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There’s a general decorum around pre-season games, regarding the type of challenges that are put in, and the overall desire to avoid injury all around. Occasionally, some players don’t quite get the memo, however, leaving opposition managers rightly fuming.This was the case in Wrexham’s recent friendly against Manchester United, as young goalkeeper Nathan Bishop left Paul Mullin with a punctured lung.With an injury of that extent – you can see the concerning scenes below – the star striker will likely miss the first stages of Wrexham’s League Two season.

In a classy gesture from Ryan Reynolds, however, the club’s Hollywood co-owner has personally messaged Bishop to wish him well despite the incident, as per The Atheltic’s Laurie Whitwell.

As they seek back-to-back promotions, too, the last thing Phil Parkinson’s side needed was an injury to their best goalscorer.

The Welsh club officially get their season underway on Saturday, August 5 against MK Dons, giving Parkinson some time to find a solution to Mullin’s absence.

The Wrexham manager was not left best pleased with Bishop, though, and let his feelings known.

What did Phil Parkinson say?

Frustrated by the injury, Parkinson said after the game, via SportBible: “I mean, listen, Mulls has got a small puncture in his lung, he’s in hospital at the moment. But it’s a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper and, for me, there’s no need to make it.

“It’s a straight red. The reason it’s a straight red, and even if the ref said to me that maybe there’s a covering defender, it’s a dangerous challenge.

“If you add those two situations up, he should’ve been off the pitch. Listen, it’s a massive blow for us to lose Paul. He’s an outstanding player.”

The referee wasn’t shy when it came to showing red cards, either, sending off United’s Daniel Gore for his reckless challenge.

The challenges set the tempo for a feisty affair, in what was supposed to be nothing more than a friendly between the two sides.

Mullin’s injury stole the headlines from an otherwise impressive performance by Wrexham, which saw the League Two club defeat a youthful Manchester United side 3-1, courtesy of goals from Elliot Lee, Aaron Hayden, and Sam Dalby.

How have Wrexham performed in pre-season?

Touring America, Wrexham have enjoyed an exciting pre-season so far, with the highlight being the victory over Manchester United, albeit coming in a game which saw Mullin injured.

As for the rest of their results, the Welsh club have done fairly well, losing just once in three games.

They began their USA tour with an impressive 4-0 victory over MLS side LA Galaxy, before suffering their one defeat so far against Chelsea, losing 5-0 against the Premier League giants.

Their time in America peaked when they defeated Man United 3-1, and with Philadelphia Union up next, they will hope to end pre-season in style.

Parkinson will be hoping that the preparation has been enough in the last month, as an important campaign in League Two beckons for his side.

Likely forced to start their season without Mullin, though, it may be a case of avoiding disaster in their opening games, rather than going all out for victory.

The last thing that Wrexham will want is a damaging start to their season to make promotion an uphill climb.

Fulham have made an opening bid for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, however it has been knocked back by the Blues, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham are looking at strengthening their attacking options this summer, however they have already missed out on a couple of their targets, with former Coventry City striker Victor Gyokeres recently agreeing a deal with Portuguese side Sporting CP.

The Cottagers have also rejected the chance to hand a Premier League return to attacking midfielder Brendan Aaronson, with the USMNT star recently joining Union Berlin on loan from Leeds United.

Marco Silva may need to start thinking about bringing in a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Football Insider recently reporting that Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal are confident of completing a deal to sign the Serbian striker this summer.

Not only that, Manor Solomon's departure means that new wide options may also be required at Craven Cottage, and Fulham have recently made their interest in signing Hudson-Odoi very clear.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the Cottagers have now submitted their opening offer for the 22-year-old, who is set on leaving his boyhood club, as he approaches the final year of his £120k-per-week contract at Stamford Bridge.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino is unable to guarantee the Englishman consistent game time following the arrival of Noni Madueke, as well as several other stars in January and last summer.

However, the bid has been rejected by Chelsea, with the Blues unhappy with the offer they received, and it remains to be seen whether Fulham come back to the negotiating table with a new proposal.

Is Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

It is no wonder the 22-year-old has his heart set on leaving this summer, as he was sent out on loan during the 2022-23 campaign, making a total of 14 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, however he did not manage to impress.

During his time with the German club, the Cobham academy graduate failed to score a single league goal, weighing in with just one assist, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good signing for Fulham this summer.

Hailed as "amazingly talented" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the winger is a very confident dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 87th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

A move to a club where he receives consistent game time could be exactly what the three-time England international needs at this stage of his career, having only been used sporadically for Chelsea over the past few years.

When he has received consistent game time, Hudson-Odoi has often impressed, recording one goal and five assists for Chelsea in the 2019-20 campaign, while he also has a total of four Champions League goals to his name.

Fulham should test the waters with another offer for the Chelsea ace in the coming days, as he could be a fantastic addition to Silva's squad.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the trail of Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson this summer and he would be a 'big asset' at Molineux if he joined, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Victor Nelsson?

Wolves may need to enter the market this window for a central defender following the news that Nathan Collins is now a Brentford player, swapping Molineux for the Gtech Community Stadium for a fee in the region of £23 million, as per Sky Sports.

According to Ekstra Bladet, Galatasaray defender Nelsson has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Collins and Tottenham Hotspur could be set to rival Wolves for his signature.

The report states that Nelsson has a release clause of around £21.4 million, which will have to be paid in full to land the Denmark international. Spurs are said to be Nelsson's favoured destination; however, they are yet to fulfil the task of paying his exit clause, leaving the race open for the 24-year-old's services.

Last term, Nelsson was a mainstay for Galatasaray in their backline, making 35 appearances across all competitions and registering one goal and a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Fanatik via The Mirror claim that Arsenal and Sevilla are also keen to sign the Danish defender this summer and could look to trigger his release clause.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones thinks that although Wolves will find it difficult to land Nelsson, there is no doubt that he would be a 'big asset' at Molineux.

Jones stated: "He is definitely a player that can bring real possibilities to Wolves. In terms of their style of play, I think he could be a big asset.

"A couple of sources I've spoken to have played this one down, not necessarily in terms of the interest, but in terms of the progress being made.

"It'll be interesting to see what the contacts are in the next few days because I think that will probably determine whether it can happen."

Who else could Wolverhampton Wanderers add this summer?

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui will be keen to land several bodies to freshen up his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign getting underway from a competitive standpoint.

Matheus Cunha and Boubacar Traore joined the Old Gold on permanent deals following loan stints last season. At the same time, experienced goalkeeper Tom King has come in on a free transfer to bolster options between the sticks, as per Transfermarkt.

Former Wolves defender Matt Doherty could be next in line to join his old club and is reportedly closing in on a dramatic return to Molineux following his release from Atletico Madrid, according to TEAMtalk.

Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek is 'exploring' his options this summer and Wolves have been named as a potential destination for him to revive his career, as per 90min.

Steve Madeley of The Athletic has revealed that coveted Bristol City playmaker Alex Scott is also a target for Wolves, stating: “Bristol City’s Alex Scott, who can play as a No. 8 or a No.10, remains on Wolves’ shopping list but, with the Guernsey-born playmaker valued at around £25m, it remains to be seen whether they can find enough flexibility in the budget to pursue a deal.”

In the next few weeks, we will likely see Wolves firm up their interest in targets as Lopetegui endeavours to add some depth to his thin squad before the Premier League kicks off.

People around Hotspur Way have been impressed with new manager Ange Postecoglou's coaching staff, referring to them as "brilliant", according to Alasdair Gold.

Who is on Ange Postecoglou's coaching team?

The Australian joined Tottenham Hotspur this summer from Celtic on a four-year deal after spending the previous two campaigns with the Scottish side, winning back-to-back league titles.

Postecoglou did not bring across any of his coaching staff from Scotland, with coaches such as Harry Kewell, John Kennedy, Stephen McManus, Gordon Strachan and Stevie Woods not following the 57-year-old over to north London.

This was a choice made by the coach, as he said when asked about the subject: "I’m really pleased with the group I’ve got together, it's well chronicled that I don’t have a travelling band (of coaches), I like to work with new people, that excites me and challenges me as a person. I’ve a really good mix, bright, young guys… it’s been mentioned to me that, apparently, I’m getting a bit old, so I’m surrounding myself with younger guys! But, more importantly, really bright, talented and ambitious guys."

Instead, the former Australian national team manager has rebuilt the senior coaching setup at the club, bringing in five new coaches.

Former Swansea City, Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester assistant manager Chris Davies will join the setup as the senior assistant manager after deciding not to follow long-time work partner Brendan Rodgers back to Scotland.

Matt Wells will also step up into an assistant manager role on a permanent basis after taking up the role under interim manager Ryan Mason.

Speaking of Mason, the former Spurs midfielder will also take up a position on Postecoglou's coaching staff. He is a highly respected figure within the club and is ready to work under his fourth different manager in his coaching career.

Rob Burch is making a return to the north London side as the new manager's goalkeeping coach after having spells with Fulham, Bournemouth and the FA.

The most surprising appointment is undoubtedly former Crystal Palace and Aston Villa midfielder Mile Jedinak. Jedinak previously worked with Postecoglou with the Australian national team, where the midfielder was the captain. Jedinak has limited coaching experience, having only worked at Villa as a Youth Development coach.

Despite some inexperience and having never worked together as a unit before, the coaching staff have made a very positive impression on players and staff around Hotspur Way according to journalist Gold, who stated on his YouTube channel that the team of coaches had been described as "brilliant".

"Postecoglou's coaching staff have been very impressive so far as well. People have spoken about them… "Brilliant" – a few people have used that word about how good this coaching staff is that he's put together.

"From what I understand, all the coaches are loving what they're doing with Postecoglou so far."

What is so impressive about the coaching under Ange Postecoglou?

According to football.london, Postecoglou and his staff have already made a positive impression on the Spurs squad with their first few sessions, with drills being described as "upbeat" and "bright".

The Australian has not taken a very hands-on approach to the training, instead opting to let his coaching staff run the sessions after he briefs them on what he wants to achieve.

That's not to say he doesn't have input, as he will speak to the players as a group and occasionally interject during a drill. However, he more often than not tends to stick to the side, noting down things he's observed with his trusty notepad to change and adjust for the next session.

This news is undoubtedly positive news for Spurs fans, who should be excited at the positivity and togetherness Postecoglou is already producing at the club.

Newcastle United are pursuing a move for Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes this summer, but there are a number of Premier League clubs doing battle for his signature, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Is Harvey Barnes leaving Leicester this summer?

Following Leicester's relegation from the Championship, they have been forced to part ways with James Maddison, who has put agreed a five-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur, after the two clubs agreed a £40m transfer fee.

The Foxes are said to expect Barnes to leave for the same amount, amid interest in his services from West Ham United, who were apparently at the front of the queue for his signature back in June, as they plot another European campaign next season.

In the same report, it is detailed the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle are also interested in signing the Englishman, however a new update suggests he is edging closer towards a move to the London Stadium.

Reports from Italy suggest West Ham have fought off the interest from elsewhere to win the race for the Leicester winger, however it is not yet a done deal, and there are indications could come back into the frame.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the Magpies are back on the trail of the 25-year-old, as they want to bring in a new forward who is capable of cutting in from the wing.

The likes of Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams and Barcelona's Ferran Torres have also been considered, however the Leicester star already has Premier League experience, which means he remains in their thinking.

West Ham, Villa and Spurs have already made enquiries, however the price tag has been an issue, with cash-conscious Newcastle in the same boat.

As well as a forward, Eddie Howe is also keen to bring in a new full-back and centre-back this summer.

Would Barnes be a good signing for Newcastle?

Newcastle are yet to make any formal approach to sign the 5 foot 9 winger, and the race for his signature appears to be very open, however he could be an excellent signing if they do decide to make him a key target.

Lauded as "incredible" by Micah Richards, the former West Bromwich Albion loanee enjoyed his most prolific Premier League season to date last term, scoring 13 goals in 34 appearances, the most of any Leicester player.

With ten assists to his name in the 2021-22 campaign, the one-cap England international is also clearly very capable of being a creative force, and he is strong in the air, ranking in the 85th percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, compared to others in his position.

At 25-years-old, the Burnley-born winger is likely to just be entering his prime, and he is at a good age to be a long-term success at St. James' Park.

Not only that, Barnes has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years now, which could give him the edge over Federico Chiesa, who has also recently been linked.

Liverpool and Chelsea are now in pole position to sign Southampton midfielder and Arsenal target Romeo Lavia this summer, according to reports.

Is Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton?

The Belgium international only arrived at St. Mary’s from Premier League rivals Manchester City last summer, but during the 34 appearances he made during his debut season, he was one of the standout stars in a struggling side that eventually suffered relegation to the Championship.

The Saints’ 19-year-old established himself as Ruben Selles’ former side’s second top-performing defensive player which is impressive considering he’s still a teenager, so despite the fact that his contract doesn’t expire for another four years, he’s caught the eye of several managers in the top-flight, including Jurgen Klopp.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Reds and Arsenal have both “asked [for] conditions” of a potential deal for the south coast outfit’s talented prospect, whilst Manchester United and Chelsea are only “monitoring” him and have held no "active talks” at this stage.

Are Liverpool signing Lavia?

According to Football Transfers, Liverpool and Chelsea have “overtaken” Arsenal in the hot pursuit of Lavia ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Gunners are claimed to have been favourites due to Mikel Arteta’s personal admiration for the player, but he could now “risk losing out” due to focusing all of his attention on the deal for West Ham’s Declan Rice. Lavia had been picked out as a replacment for Thomas Partey.

Southampton have placed a £40m price tag on their prized asset’s head, and with one of the initial frontrunners having put a swoop on the backburner, the Reds are in a “better” position to secure his services.

FSG will likely believe that Southampton demanding £40m for Lavia is extortionate considering that they were able to secure Alexis Mac Allister for £35m, but the defensive midfielder has got the potential to be a fantastic long-term signing so an opening offer should definitely be considered to test the waters.

The Elite Project Group client, who’s sponsored by Adidas, last season ranked in the 96th percentile for blocks by midfielders and won 35 out of his 60 tackles, which was the second-highest success rate throughout his squad, as per FBRef, so he’s not afraid to get stuck in when it comes to challenges.

Southampton’s “monster”, as dubbed by journalist Benjy Nurick, also has the ability to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role sitting just in front of the backline, so he would provide the boss with a little bit of extra versatility, making him an option to seriously think about should the opportunity to strike a deal present itself.

Tottenham Hotspur believe they’ve signed an “absolute gem” in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, according to journalist Rahman Osman.

Who have Spurs signed this summer?

After weeks of chasing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with Spurs eventually priced out of a move, the north Londoners instead opted to bid for Vicario as a far cheaper and capable alternative.

Raya was said to be commanding a £40 million price tag, which is arguably hefty given he has just 12 months remaining on his Bees deal, and Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy was always unlikely to reach that figure.

As a result, Tottenham instead turned to Vicario, with a deal coming to fruition quickly and reliable transfer journalists Fabrizio Romano soon after giving his famous “here we go” to the move.

The Italy international apparently completed his medical yesterday, and commenting on that development, reporter Osman shared an interesting bit of background.

Those close to Vicario see the shot-stopper as a potential “superstar” in the making, while Tottenham themselves believe they’ve signed an “absolute gem” in the 26-year-old.

After Vicario, it is believed Spurs are seriously chasing a deal for Leicester City star James Maddison, with Ange Postecoglou also in the hunt to sign a new centre-back and further forward options.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer and Man United’s out-of-favour centre-back Harry Maguire are all being considered (The Telegraph).

What’s been said about Vicario?

Italian footballing legend Gianluigi Buffon, speaking on DAZN (via The Athletic), has seriously endorsed Vicario as a keeper.

“Vicario is the goalkeeper who, on the whole, is doing the best,” Buffon said.

“In the future, he could be part of the national team setup for a long time either as first or second choice.”

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst Matt Pyzdrowski, a coach and former goalkeeper who played in the United States and Sweden, also holds Vicario in high esteem but also issues a note of caution.

“One thing to keep an eye on with Vicario is, yes, he makes a lot of saves, but he gives up a lot of rebounds, often into dangerous areas,” Pyzdrowski said.

“Credit to him, he’s so athletic he can make up for it, but that’s something to keep an eye on.”

Arsenal are edging closer to signing a Premier League ace, as the Gunners aim to make a dominant start to the transfer window.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping to build upon his title-challenging season in north London by making strong reinforcements this summer.

The latest talent speculated to be Emirates-bound poses as a significant figure to bolster the squad.

What’s the latest on Kai Havertz to Arsenal?

As initially reported by journalist Alex Goldberg via AFCStuff last week, Arsenal are interested in Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.

The speculation has gathered significant pace since the official opening of the transfer window.

Journalist Angelo Mangiante stated yesterday that the Gunners are “very close” to signing the German star, naming him a player with “great class”.

Valued around £60m by FootballTransfers, it’s believed that Chelsea are wanting a fee in the region of £75m for the 24-year-old, who has two years remaining on his current contract.

What could Kai Havertz offer to Arsenal?

Lauded as a “generational talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Germany international could be a revelation in north London.

While this season was damningly underwhelming in the west of the capital, Havertz has unquestionable talent outside of his form and contribution to Chelsea’s 12th-place finish.

Deployed primarily as a forward at Stamford Bridge, the former Bayer Leverkusen star is versatile in his positioning in attack, having innate playmaking skills which make him a strong asset in central midfield.

During his rise to senior football in the Bundesliga, the Aachen-born gem contributed to 61 goals in 118 league appearances, including a glamorous individual campaign in which he was voted Transfermarkt Player of the Season for 2018/19.

That year, the then-20-year-old scored 17 goals and added four assists in 34 appearances, showing the threat the talent can provide if stationed in a fluid attack.

Arsenal ended the season as the Premier League’s second-highest scorers in a delightful term for the Gunners, with Arteta creating a flourishing young attack Havertz could undoubtedly thrive within.

Due to his creative ability, the Champions League winner could add a playmaking spark if deployed to lead Arsenal’s line, which could significantly benefit Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian scored 11 goals in his first term at the Emirates, as well as registering six assists, showcasing his own creative ability aside from putting the ball in the net.

This campaign, the German averaged 3.12 progressive passes per 90 via FBref, highlighting his ball-playing competency and multi-dimensional approach to leading the line in a style that could reach new heights in Arteta’s system.

Jesus followed closely behind Havertz in terms of progressive passes, averaging 2.76 per 90 – suggesting that he could be complemented by the German in the similarities to their games.

The duo could form a balanced partnership with their goal-scoring and creative ability, supplying the squad with unlimited chance creation in attack.

If Arteta is capable of unlocking the past form of Havertz in a positive environment in north London, having two creative forwards could be the key to unlocking another title charge at the Emirates.

Chelsea should not be too concerned after missing out on midfield transfer target Manuel Ugarte and will have already moved on to other targets, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Who did Ugarte sign for?

Chelsea pulled out of the race to sign Ugarte this week despite submitting an offer to Sporting CP for the Uruguayan midfielder.

The Blues fought against French champions Paris Saint Germain for the player’s signature, but Ugarte is expected to make the switch to Ligue 1 despite strong interest from new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

PSG pushed hard to sign the 22-year-old and refused to be beaten on wages, per Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian. The club are now expected to chase other midfield targets, including Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

Jones believes it will not come as a shock to Chelsea that they have missed out on securing Ugarte’s services and expects the club’s summer business to continue as usual.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones stated: “I think it's important that we remember clubs don't just go after one player at one time. And that wasn't the case here, either. So Chelsea were just going about their business in a normal way.

“It’s just so widely reported now from every angle that it just seems to have gone further than people expected.

“PSG were always in that conversation; it looks like they are going to win that particular battle. Chelsea will move on and they won't be too concerned.”

Would Ugarte have been a good signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea will be disappointed that Ugarte has chosen to move to PSG given the size of the rebuild needed in the Blue’s midfield.

N'Golo Kante looks set to leave the club to join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, while Mason Mount and Reuben Loftus-Cheek have been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge.

Ugarte was an important player for Sporting last season in a season in which they reached the Europa League quarter-finals.

The defensive midfielder played a total of 47 games for Sporting in the 22/23 season, picking up an eye-watering 16 yellow cards in that time per Transfermarkt.

The 22-year-old is, without doubt, a talented player, but his wages would have been significant in a Chelsea team that have an eye on Financial Fair Play regulations.

PSG reportedly offered £2.6 million more in base salary than Chelsea, and although Pochettino will be disappointed on missing out on the talent of Ugarte it could be a blessing in disguise due to the cost of the young star’s wages.

Sunderland have been quick off the mark with their transfer business this summer, already bringing in centre-back Nectarios Triantis and young midfielder Jobe Bellingham, the brother of now-Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.

But that excitement may well be offset by possible departures, with Jack Clarke a target for a number of Premier League sides, while Amad Diallo has also returned to parent club Manchester United.

Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray has admitted it is "very unlikely" Diallo will return to the Stadium of Light next season – a loan switch to a Premier League club seems the most likely option – but that is not to say there are not adequate replacements out there.

Replacing the 14 goals and three assists Diallo provided in 39 Championship matches last season will be no easy feat, but Sunderland have shown with their impressive transfer business in recent windows that anything is possible.

According to a recent report by Sunderland Nation, Swansea City's young attacking midfielder Morgan Whittaker is one of those being eyed up to fill the void left by Diallo.

Who is Swansea City attacker Morgan Whittaker?

Whittaker impressed on loan with Plymouth Argyle in the first half of last season in League One, scoring nine goals and assisting another seven in 25 appearances for the Pilgrims.

That type of form was never going to go unnoticed, and so it proved in January when Swansea recalled the 22-year-old with the aim of bolstering their own attack.

However, Whittaker took to social media at the time to say he was "devastated" his time at Plymouth was cut short. The England U20 international clearly knew what awaited him, as he started just twice for Swansea in the Championship in the second half of last season.

Whittaker's future in South Wales now appears uncertain, with Sunderland perhaps looking to take advantage by tabling a bid for a player on wages of around £5k-a-week, according to Capology.

While Whittaker has not truly had a chance to showcase his talents in three seasons with Swansea, he caught the eye at Derby County when breaking into the first team in the 2019-20 season.

As pointed out by football talent scout Jacek Kulig at the time, the Englishman possessed good pace, dribbling skills and ball control, earning him the tag "flamboyant winger".

Whittaker did play out wide a couple of times last season, but his favoured position was playing through the middle of attacking midfield, featuring there 19 times from the start of games, as per WhoScored.

Comparing Diallo and Whittaker last season is made a little tougher by the fact the latter played across two divisions, including a league below. However, the pair were similar in terms of goals scored per 90 minutes (0.45 and 0.41 respectively), while Whittaker edged things in terms of assists – 0.29 v 0.10.

Both players were also very similar in terms of their shooting, with Whittaker finding the target from 39.3% of his efforts, compared to 39.1% for Diallo. Whittaker found the net from 0.11 of those shots; not too dissimilar to Diallo's 0.16.

They also each showed an equal willingness to win the ball back high up the pitch, with Diallo averaging 0.17 tackles per 90 minutes in the attacking third, while Whittaker averaged 0.21.

The truth is that Sunderland fans would easily take Diallo over Whittaker if they had the choice of signing both men this summer. But with the United man surely out of their reach, Whittaker seems as good a choice as any to land on the cheap.

After all, Sunderland have shown with the likes of Clarke, Ross Stewart and others that there are plenty of unpolished gems out there waiting to step up.