Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Villa Park this afternoon, where they not only competed but dominated in a huge six-pointer in the race for Champions League football.

Ange Postecoglou’s team picked up an impressive 4-0 victory, putting them just two points behind Aston Villa with a game in hand.

The first half was extremely tight with no shots on target, reinforcing the fact that this game was one that both teams were desperate to not lose.

However, a quick-fire double from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson after the break, followed by a red card for John McGinn, handed the visitors all three points.

Heung-min Son was the star of the show, but there was one player who was absolutely phenomenal yet again.

Heung-min Son’s performance against Aston Villa

Spurs’ captain was on hand once again to lead his side to victory with a fantastic second-half performance.

The Evening Standard handed Son a 9/10 rating for his influence in front of goal, describing his game as “a captain’s performance.”

The number 7 started up front, and was extremely sharp throughout, but it was his decision-making that was so impressive, always making the right decision in key moments.

This saw Son pick up two assists, setting up Johnson and Timo Werner for their goals, and capping off an almost perfect performance with a goal just before the final whistle.

However, there was another gem who played just as big a role as the South Korean, keeping Ollie Watkins quiet.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 24, 2024 Cristian Romero’s game in numbers

Cristian Romero seems to get better as each game goes by, whether it’s scoring the winner against Crystal Palace or pocketing arguably the most in-form striker in the Premier League.

Before even looking at the Argentine's statistics, you can tell how secure he was alongside both Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin by the fact that Watkins and Leon Bailey made 14 passes and won just three of their 12 ground duels between them.

Romero was handed an 8/10 rating by the Evening Standard for his showing, and the table below highlights his key statistics from the game.

Romero vs Aston Villa

Stats

Romero

Goals conceded

0

Clearances

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

3

Ground duels won

4/4

Last man tackle

1

Touches

98

Pass accuracy

93%

Via Sofascore

As you can see, the 25-year-old was dominant from the first whistle to the last, taking an aggressive approach as always while also showing composure and excellent anticipation, as displayed by his three tackles and interceptions.

The World Cup winner also won all four of his ground duels, proving that he didn’t give the Villa attackers an inch to work with in the final third.

The Lilywhites’ number 17 was also immense on the ball, taking 98 touches and controlling the tempo with his 81 passes and 93% pass accuracy. This allowed Spurs to control the game when against the ten men of Villa, as well as against their early press.

Overall, it was another colossal performance from the centre-back, who’s developing into one of the finest defenders in England.

On the pitch, Liverpool are preparing to potentially hand Jurgen Klopp the perfect Premier League farewell in the form of silverware with the chance to win a historic quadruple still on this season. Off the pitch, however, FSG have already turned their attention towards the post-Klopp era and landing a crucial behind-the-scenes figure to potentially work alongside Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool preparing double swoop

With Alonso now reportedly sitting top of Bayern Munich's list of managerial candidates to replace Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, Liverpool are reportedly set to make an offer for the Bayer Leverkusen boss. Beating the German giants to Alonso should be high on the Reds' list of priorities, given the work that he has done in the Bundesliga this season, setting the course for Leverkusen's first-ever title win.

It's not just Klopp that those at Anfield will need to replace this summer, however. They also have to find a replacement for short-term sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, who left Liverpool at the end of the January transfer window. Like their search for a Klopp replacement, the Reds have seemingly turned their attention towards Bayer Leverkusen to replace Schmadtke.

According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Liverpool are readying an informal approach for Simon Rolfes, who is currently the sporting director at Leverkusen.

It would be a sensational double swoop if FSG managed to land both Rolfes and Alonso this summer, that's for sure, with a sporting director reportedly their first priority before then landing their next manager. More than playing his part in building the dominant Leverkusen side that we've seen so far this season, Rolfes would be some coup for Liverpool.

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That said, the Leverkusen man recently shot down any rumours that he would be completing a departure anytime soon, saying via Kicker: "The fact that there is a lot of speculation about Bayer’s protagonists due to our current successes is part of the business.. “But that doesn’t change my direction. It’s not without reason that I only extended my contract (2028). I’m absolutely happy in Leverkusen in this constellation.”

"Outstanding" Rolfes has impressive transfer record

If Liverpool did manage to tempt Rolfes away from the Bundesliga this summer, they'd be getting a sporting director who knows all about building a side into title contenders. In his current role since December 2018, the 42-year-old has signed some impressive players.

Victor Boniface

€21m (£18m)

Union Saint-Gilloise

Jeremie Frimpong

€11m (£9m)

Celtic

Granit Xhaka

€15m (£13m)

Arsenal

Alejandro Grimaldo

Free

Benfica

Moussa Diaby

€15m (£13m)

Paris Saint-Germain

Leverkusen will be keen to keep hold of Rolfes after handing him a new contract at the end of last year. Full of praise for the sporting director, Werner Wenning, who sits on the club's board, told the official website: "Simon Rolfes has understood in a special way how to combine his experience and qualities as a player with the demands of management.

"He has great expertise in the game and an outstanding eye for talent in the global market but he also has an enormous work rate and the unmistakable DNA of Bayer 04. We are very happy that Simon Rolfes will continue to put these qualities to the service of Bayer 04."

Marc Cucurella has admitted to trying to convince Spain team-mate Nico Williams to join Chelsea amid his exploits at Euro 2024.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Williams wanted by Barcelona and Chelsea
• Cucurella trying to lure him to the London club
• Forward has a £46.5m release clause

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williams has been instrumental for Spain, starting three of their four games and scoring a crucial goal in their last-16 victory over Georgia. His impressive spell at Athletic Bilbao, where he scored eight goals and set up a further 19, and standout displays at the Euros have made him a hot prospect in the transfer market with Barcelona and Chelsea hot on his heels.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Williams has a release clause set at £46.5 million ($59m.31m) which further makes him a desirable transfer target in an already inflated market. And Cucurella is keeping no stone unturned to convince the explosive forward to rebuff Barcelona's approaches and make a move to Stamford Bridge.

• WHAT CUCURELLA SAID

  Speaking to Spanish outlet , Cucurella said: "He is a great player, he is bringing out all his potential. "It is a source of pride that he is on our team, that he is our teammate, and with players like him, everything is easier. He would be a great signing [for Barcelona], but it all depends on what he wants. I've been telling him to sign for Chelsea… In the end, everything depends on him. He is very young, with a lot of experience. I think he will be a great player."

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Spain have been one of the standout teams at Euro 2024, showcasing their prowess under the management of Luis de la Fuente. Their journey has been marked by impressive victories over strong opponents like Croatia and Italy and now they are preparing to face hosts Germany in a highly anticipated quarter-final on Friday evening where both Cucurella and Williams will be in action.

Warwickshire 488 (Sibley 215*, Hain 76) and 271 for 2 (Sibley 109, Burgess 61*) beat Nottinghamshire 498 (Mullaney 179, Clarke 125) and 260 (Clarke 112, Hannon-Dalby 4-54) by eight wickets
Dominic Sibley followed his unbeaten first-innings double century with another hundred as Warwickshire completed a successful run chase on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.Sibley, who scored an undefeated 215 in the first innings, followed up with 109 as the visitors reached their target of 271 from a minimum of 58 overs with eight wickets to spare. The 24-year old opener Sibley scored his runs from 147 balls, with 10 fours, and shared in an opening stand of 146 with Will Rhodes, who made 65.Having been on the field for virtually the entire match, Sibley was eventually bowled by Paul Coughlin, who took 2 for 85.By that stage the victory was already in sight, with Michael Burgess hitting an unbeaten 61 after coming in at No. 3.Earlier, the day had looked as if it might belong to Joe Clarke, who registered his second hundred of the match.Clarke followed up his first innings score of 125 with 112 as Notts made 260 in their second innings. He was last out, bowled by Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who took 4 for 54, with Jeetan Patel picking up 3 for 52.Clarke’s championship season had begun with scores of 112 and 97 not out against Yorkshire in early April but off-field issues disrupted his campaign and he had failed to reach 50 in any of his 17 Division One innings since then.Dropped for the previous match, he returned to the starting XI as Notts rested players ahead of this weekend’s Vitality Blast Finals Day. His return to form now puts him in contention to figure on Saturday as well.The former Worcestershire batsman reached his sixteenth first-class century from 130 deliveries, having hit 15 fours.”Firstly, Dom Sibley is a man in form and has played unbelievably well,” Clarke said. “As a close mate of mine, hopefully I can see him in England colours this winter.”It was nice for me after missing out last week. I was gutted, so coming back in I worked really hard to show people I don’t want to be left out again.”On the prospect of playing at Finals Day on Saturday, he added: “I felt like I went ok in the T20s and feel confident but the decision is in other people’s hands, not mine. I’ll have a swing and be prepped to go if I get the nod.”Resuming from their overnight score of 105 for 5, a lead of 115, the home side had an early set-back when Coughlin was given out caught behind off Henry Brookes for 16.Ravi Ashwin joined Clarke and kept the scoreboard moving in a partnership of 73, made in only 13 overs.George Garrett broke the stand, gaining a positive lbw verdict against Ashwin, who made 42. The same bowler wasn’t able to build on his success, clutching his thigh as he limped out of the action during his next over.Clarke was on 89 when he lost his next partner, Luke Fletcher, popping Patel into the hands of Sam Hain at short leg.Patel dismissed Zak Chappell for a promising 29 soon after lunch and the innings was completed when Clarke was bowled trying to farm the strike. In his disappointment he knocked out a stump with his bat – apologising immediately to the umpires.Brendan Taylor, who made 114 and 105 not out against Durham in 2016 was the last Nottinghamshire batsman to record two hundreds in the same match.The visitors began well, reaching tea on 82 without loss, with Sibley unbeaten on 48 and Rhodes on 34.Gradual accumulation saw the openers advance the score to 146 before they were separated. Rhodes, who had hit Ashwin for two leg-side sixes in his 80-ball half-century, picked out Chappell in the deep, upper-cutting Coughlin.A tired-looking Sibley then wandered across his stumps but Burgess reached his 50 from 51 balls, leaving Matt Lamb to hit the winning run.The match aggregate of 1,517 runs is the largest in the competition this summer but leaves Notts still without a victory at the foot of the table. They now turn their attention to Finals Day on Saturday, before completing their red-ball season against Surrey at The Kia Oval next week.Warwickshire move up to sixth in the table with their victory and host Yorkshire in their final encounter.

Visitors have the better of the exchanges on the final day of their only tour game in the lead up to the Test series

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-20191:12

Bavuma a massive Test batsman for us – Markram

Stumps Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander provided early warning signs for the Indian Test batsmen after Temba Bavuma and Philander added good runs on the third and final morning of the South Africans’ tour game against an Indian Board President’s XI in Vizianagaram, which petered out into a draw on Saturday.A major point of interest from the Indian perspective was to see how Rohit Sharma fared as an opening batsman. Unfortunately for Rohit, his stay in the middle lasted just two balls as Philander had him out caught for a duck.ALSO READ: Brickhill – Meet South Africa’s next gen Test cricketersIt was 23 for 2 rather quickly as Kagiso Rabada sent back Abhimanyu Easwaran, the No. 3 batsman, for 13, But Mayank Agarwal and Priyank Panchal steadied the ship with a 62-run stand for the third wicket. Agarwal, expected to open in the Tests, scored 39 before becoming Maharaj’s first victim, and after Panchal had fallen to Philander for 60, Maharaj got his second, the in-form Karun Nair gone for 19.At that stage, with the scoreboard reading 136 for 5, the Indians looked in danger of folding for a below-par total, but Siddhesh Lad and KS Bharat repaired the damage with a 100-run stand in just 20 overs.Even as Lad bedded in, though not while missing out on scoring opportunities, Bharat took the aggressive route to hit seven fours and five sixes in a 57-ball 71 before Maharaj sent him back.Jalaj Saxena and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja were also dismissed towards the fag end of the day, falling to the spin of Senuran Muthusamy and Dane Piedt respectively. The Indians were still 14 runs behind with two wickets left – Lad was still there on 52 not out – when the two teams decided to call off the contest.The third day began with the visitors on 199 for 5 in their first innings – the first day was entirely lost to the weather and only 50 overs of play was possible on the second, within which Aiden Markram scored a century – with Bavuma on 55.Bavuma, expected to be the pivot around which the South African stroke-players revolve in the Tests, picked up his scoring rate somewhat, getting to 87 in 127 balls as he and Philander added 80 runs in 14 overs. Philander was even more enterprising, hitting six fours and a six in his 49-ball 48 before becoming left-arm spinner Jadeja’s third scalp.The first Test begins in Visakhapatnam on October 2.

There is plenty to be excited about at Tottenham Hotspur right now but there's no denying the 2023/24 campaign has been something of a mixed bag so far, albeit with an emphatic Premier League finish very much attainable.

Of course, there are two sides to that coin, and if fifth-placed Spurs don't find a vein of consistency soon then Aston Villa may pull away in fourth – with resurgent Manchester United starting to build steam too.

Tottenham have recruited shrewdly since Ange Postecoglou was anointed last summer, but the new additions have been made with the Champions League in mind.

One acquisition who no doubt expects to be competing in football's pre-eminent club competition is Lucas Bergvall, who opted for north London in January despite a vested interest from Barcelona.

Lucas Bergvall is a "generational talent"

Praised for his "generational" qualities in central midfield by one analyst and drawing comparisons to Jude Bellingham for his prodigious multi-functionality, Bergvall is quite the signing for Postecoglou's side.

Wrapped up for €10m (£8m) plus add-ons, the 18-year-old is still in his Swedish homeland at present, officially moving to London from Djurgårdens IF in the summer.

An elite distributor and frightening presence with the ball at his feet, Bergvall has completed 88% of his passes in the Allsvenskan this term while also succeeding with 68% of his passes, as per Sofascore.

Bergvall's energy and enthusiasm on the ball underline his potential as a high-class midfielder, with a rangy, tough-sinewed frame bespeaking his elite athleticism.

What he will need, down the line, is a reliable defensive midfield partner, and where better to look than Tottenham's own academy ranks?

George Abbott could be Spurs' own Declan Rice

George Abbott: the man of the hour. 18 years old and already considered one of Tottenham's most promising academy members, having actually made his Premier League debut during the 5-1 victory over Leeds United last May.

This season, the teenager has earned seven appearances for Wayne Burnett's development squad, posting two goals and one assist, principally fielded as the anchorman but also doing a job in central defence.

Part of an academy “revolution” at Tottenham – as has been noted by football.london's Alasdair Gold – Abbott is a reliable defensive midfielder, endowed with a complete midfield skill set.

Across two matches in the EFL Trophy this term, against senior opposition, Abbott completed 93% of his passes and averaged two tackles per game, highlighting the promising core attributes.

Given his positional fluidity and captaincy at U21 level, Abbott could prove to be Tottenham's very own version of Declan Rice, who completed a £105m transfer to Arsenal in the summer after rising from the West Ham United academy to spearhead David Moyes' side to triumph in the Europa Conference League.

Rice is a world-class central midfielder but spent the fledgling phase of his career in defence; now considered a "Rolls Royce" player by journalist Joshua Mbu, his incredible grasp of the game has fashioned him into the player he is today.

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Abbott, too, has the trappings of a high-class midfield machine in the future, and must now be handed an opportunity to impress under Postecoglou's wing.

The Three Lions have been a tough watch in Germany, but they might just end up as European champions

"Your professional capability is questioned beyond belief, and I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you either," Gareth Southgate pointed out after leading England to their third major tournament semi-final since he took over in 2017.

Southgate is right, of course. It isn't normal to have beer thrown at you, something that the giddy masses packed in front of the nation's various big screens on Saturday would have done well to remember when Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped home the winning penalty against Switzerland.

And yet, in the aftermath of that shootout triumph, Southgate's need to defend his record to those who "ridicule" him was telling of the feeling that has clouded England's whole Euro 2024 campaign.

We shouldn't sugar coat it. Considering the talent at his disposal, even the most fervent Southgate defenders would struggle to argue that the Three Lions have performed anywhere close to their potential over the past three weeks. The lack of chance creation has been genuinely staggering, players all over the field are massively underperforming and the tactics are about as enthralling as a Harry Kane post-match interview.

Despite this, England are now just two victories away from securing their first men's major tournament triumph in nearly 60 years. And, as difficult as it might be for those who like their football slightly less miserable, it's surely time for a nation that lives to moan to fully get behind their slightly dull national team.

If that concept seems difficult to accept, you are likely not alone. Fortunately, GOAL has put together a guide to stomaching what are likely to be the final throes of Southgate-ball – starting with the semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

GettyIt could be worse…

Hammering home your opponents' shortcomings can be an effective way of making yourself seem more appealing, as Labour's recent General Election victory showed. With that in mind, it's worth remembering that England could be a hell of a lot worse off.

Neighbours Scotland, for example, treated their fans to just 17 shots all tournament long, the fewest ever in modern Euros group-stage history. Italy, the team who broke their hearts in the final at Wembley three years ago, meanwhile, limped through the groups before crashing out in the last 16. Germany, for all of their scintillating football, are also gone, while Portugal's feverish Cristiano Ronaldo obsession proved to be their undoing against France.

If we cast our gaze across the Atlantic, England's boring football looks even less concerning. After years of hype and pre-tournament promises of kickstarting an American football revolution, the United States men's national team couldn't even get through a Copa America group containing relative minnows Panama and Bolivia. Brazil endured a miserable summer too, exiting at the quarter-final stage to Uruguay.

So, when you feel yourself getting worked up over another spell of sterile, mind-numbing possession on Wednesday evening, take some solace in the fact that you're still able to watch your national team play this deep into July. A lot of supporters of well-fancied teams heading into the summer are not as lucky.

AdvertisementGettyJust get really into defending

For all of England's issues, Euro 2024 has provided a few reasons to be cheerful. Heading into the tournament, Harry Maguire's injury and John Stones' lack of fitness led to defensive concerns. The man slated to replace Maguire, Marc Guehi, also missed a huge chunk of the season with a knock of his own. However, these worries soon took a back seat during the group stages.

In possession, England may have been a stodgy mess, but they rarely looked like conceding. Indeed, Morten Hjulmand's long-range rasper for Denmark was the only time Jordan Pickford would be beaten through their first three games, with the Three Lions giving up the fewest xG during the groups.

Things haven't been quite as solid in the knockouts, with Slovakia and Switzerland causing England problems. Pickford rose to the occasion in both of those games, though, making a string of good saves before again playing the hero in the quarter-final shootout. Ezri Konsa's solid display in the absence of the suspended Guehi was another positive to come out of the Switzerland victory, too.

Obviously, it's harder to passionately get behind a team whose best quality is defending. But if you want to make the semi-final an easier watch, you should consider embracing your inner Roy Hodgson. Celebrate every block. Weep with joy at the sight of every Declan Rice tackle. Politely applaud when England recover their shape after a turnover. It's not quite 'joga bonito', but it just might make the offensive shortcomings a bit easier to stomach.

GettyA sideways pass is still a completed pass

Speaking of that lack of attacking spark, perhaps the issue is how we are all measuring success with the ball. Yes, England may be accumulating less than 1.0 xG per 90 minutes in Germany, but we all know there's only one stat that really matters: completed short passes.

We've been conditioned to think watching the Three Lions endlessly knock it sideways between each other is tiresome. But what if we collectively rewired our brains to appreciate pointless possession? If we manage that, there's a lot to like about this England team.

No side left in the competition are averaging more short passes per 90 minutes than the Three Lions, and their overall pass competition rate is the fifth-best at Euro 2024.

To surmise, us England fans must learn to embrace the ponderousness of it all. A sideways pass is still a completed pass after all, and if our opponents don't have possession, they cannot score.

Okay, let's move on. It's beginning to sound a bit cult-y…

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Getty ImagesBlindly hope a half-fit Shaw will solve everything

In a crowded field of issues, England's dysfunctioning left-hand side has garnered most attention over the course of the tournament. Kieran Trippier is Public Enemy No.1 in this regard, with the Newcastle man being accused of slowing his side down in possession and failing to provide any width.

In Southgate's defence, it's pretty clear that playing Trippier out of position was only ever supposed to be a short-term solution. If all had gone to plan, Luke Shaw – taken to the tournament despite not being fully fit – should have been starting by now. But due to a few setbacks in his recovery, he was only ready enough for 12 minutes plus extra-time against Switzerland. Still, that cameo was more than enough to offer some hope that he might be the messiah his country needs.

There were one or two signs of ring rust, but for the most part he performed well at left wing-back, likely doing enough to earn a significant role in the semi-finals. Shaw himself has admitted he "owes [Southgate] a lot" for riskily including him in the 26. Now it's time for him to repay that backing, as his nation blindly hopes that he is the missing piece to finally kickstart the England machine into life.

Liverpool failed to regain the top spot in the Premier League as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds failed to make the most of their many opportunities to take the lead during the second half after a penalty from Alexis Mac Allister ruled out John Stones' opener during the first half.

Jurgen Klopp's side were dominant and aggressive in the press throughout the game, and racked up 2.46 xG – to City's 1.61 – but ultimately had to settle for a point.

Mac Allister, who scored the equaliser from the spot, put in a superb performance in the middle of the park, but the real star of the match for the German boss was his captain – Virgil van Dijk.

Alexis Mac Allister's stats vs Man City

The Argentina international remained composed as he stuck his penalty to Ederson's right and beyond the despairing dive of the Brazilian, who had given the spot-kick away with a rash challenge on Darwin Nunez.

He was also combative out of possession with his constant pressing and harrying of the City midfielders to make sure that they did not have any time on the ball.

Minutes played

90

Duels contested

14

Duels won

8

Pass accuracy

82%

Chances created

0

As you can see in the table above, Mac Allister was dominant in his physical battles, by winning eight of his 14 duels, but his work in possession could have been better.

To only complete 82% of his attempted passes without creating a single chance for his teammates suggests that the midfielder was wasteful at times without being progressive, which he may look back on as an area to improve on next time out.

Virgil van Dijk's stats against Man City

Meanwhile, van Dijk was the real star of the show at the heart of Liverpool's defence as he was almost faultless throughout the match for the Reds.

Barring one moment when Erling Haaland robbed him of possession during the first half, the Netherlands international typified the team's aggressive and dominant performance.

The former Southampton colossus, who had 93 touches of the ball in total, was super reliable with his use of the ball as he completed 97% (77/79) of his attempted passes, which included six of his seven long pass attempts.

Defensively, van Dijk won five of his eight duels and made a number of key defensive contributions to cut out City attacks, with four tackles and four interceptions.

He made two last-man tackles to bail the rest of his defence out after they had been bypassed, and brilliantly marshalled Haaland – as the last man – into a weak effort on goal after the Norway international looked like he had a free run on goal.

These statistics show that van Dijk was outstanding in and out of possession throughout the match, with his calmness on the ball and dominance defensively, which is why he was the real star of the show over Mac Allister, who was sloppy at times.

As Chelsea face the increasingly real prospect of missing out on European football for a second consecutive season in the Premier League, Todd Boehly looks set to stick to his transfer plan focused on the future.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues splashed the cash last summer to no avail, with Mauricio Pochettino's side rooted to mid-table and a world away from Champions League football. Their Carabao Cup final loss against a young Liverpool side was their latest moment to forget, as the Reds' academy products proved that money doesn't always come out on top at Wembley.

Yet, as the summer approaches, Boehly's tactic looks set to remain unchanged, as he sets his sights on the future once more. The American has already spent money to welcome the likes of Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel from Santos in Brazil, and now reports suggest that Chelsea have turned towards the South American market once again in an attempt to land a defensive gem.

The west London giants, of course, attempted to boost their backline last summer with the additions of Axel Disasi and Malo Gusto, but have since faced struggles to the ones they faced without the arrival of the duo to highlight the need for further additions. And that's where Rafael Venancio could step in for years to come.

According to Globo Esporte, Chelsea are keen on signing Rafael Venancio from Corinthians alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United. The 17-year-old central defender reportedly has a release clause as low as €30m (£26m), handing the Blues a boost in their pursuit of his signature.

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As Thiago Silva approaches the end of his current Chelsea contract this summer, it would feel fitting to see another Brazilian defender arrive at Stamford Bridge, especially if it is a young player in the form of Venancio. What's more, those at Stamford Bridge would no doubt like to get one over on Manchester United off the pitch in the process.

Venancio could become long-term Silva replacement

Replacing a player of Silva's calibre will be no easy task, particularly amid Chelsea's defensive struggles, but swapping the old for the new could be the best way forward this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino will certainly hope to see Venancio reach the level that Silva has if Chelsea are to secure his signature, having handed the veteran plenty of praise earlier this season. The manager said via Metro: "I think always we talk about the present. It’s important for him to keep fit. With his age, he’s doing fantastic. We are so happy with him. What is going to happen in the future, that’s for him."

As Boehly continues his transfer tactic by potentially welcoming another young Brazilian prospect, he will hope to finally reap the rewards for splashing the cash after watching another season to forget at Stamford Bridge.

Left-arm quick will head to New Zealand soon to have surgery to fix ongoing back issues and will miss the whole season

Alex Malcolm08-Oct-2019Australia fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has confirmed he will undergo the same lower spine surgery as James Pattinson in order to solve his ongoing back issues and help prolong his career.Behrendorff, 29, met with New Zealand-based surgeon Rowan Schouten in Sydney last week for an initial consultation and has been given the green light to undergo the procedure.He will head to New Zealand with his family to have the surgery in the coming weeks. He will now miss the entire domestic summer and is also in severe doubt to be ready for next year’s T20 World Cup in October, but the timing of the surgery has been designed to give him every chance to be fit.”Unfortunately, I’ve had the same injury over the last few years and we’ve tried a number of things and the injury continues to return,” Behrendorff said. “After a lot of thought and discussion we’ve decided that surgery is the best opportunity to find a more permanent fix.”I’m feeling good about the surgery, I’ve spoken to a number of Aussie and Kiwi bowlers who’ve had a similar surgery and they were all very positive about the results.”This particular procedure has had good success rates in other professional pace bowlers with similar reoccurring issues.”ESPNcricinfo revealed recently that Behrendorff, in conjunction with the Western Australia and Cricket Australia medical staff, was exploring the option of back surgery after scans recently uncovered a return of the stress fractures that have plagued him in the past.Behrendorff had conversations with Pattinson and Shane Bond about the surgery and their experiences recovering from it. He also spoke with Sydney Sixers fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis who underwent the procedure earlier this year and is already back bowling.The surgery involves fusing screws and a titanium cable into the lower spine to stabilise the stress fracture which is not healing conventionally. Christchurch-based surgeon Grahame Inglis has been the leader in the field and performed the surgery on both Bond and Pattinson. Schouten has worked with Inglis and performed Dwarshuis’ surgery this year. The WACA’s long-time head physio Nick Jones also did extensive research on the surgery and the recovery process and will be a key figure during Behrendorff’s rehab.The procedure was a huge success for both Pattinson and Bond and has also helped Matt Henry and Corey Anderson. Pattinson returned to Test cricket this year after going under the knife in late 2017, while Bond, who had the surgery when he was 30 years old, played six more years of top-level cricket.The rough estimated recovery time is between nine and 12 months but it is far from exact. Pattinson took 12 months to return to first-class cricket and it was another 22 months before he played Test cricket, although he had been out of the Australian set-up for 18 months prior to the surgery due to his injury issues.Dwarshuis played in the BBL semi-final on February 15 earlier this year before having the surgery. He bowled four overs for the first time in a match in Sydney grade cricket on October 5.ESPNcricinfo understands that this specific type of surgery has been performed on 18 patients over the course of nearly two decades by Inglis and Schouten and has a 100% success rate in terms of returning to full fitness.The surgery could pave the way for Behrendorff to return to all three forms of the game. He has been a white-ball bowler only in the last two years due to his ongoing issues. He has not played a first-class game since November 2017 but has an excellent first-class record.