

The Lowdown: Ndombele not wanted at Spurs

Despite showing signs of promise under former Spurs manager Jose Mourinho, the Frenchman has failed to live up to expectations since he arrived at Hotspur Way in 2019 after his then club-record transfer from Lyon.

The 25-year-old is no longer a part of Antonio Conte’s plans at Tottenham, having been omitted from the side’s pre-season squad alongside the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks.

Ndombele spent the second half of last season on loan at his former club Lyon, but the Ligue 1 outfit opted against enacting the buy option in his deal.

The Latest: Marquez’s news

Marquez, a reporter for Radio Castellon and Esport Base has shared an update on Ndombele’s future, touting him with an imminent departure from Spurs.

Taking to Twitter, the Spanish radio broadcaster claimed:

“Villarreal is already negotiating with Tottenham [over] the transfer of Tanguy Ndombelé.

“It’s speeding up so fast.”

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The Verdict: Needs to leave

Despite glimpses of his talent shining through at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the 25-year-old has failed to maintain any type of consistency or reliability in a Lilywhites shirt.

Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson worries that there are even echoes of Mario Balotelli in the midfielder, telling Football Insider: “Yes, in a similar way (to Balotelli).

“He is a top-quality player, there is no doubt about that. But his attitude and application are miles off.”

It is clear the player needs a move away from the north London club and England all together.

The proposed move to Villarreal will allow Ndombele to start off afresh in a new and likely slower-paced league, giving him the chance to revive his career at the top level.

Having been shunned from Conte’s plans at Tottenham, this seems like the ideal outcome for all parties.

Everton appear to be finally closing in on a striker if reports are to be believed… 

What’s the word?

According to French publication L’Equipe, the Toffees seem to be close to agreeing on a deal for Stade Rennais striker Serhou Guirassy.

Frank Lampard has reportedly made the deal for the 26-year-old a priority following the long-term injury that Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered last week.

Guirassy is noted as extremely receptive to the move, as they look to secure another coup from Ligue 1 after their capture of Amadou Onana earlier this week. It would mark their sixth foray into the market this summer.

He’s better than Che Adams

It seems like real progress is being made on the striker front, and to finally find a successor to the injury-prone 25-year-old is huge news for Lampard’s hopes for the season.

However, Guirassy would surely be a better fit for the Toffees than Che Adams, who has also been linked recently with a move to Goodison Park.

The Scottish international only managed seven goals last season in the league, and standing at just 5 foot 9, he would struggle to compensate in the absence of the hulking figure of Calvert-Lewin.

The “powerful” Guinean however is just one inch smaller than the England international.

Also, whether fit or not, Calvert-Lewin would have a hard time displacing Guirassy if he can continue his form from Ligue 1 into the Premier League.

12 goals in all competitions last season marks him out as something of a marksman, but what will please the toffees more is his 37 league appearances.

A forward who can be reliable to play and a consistent threat will go a long way toward helping to propel Everton up the league table, especially after the departure of last season’s top scorer Richarlison.

Guirassy also ranked in the top 2% for non-penalty goals last season, compared to Adams, who ranked in the 45th percentile.

One is a constant threat for defenders, battling for knockdowns and opportunities to score, whilst the other is more of a second striker, feeding off those opportunities created. The latter would struggle as a lone striker, forced to deal with long balls and crosses as his main source of service.

Also winning 3.63 aerials per game, whilst still not even close to the unbelievable 6.80 of Calvert-Lewin, it is still a start on replacing his huge physical presence when he cannot play.

Guirassy is the natural successor and would deputise well during his injury spells. He would far outperform that of Adams, whilst finally seeing Everton start to dip into European markets more consistently to find their own hidden talents.

Crystal Palace have reportedly made a late move to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, as they look to hijack Leeds United’s bid to sign the Senegal international.

What’s the word?

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, Palace are keen to sign the 24-year-old, despite him being in advanced discussions with Leeds.

Sarr is keen to return to the Premier League after suffering relegation with Watford last season, and Palace could have the edge on Jesse Marsch’s side, as the report claims that they need to part ways with an attacker before signing the Hornets man.

Those claims were backed up by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who said yesterday: “Crystal Palace working on deal to sign Ismaila Sarr from Watford. No formal bid yet but interest firm & discussions ongoing. CPFC SD Dougie Freedman at Birmingham tonight but 24yo left out, injury precaution.”

Vieira would love him

As was evidenced on Monday night in the draw against Liverpool, when Ebere Eze and Wilfried Zaha combined for the goal, Vieira loves to set his side up to be dangerous on the counter-attack, and Sarr’s incredible pace makes him an ideal candidate for Palace’s front three.

The 24-year-old was recorded as one of the fastest players in the Premier League last season at 21.67mph, while WhoScored suggests that he excels at dribbling and finishing, which suggests that he would complement the likes of Zaha, Eze and Michael Olise well.

Former teammate Ben Foster was in awe of Sarr’s speed and ability last season, saying:

“He is a bit of a freak, honestly he is.

“I still don’t think people understand quite how quick Ismaila Sarr is. His acceleration off from a standing start is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And genuinely, I’m being genuine there, I’ve never seen anybody accelerate from a standing start as quick as he does.”

With that in mind, the former Stade Rennais winger is capable of changing a game in an instant, as was evidenced by his staggering goal from the halfway line in Watford’s recent draw against West Brom. That moment of magic is something which Vieira’s current winger options of Zaha, Eze and Olise all possess too.

Last season saw the speedy wide man contribute five goals and two assists in a poor Watford side, so there is no reason why he couldn’t excel in a team that shouldn’t be worried about relegation this season.

Sarr, who is reportedly valued at £25m, could fit seamlessly into Vieira’s system and style of play at Selhurst Park, and would definitely cause problems for defenders with his speed. Thus, the French manager would surely love to see him join the Eagles this summer.

Teenage Celtic goalkeeper Rory Mahady is set to complete a move to the Premier League, according to a transfer report.

The Lowdown: Mahady a precocious talent

The 16-year-old is arguably one of the Hoops’ most prodigious young players at the moment, having caught the eye with his performances between the sticks.

Mahady has been capped by Scotland at under-16 and under-17 level and has even been linked with a move to Manchester City.

While it looks as though the teenager is heading south of the border, it’s a different Premier League club who look set to snap him up.

The Latest: Mahady agrees Leeds move

According to Football Insider, Leeds United have ‘agreed a deal’ to sign Mahady, with ‘personal terms’ having been sorted. He will sign a scholarship contract at first, which will become professional when he turns 17 next summer.

The goalkeeper is thought to have ‘impressed talent-spotters’ in England for some time and he now looks set to leave Celtic, having declined the opportunity to sign professional terms at Parkhead when he turned 16 in recent days.

The Verdict: Big blow, bright future

Losing a bright homegrown talent is never a good thing as far as the Hoops are concerned and Mahady is no different, with some no doubt hoping that he would have extended his stay at Parkhead.

The lure of the Premier League can be too great for any player to resist, though, and it is seemingly no different for Mahady, who may be eyeing up Illan Meslier’s number one spot at Leeds in the long-term.

The Scottish prospect will surely be aware of the abundance of opportunities for young talents at Elland Road, where the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood have forged a clear pathway into the first team in recent months.

Celtic need to focus on not only remaining the dominant force in Scottish football but also thriving in the Champions League, in order to avoid losing bright talents like Mahady in future years.

Steven Gerrard might not think it, but he is a man under pressure at Aston Villa, if some reports are to go by.

They have won only one of their opening three Premier League games despite the 42-year-old recruiting diligently in the transfer market, adding quality such as Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara while making Philippe Coutinho’s loan deal a permanent transfer.

Disaster struck when Carlos ruptured his Achilles tendon against Everton a fortnight ago and will most likely miss the majority of the campaign, giving Gerrard another reason to delve back into the transfer market.

With a defender being his priority, he should also be looking at adding another forward, with Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins the only senior strikers at the club.

Gerrard should move for Brereton Diaz

Chile international striker Ben Brereton Diaz has been linked with Villa along with a host of other clubs, and Gerrard should be pushing to make a move happen before the end of the window.

There were rumours that Watkins was reportedly leaving the Midlands for Everton but this now looks unlikely, and the Villa manager could form a dream partnership with Watkins and the £20m Blackburn Rovers man playing together.

The duo scored 33 league goals between them last season and they both averaged more than two shots per game (2.8 for Brereton-Diaz and 2.2 for Watkins), offering a constant attacking threat for their respective teams.

Both also were adept at providing opportunities for others, with the Blackburn striker making 0.6 key passes per match and Watkins averaging one per game. They aren’t just out-and-out scorers, as the numbers show that their all-round game can benefit their teams.

The 23-year-old’s former manager Tony Mowbray described him as “extraordinary”, while FourFourTwo dubbed the striker a “superstar”, so it seems clear that he looks destined for the top.

It remains to be seen what club will prosper having the Chile forward in their ranks, but if Gerrard and Johan Lange are serious about securing European football for this Villa team, then it’s time that they make a move for Brereton Diaz.

Everton are reportedly in talks to sign Villarreal attacker Samuel Chukwueze before the transfer window closes.

The Lowdown: Winger wanted

Given recent links to the likes of PSV’s Cody Gakpo and Leeds United’s Dan James, it is clear that the Goodison Park outfit would like to bring in a new winger before the deadline, or at least an attacker with the pace to stretch defences in behind.

They only have one senior right-winger in their senior squad at the moment in Andros Townsend, and he is still out with an ACL injury, so they could really do with strengthening in that area of the pitch.

The Latest: Chukwueze talks

As per The Daily Mail, the Merseyside club have approached Chukwueze over a potential move, and are in talks with Villarreal over a loan deal with an obligation to buy for between £34.3m-42.9m.

A move for the Nigeria international would be seen as a ‘major coup’, as he is ‘highly-rated’ and still only 23 years of age.

The Verdict: Statement signing

Chukwueze would certainly be a statement signing by Frank Lampard’s team if they can get a deal over the line.

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Hailed as a ‘ridiculous’ player who ‘tortures’ defenders by ESPN journalist David Cartlidge, he has even been likened to the legendary Arjen Robben given his ability to dribble at speed and cut in on his left foot.

It was Chukwueze’s famous goal that knocked Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich out of the UEFA Champions League last season, showing that he can perform on the big stage, and so the Toffees would do very well to sign him before the deadline.