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Raheem Sterling has been a Premier League feature for over a decade now – doesn't time fly? The Chelsea star has delivered for three top clubs in that time, too, earning himself a reputation as one of the country's very best.

The Blues kicked off their Premier League season with a draw at home to one of Sterling's old sides, Liverpool – and now approach their first London derby of the new campaign as they travel to face West Ham United.

While the Liverpool game was a massive one from the outset, the clash against West Ham may be the biggest test of this new-look side. It's a game they're fully expected to win, after all.

Sterling will be one of the main players Chelsea turn to as they hunt for that win, so Football FanCast has taken a look at just how good his record looks against the Hammers.

What is Raheem Sterling's goal record against West Ham?

Raheem Sterling first played against West Ham all the way back in 2012. He's faced them a lot since, as you'd expect – 19 meetings in all, across three different competitions.

The vast majority of those have come in the Premier League – 17 in total – with one each in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Sterling's goal record is very good in the fixture, too. He's scored eight times in those 19 games, with all of them coming in the Premier League. Though, it's worth mentioning that he hasn't actually scored against West Ham since 2019 – which was a hat-trick in the season opener for Manchester City.

What is Raheem Sterling's assist record against West Ham?

Sterling's assist record is also fantastic against West Ham. He's picked up eight in 19 appearances, with seven of them coming in the Premier League.

That's actually the most assists that Sterling has against any other opponent in his career. There are four clubs with five against them, but the England star seems particularly likely to supply a teammate against the Hammers.

In fact, he managed one in his very first game against the east Londoners back in 2012.

How many goal contributions does Sterling have against West Ham?

Combining goals and assists, Sterling has contributed to 16 goals in 19 appearances against West Ham. It's a phenomenal number, really, and stands out as the best record he has against anyone.

Next would be Bournemouth, against whom he's managed 15 contributions. It's notable that most of those came through goals – 11 to 4 assists.

The fact that Sterling has evenly split his 16 goals and assists against West Ham is a sign that he's been particularly lethal against them in his time.

What is Raheem Sterling's head-to-head record against West Ham?

Given the three clubs Sterling has played for in his career – Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – his head-to-head record against West Ham is a positive one.

14 of his 19 appearances have ended in wins, with only two draws and three defeats. It's the joint-most wins Sterling has managed against any opponent, joining Bournemouth and Everton.

Though, it's worth mentioning that those 14 wins against the Cherries came in 14 games against them. You can't really do better than that.

In the Premier League, Sterling's record against West Ham stands at 13 wins in 17 games, with two draws and two defeats.

What is Raheem Sterling's goal record away at West Ham?

This upcoming fixture will be at West Ham, of course, so it's worth having a detailed look at Sterling in this away fixture.

11 of his 19 games have been away from home, with nine in the Premier League. Interestingly, this is where you find most of his goals – five of the eight have been at West Ham, all in the league.

And it gets stranger! Sterling's eight assists have all been in east London, meaning his record at West Ham reads 11 games, five goals, eight assists. Few players can boast a better away record than that against anyone.

Who has Raheem Sterling scored against the most?

Sterling's best goal records come against two clubs – Bournemouth and Watford. He's managed to bag 11 against each of them, with his Bournemouth goals coming in 14 appearances when facing the Cherries.

But his Watford goal record is particularly notable. Sterling scored those 11 (with two assists) in just 10 appearances, making them the team he thrives against the most.

Southampton and Newcastle United both come next, having each conceded nine times to Sterling. Norwich City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur join West Ham in having conceded eight times.

How many goals does Raheem Sterling have in August?

Sterling is particularly lethal in August and tends to start the season very well. In total, he's scored 19 times in his career across the opening month. It's worth remembering that the Premier League didn't even play games in August 2020.

So Sterling is a major threat to kick-off campaigns. Notably, he previously bagged a hat-trick away at West Ham in the month of August, while he also managed to score three times for Chelsea in August 2022.

West Ham certainly can't afford to take him lightly.

What is Raheem Sterling's overall Chelsea goal record?

Sterling joined Chelsea last summer as their star signing, but things didn't really go to plan. He played 38 times, scoring nine goals and assisting another four. It's a decent record, but looks worse in detail.

28 of those appearances came in the Premier League, as did six of the goals. However, the goals weren't too impressive in hindsight.

The first three all came in August, with two against relegated Leicester City and another against bottom club Southampton. Those would be Sterling's only goals before the new year.

The other three league goals were all against Nottingham Forest, across two games. The six were only against three clubs, then, all of whom battled relegation all season long.

What is Raheem Sterling's Premier League goal record?

Playing so many seasons in the top flight leads to a lot of goals, and Sterling has managed a whopping 115 in his time – two more than Ian Wright and 22nd in the all-time list.

In fact, the forward will move into the all-time top 20 this season if he matches even his meagre haul of the last campaign.

It would push him above his former captain, Steven Gerrard and level with Romelu Lukaku on 121. He's still only 28, though – Sterling will hope to push on for many more and really solidify his place in even the top 15.

What is Raheem Sterling's Premier League assist record?

Weirdly, Sterling is also 22nd on the all-time Premier League assists list. He has 59, one behind Mohamed Salah and three clear of Eric Cantona.

And much like with his goal record, Sterling would move into the top 20 if he matched his tally from last season. Nolberto Solano currently occupies that particular slot, but the Chelsea star will move level with just three assists.

Once again, Sterling will hope to cement himself in that top 20 before he's done in the Premier League.

What is Chelsea's record against West Ham?

Chelsea and West Ham have met a lot in their history, dating all the way back to 1923 in competitive matches. There have been 120 fixtures in total, where there is a relatively shared split of the results.

The Blues have won more – 54 in total – mostly thanks to a dominant stretch from 2004 to 2011 where they never lost to West Ham and only drew twice. To the Hammers' credit, they've still come away with the win on 43 occasions.

But what about the Premier League era? As you'd expect, things swing dramatically in Chelsea's favour there.

They've met 54 times since the rebrand and the Blues came away with the points on 29 occasions. West Ham managed to take them 15 times, with 10 draws between the pair.

Read more on West Ham v Chelsea HERE…

What are Chelsea's recent results against West Ham?

It has been a bit of a mixed bag over recent seasons, this one. Chelsea did manage a positive record last time, though, beating West Ham at home and then drawing away.

The season before that saw the two clubs split the points. Both teams won at home, West Ham prevailing 3-2 and Chelsea doing so in a late 1-0 victory. That came after the Blues had won both ties in 2020/21 without conceding a goal.

However, West Ham stole the show the year before that, winning both games in the 2019/20 season. It all goes to show that this isn't a particularly predictable fixture in recent years.

When is West Ham vs Chelsea?

West Ham will host Chelsea on Sunday 20th August at 4.30pm UK time. It'll be each side's second game of the Premier League season as they look to claim their first wins of the campaign after draws last weekend.

They will also seek to bounce back after disappointing domestic terms last year. West Ham will use two things to do that. First, they have the success of a Europa Conference League win to play off of.

Things are buzzing around the club after that, providing a real boost to their confidence. Then there's the Declan Rice money, of course, that should see David Moyes putting out a deeper squad this time out.

Chelsea will hope that a little summer remodelling finally gives their squad the cohesion it lacked last time. Some have come in, some have gone out, and there's a new manager to boot. They'll want to put last season behind them as quickly as possible if they're to get back to where they hope to be.

A big update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to bolster Daniel Farke's playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, the Whites have submitted an official offer to sign KRC Genk forward Joseph Paintsil before the deadline passes next Friday.

The reporter has claimed that the club have made a bid of €10m (£8.5m) to land the Ghana international, who was also being eyed up by Championship rivals Southampton before a move to St. Mary's fell through.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

This comes after the Yorkshire-based side confirmed the signing of Joel Piroe from Swansea on a permanent deal on Thursday night, which was the fifth arrival of the summer after Karl Darlow, Sam Byram, Joe Rodon, and Ethan Ampadu.

"Leeds United have tabled an offer for Genk forward Joseph Paintsil. Bid worth 10m Euros. Southampton were keen but that move has fallen through," the ever-reliable reporter tweeted.

How good is Joseph Paintsil?

The 25-year-old wizard's sensational form throughout the 2022/23 campaign suggests that he has the potential to be Farke's next version of Emiliano Buendia, who fired his Norwich side to promotion in 2021 with his exceptional displays on the right flank.

Paintsil racked up an outstanding 17 goals and 11 assists across 34 Pro League starts for Genk last season as the exciting forward showcased his ability to provide a huge threat at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis.

The right-footed whiz created 12 'big chances' for his teammates and only missed six 'big chances' of his own, which shows that he was able to produce high-quality opportunities for his fellow attackers and rarely spurned the ones that came his way.

Hitting double figures for goals and assists is no easy feat, particularly when you consider that no Leeds midfielder or winger managed more than seven Premier League goals or assists respectively during the 2022/23 campaign.

This suggests that Paintsil, who was hailed as "phenomenal" by AllLeedsTV presenter Oscar Marrio, has the potential to be a sublime option for the German head coach as a player who can offer the duel threat of being a scorer and creator of goals from out wide, which is exactly what Buendia was for Farke.

The Argentina international won the Championship Player of the Year award for his performances throughout the 2020/21 season as he amassed 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 starts for the Canaries on their way to the title.

Buendia, who created 18 'big chances' and missed ten, was the star man of Norwich's promotion to the Premier League that year with his ability to score and assist goals week-in-week-out to win vital points for his side.

Paintsil's form for Genk last term suggests that he could be a similarly pivotal figure within Farke's attacking set-up this season if he is able to carry his form over to England.

The £8.5m gem has proven himself to be capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis whilst also being able to pick out a killer pass when required to set up a teammate from a wide position, which could make him a special player for the Whites if they are able to snap him up.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been dealt a significant setback to the depth of his squad ahead of the visit to Burnley.

What's the Aston Villa team news?

Villa could be without number one goalkeeper Emi Martinez on Sunday against the Clarets, as per an update from Emery's press conference

"Today (Friday) he didn’t train, and we’re going to wait for tomorrow. He has a small pain in his calf, it’s not big, but we have to take our time. Tomorrow is our last training for Sunday’s match, and it is the day to take a decision if he is going to be ready or not."

The manager will also be without Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings, who are long-term absentees, while Jacob Ramsey is thought to be a few weeks away from full fitness.

According to Football Insider, Philippe Coutinho is also now expected to out of action for a number of weeks, having picked up a hamstring injury in the 4-0 win at home to Everton last weekend, but it may not affect a potential move away this summer:

"Aston Villa star Philippe Coutinho is facing three to four weeks out with the hamstring injury he sustained in Sunday’s win over Everton, sources have told Football Insider. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old could complete a move away from Villa Park before the window shuts – with the Midlands giants giving him the green light to do so.

"It is believed a Qatari club is currently leading the race to seal his signature – ahead of competition from sides in the Saudi Pro League. The injury should not prevent Coutinho from completing a medical at a potential new club – and the transfer windows in the Middle East are open for longer than in England."

This is another setback for Coutinho is a career that has nosedived so much since he departed Liverpool for Barcelona in a big-money move in 2018, at which point he was arguably one of the most sought-after players in world football. He flopped badly at the Camp Nou, subsequently being sent out on loan to Bayern Munich, and he has simply been a shadow of his former self for years now, including at Villa.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

That being said, this injury blow still has to be considered a negative for Emery, considering he is match-winner on his day who has been hailed as "world-class" by Steven Gerrard during his time as manager. Having him as an option off the substitutes' bench can always be a handy weapon, so not having him at Turf Moor and beyond is a shame.

How much does Philippe Coutinho earn?

The 31-year-old, who earns £125,000 a week at Villa Park, arrived from Barcelona in January 2022, being seen as an exciting signing who once excelled in the Premier League for Liverpool.

In truth, Coutinho has underwhelmed hugely in a Villa shirt overall, despite a promising start in which he scored against Manchester United on his debut, netting only six times and registering three assists in 43 appearances. More has been required from such a talented player, and his future at the club is up in the air ahead of next week's transfer cutoff.

A move to Saudi Arabia in the summer transfer has been mooted for the 68-time capped Brazil international, but it remains to be seen where he will be plying his trade for the rest of the 2023/24 campaign.

Whether a move away from Villa comes to fruition in the next week or so remains to be seen, but if he does stay put, much more will be required from him upon his return from injury.

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate missed his side's 3-0 victory at home to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, but a key update has now emerged regarding his fitness.

Is Ibrahima Konate playing for France this week?

The Reds cruised to a win against Unai Emery's side in the Premier League, meaning they have picked up ten points from a possible 12 so far this season. That represents a great start to the campaign, considering they have already made trips to Chelsea and Newcastle United, as well as hosting a highly-rated Villa team.

Liverpool had to beat the Villans without Konate and Virgil van Djik available on Sunday, with the former still injured and the latter suspended after his red card at St James' Park. In fairness, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez did admirably filling in, though, despite worries about them after poor seasons last time around.

Konate has become a hugely important player for the Reds, turning into Van Dijk's undisputed first-choice centre-back partner, but injuries are slightly problematic for him, with a number of issues picked up in recent years. The hope is that his current problem is only a minor one, however, and that he will be back in the fold after the international break.

He was then called up for France's squad for their September matches, arguably in surprise fashion, but a new update has revealed a twist in the situation.

What's the latest on Ibrahima Konate's fitness?

According to The Liverpool Echo, Konate has now been withdrawn from international duty with Les Bleus:

"The French Football Federation have announced their decision to replace Ibrahima Konate in the nation's squad for the upcoming international break. The 24-year-old was first mentioned as a doubt for Liverpool's away trip to Newcastle a week ago today, and was eventually not included in Jurgen Klopp's squad for the match."

This could actually be good news from a Liverpool perspective, in terms of France not taking any risks with Konate, aassuming it doesn't mean the injury is worse than first thought.

The fact that the Frenchman hasn't been deemed fit enough to play for his country does suggest that a return to the Reds' starting lineup could still be a little while away, but there is nearly two weeks for him to fully recover before the trip to Wolves on September 16th.

While Matip and Gomez deserve huge praise for the manner in which they stepped up to the plate against Villa on Sunday, Konate and Van Dijk are still massive upgrades on the pair, and if they can both come back in for the foreseeable future, Jurgen Klopp's men could become a real force.

Liverpool looked fantastic in their weekend victory, possessing so much more energy in midfield and pressing relentlessly in attack, and having the pace and power of Konate back in that right-sided centre-back area can only help the Reds moving forward.

The injuries are a concern, and he needs to stop having so many spells on the sidelines, but he can be the leader of the back-line after Van Dijk, having been hailed as "wonderful" by Phil Thompson.

Glasgow Rangers could be in the market to appoint a new first-team head coach as the pressure is mounting on Michael Beale at Ibrox.

What's the latest Rangers manager news?

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Light Blues are eyeing up Birmingham City manager John Eustace as a possible successor in the dugout.

It was claimed that he is a fan favourite at St. Andrews and that fellow Championship side Swansea City were also interested in his services previously.

Football Transfers have also reported that Beale is on the 'brink' in Glasgow and that the clash with St. Johnstone after the international break is a must-win match for the English boss, whose time with the Scottish giants could be coming to an end.

This comes off the back of two defeats in the last two matches to PSV and Celtic, with the former resulting in a failure to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

What is John Eustace's managerial style?

Gers chairman John Bennett should avoid a swoop for the 43-year-old as it could be a repeat of the blunder that ex-Light Blues sporting director Ross Wilson made when he appointed Beale last year.

The former Rangers chief dismissed Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who had won the Scottish Cup at the end of the 2021/22 campaign and opted to go for the Queens Park Rangers boss in spite of his lack of experience.

Beale had worked as Steven Gerrard's assistant at Ibrox and, therefore, knew the club and some of the players, but he had only managed 21 league matches at first-team level at the time of his appointment in 2022.

The former Liverpool youth coach led QPR to seventh in the Championship and that limited experience was enough to convince Wilson that he was the man to disrupt Celtic's dominance of Scottish football.

However, Beale failed to win a single trophy in his first campaign in charge of the Gers as their arch-rivals completed the domestic treble over them.

Rangers brought in a manager who did not have a history of being able to win trophies or titles and it has told so far as they currently appear far away from being able to compete for silverware under the current head coach.

Bennett could now repeat Wilson's mistake if he makes a move for Eustace as the Birmingham boss would come in at a similar point in his career to where Beale was at the time of his move.

The 43-year-old, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is "overachieving" with the English side, has only managed 58 league matches in his career, seven of which came with QPR during the 2018/19 campaign.

He led the club to a 17th-placed finish in the Championship last season and currently has his team sitting fourth with three wins out of five this term.

The 3-5-2 tactician is yet to win a trophy in his senior managerial career and has also yet to finish in the top half of a league over the course of an entire campaign, due to his lack of experience within the dugout.

Therefore, Rangers should avoid another gamble from the English second tier as they could end up with another Beale.

Aston Villa have now finalised contract talks with one of their key players, who has signed a new deal with a big pay increase, a report has revealed.

Which Aston Villa players are signing new contracts?

Back in the summer, it was reported that Ollie Watkins was set to be offered fresh terms at Villa Park, having impressed manager Unai Emery, however the striker is yet to commit to a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested Watkins could emerge as an option for Chelsea in the January transfer window, should Villa fail to tie him down to a new deal, and he is not the only player linked with a move to another Premier League club.

Arsenal have long been interested in a move for Douglas Luiz, having failed to sign him in the past, but the Villans are in a strong negotiating position, as the Brazilian is currently contracted until the summer of 2026, meaning they can hold out for a huge offer.

Luiz signed a new long-term deal last October, and Aston Villa have now moved onto Ezri Konsa, with The Daily Mail reporting this week they had entered contract talks with the defender.

As a reward for his fine form since Emery took over as manager, the centre-back is apparently getting a big pay increase, with the new terms moving him closer to Villa's top pay bracket, and it seems the deal has now been completed.

The club announced the breakthrough in talks on Wednesday evening – not long after the initial report – as they have already completed the deal with the promising defender, locking him up to a "long term" new deal.

Reporter Tom Collomosse, who also asked the question of an England call-up for Konsa, shared further details on the deal on X, confirming the previous reports of a big pay hike: "Konsa signs new Villa deal. Five years, significant pay rise."

Will Ezri Konsa be called up by England?

England manager Gareth Southgate has received criticism from the media for a perceived "big club bias", having stuck by Harry Maguire during the most recent international break, despite the 30-year-old making just one appearance so far this season.

Fikayo Tomori has also found it difficult to get a look in with England, having made just three appearances for the Three Lions, even though he has been a regular in the Milan starting XI, recently playing the entire 90 minutes against Newcastle United in the Champions League.

As such, it is no real surprise than Konsa has been overlooked by Southgate, but he has proven he is worthy of a call-up, featuring in every Premier League game en-route to Villa qualifying for the Europa Conference League last season.

Having been lauded as "amazing" by members of the media, it is fantastic news that the defender has now signed a new contract, regardless of whether he comes into Southgate's thinking any time soon.

Newcastle United are keeping close tabs on an exciting young player from Spain, but a fresh report has revealed that it won't be cheap to bring him to the Premier League.

Who has just signed for Newcastle United?

Over the summer, the northeast outfit, owned by PIF, recruited five fresh faces in the form of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Yankuba Minteh on a permanent basis, alongside Lewis Hall who joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

The Magpies may have completed all the business they can when it comes to the previous window, but Eddie Howe and the rest of the hierarchy are already looking ahead to the next one opening in the new year having been linked with Juventus central midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie.

Beside those, Valencia’s Javi Guerra is a new name to have entered the fold because despite having another four years remaining on his contract, his performances have caught the eye of chiefs having established himself as Ruben Baraja’s overall second-best-performing player so far this season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.14.

Are Newcastle signing Javi Guerra?

According to Spanish outlet Marca (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are "one of the clubs" that have been monitoring the progress of Guerra.

The St. James' Park side have been watching the central midfielder "very close", and PIF are believed to view him as a "top player" which is why they have been keeping tabs on him during "every game" this season.

Valencia's 20-year-old does have a €100m (£87m) release clause included in his deal so it may not come cheap to prise him away from his homeland, and it's because of this high price tag that his club feel completely relaxed about his situation at the Mestalla Stadium.

How good is Javi Guerra?

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Guerra is an “orchestrator” in the middle of the park and there’s no doubt that he’s much stronger in the offensive aspect of his game when you look at the excellent start he’s made to the current campaign in La Liga.

Spain’s youth international, who is sponsored by Adidas, has clocked up four involvements (three goals and one assist) in the opening six games of the term, but even if the ball doesn’t always hit the back of the net, he poses a constant threat to an opposition’s defence.

The Gilet native ranks in the 97th percentile for successful take-ons so loves to use his athletic pace to dribble past his marker and take aim where he’s also recorded seven shots so far, which is the third-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef.

Whilst Guerra is naturally a central player, he even has the ability to operate slightly deeper in defensive midfield, so for an individual who has the versatility to protect the backline alongside having a positive impact in the final third, he could be a wonderful signing for Howe and more importantly the long-term future of Newcastle should he put pen to paper, making this one to watch ahead of 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is personally "ready" to strengthen as Spurs chiefs reportedly consider a "premium" 6 foot 4 defender.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

After sealing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, assured defender Micky van de Ven, England midfield star James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon, exciting striker Alejo Veliz and Wales forward Brennan Johnson over the 2023 summer transfer window, reports suggest Spurs could make more moves in January.

While chairman Daniel Levy's summer business has proved fruitful thus far, with Maddison in particular often standing out as a shining light in the Tottenham midfield, there are certain positions which the club ultimately didn't address. One of them was failing to sign an out-and-out replacement for star striker Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in a deal which could reportedly be worth up to £103 million.

The Lilywhites had been linked with a move for Gent striker Gift Orban, who is currently garnering quite the reputation as one of Nigeria's hottest young talents on the continent. While there are little in the way of fresh rumours regarding a move for the African striker, it is believed that Spurs could move to sign a back up for van de Ven this winter.

Indeed, both Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Juventus star Gleison Bremer have been mentioned as targets in the past month, while Spurs also held a keen interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba over the summer.

Now, according to a report by Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, it is believed that Spurs chiefs are still eyeing the Burkina Faso international as a "premium" option to strengthen their central defence. This comes as Postecoglou is "ready" to reinforce his backline in January, and a potential January exit for out-of-favour defender Eric Dier could free up space for an arrival.

The England international doesn't feature in Postecoglou's plans going forward and is set to leave as a free agent in 2024, if Spurs can't find a buyer before then.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Tapsoba has been likened to former Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng: "The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions. Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

The 24-year-old played more Bundesliga minutes than any other Leverkusen outfielder last campaign, highlighting just how important he is for head coach Xabi Alonso. In that time, only fellow centre-back Jonathan Tah managed more clearances made per 90, making him an enticing option for Spurs and Postecoglou (WhoScored). It will be interesting to see how much Tapsoba could cost as a "premium" option.

Tottenham Hotspur will be delighted with their rapid progress under Ange Postecoglou, who has transformed them from a side seemingly frightened to play football and labouring to poor results under turgid management, into an outfit oozing positivity, seemingly capable of challenging the very best.

Liverpool and Manchester United both fell victim to their never-say-die attitude, with Arsenal twice being pegged back at the Emirates to earn a vital point. As such, they are the only side in the Premier League who remain unbeaten, aside from their north London rivals.

The football is electric, and the fans are already appreciating the revolution being ushered in after years of disappointment.

TalkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara would echo such a sentiment, noting: "Oh Gabby I'm loving big Ange.

"Big Ange has come in and he's just been a breath of fresh air. I love the way he talks, I love the way he sets the team up, I just love the way that we're playing now as a football club."

And whilst fans will be cautiously optimistic of their blistering start, the former Celtic boss insists they are not here to make up the numbers: "We’re top of the table because we’ve played some good football, been consistent and overcome some big challenges. That’s where we are at the moment but we’re still building. We’re still trying to build a team and a way of playing and our target is to improve. If we can improve on what we’ve done so far then we’ll see where that takes us."

Although the bulk of the squad has been near-faultless, there is still a slight issue with the left wing spot, as Richarlison continues to falter as Heung-min Son seeks to step up into the striker role.

Were they to have someone like Jack Grealish for example, who knows how far this team could go.

Did Spurs nearly sign Jack Grealish?

Whilst the former Aston Villa man might seem like a random name to throw in as a star who might ease their outstanding issue, there is reason behind his inclusion.

After all, the 28-year-old was once a pretty serious target of Spurs', and years before his eventual move to Manchester City, it could have been north London that he made his home had they pushed a little harder under Mauricio Pochettino.

As the Villans languished in the Championship back in 2018, Daniel Levy hatched an unsurprisingly shrewd plan to snag the maverick from his boyhood club for as little as £15m, despite his £40m asking price being well-documented. Whilst they upped their eventual bid to £25m, it was once again rejected, causing reported frustration from the trickster as he pushed for an exit that would never come.

The Villa manager at the time, Steve Bruce, would praise his star man for his reaction to such a blow: "We understand the human side. He will want to play in the Premier League, Europe, Champions League. The owner has made it clear that he wants him to stay. To be fair to Jack, he has got on with it."

However, it is fair to say that holding on for a little bit longer paid dividends, with Pep Guardiola eventually coming along to pry him once and for all, with a fee few clubs could ever say no to.

The Citizens would pay a mouth-watering £100m, breaking the British transfer record and also placing a near-impossible price tag to live up to. Despite that, Grealish has impressed, fulfilling his wildest dreams last season as he was ever-present as they won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, writing history in the process.

To think that Levy, had he just forked up the £40m asking price three years earlier, could have acquired himself a £100m player, is a frustrating notion. However, it is so brilliantly typical of the frugal businessman famed for his reluctance to spend big.

Were they to swap the England international for Richarlison, who last season would score just one league goal all year, and instantly Postecoglou would receive an even greater boost set to elevate his already impressive side to new heights.

How good is Jack Grealish?

"The best game he has played since he has been with us, by far," Guardiola purred back in January 2022. "This was an exceptional performance. He played really, really well. I’m talking about when he has the ball, what he has to do. In a team that is so tight, they defend so narrow, it is not easy. He played exceptionally.

Assists

0.29

85th

Pass Completion

84.3%

95th

Progressive Carries

5.97

97th

Progressive Passes Received

12.97

96th

All stats via FBref

“In Aston Villa he played wide and after he moved wherever he wants and came inside. I think he’s the perfect player to play between the lines. He’s so aggressive, he makes incredible runs, he dropped the Southampton team to the byline, his decision-making is excellent. He had two almost clear chances to dribble and shoot that was blocked.

“He played really well. I’m so satisfied for the performance Jack has done."

To receive such lofty praise from a legendary manager such as him should speak volumes, with talkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders adding him to the list of England's "world class" talent pool in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup.

However, it was not an easy start to life at the Etihad for the £300k-per-week maestro, who scored just three and assisted three more in his debut Premier League term. These are figures he would take to another level the season following, scoring five and assisting seven in the league, and making an impressive 50 appearances across all competitions.

Given the Spanish tactician rotates so often, Grealish's reliable presence speaks volumes for his talent.

The scout who actually picked the winger up for Villa, Jim Thomas, spoke in 2019 about the undecided future of the crowning jewel of his career. He would wax lyrical about his emergence, but crucially ended his interview by noting: "I wouldn't have wanted him to go like but I think if he played for [Spurs] I think they'd be the perfect team."

Whilst he would argue otherwise given the success he has since earned, Postecoglou would surely love to have him as the perfect man to complete his side for now and help them mount a truly serious challenge to build off their outstanding start.

Aston Villa are relishing life under Unai Emery, as the Midlands side continue to climb the table and enjoy the new peaks to their success.

The Spaniard arrived when the Villans were sat in 16th place under Steven Gerrard, and inspired his inherited squad to finish in a European spot and claim 7th place after a heroic run of form in 2023.

Back in August, only Pep Guardiola had won more Premier League points than Emery in 2023, highlighting just how much of an influence his guidance has had on the same team that were struggling for points not even a year ago.

The four-time Europa League winner installed a new breath of fresh air to Villa Park, with times being tough in spells prior to his landing in Birmingham.

One area that the former Arsenal and PSG boss has bolstered is the pull that Villa have in the transfer window, highlighted as they welcomed five new faces of high calibre to the squad this summer.

The Villans haven’t always found such ease in landing their targets, with plenty of talent linked over the years going on the find sanctuary elsewhere and show those in the Midlands what they’re missing.

Rewind back to 2018, and Steve Bruce had taken charge of Villa’s push for promotion in the 2017/18 Championship season, missing out in the play off final to Fulham to see them remain in the second-tier for a third consecutive campaign.

The club’s transfer prospects were integral to them fighting for promotion once more after the summer of 2018, with one name listed as a potential capture that is currently outperforming Emery’s heroes today.

Did Aston Villa nearly sign Niclas Fullkrug?

In May 2018, news in Germany reported Villa’s interest in Hannover striker Niclas Fullkrug, who was in demand in England following his impressive performances in the Bundesliga.

In the 2017/18 campaign prior to the transfer window, Fullkrug netted 14 league goals in a tough term for Die Roten who finished 13th while their striker ranked at 3rd in the Bundesliga’s scoring charts.

That season at Villa, Albert Adomah ended the campaign as the side’s top scorer on 14 goals in the second tier, prompting a slight need for change to the front line with Bruce’s midfield men contributing more than their designated strikers.

As reported by BILD, the Villans were joined by Newcastle United, Leicester City, Watford, Cardiff City and Fulham in their admiration of Fullkrug, who could have been the man to ease the pressures on scoring.

BILD had an understanding that Hannover wouldn’t listen to offers below €10m (£8.6m) for their sharpshooter, which was evidently a price too high as he remained in his homeland by the time the transfer window had closed.

It wasn’t the last time that the now 30-year-old would be linked with a move to England, as this summer he told BILD, relayed by Fussball News, how he “could have gone to England” prior to his move to Borussia Dortmund in August.

How much is Niclas Fullkrug worth?

Dortmund paid a fee in the region of €13m (£11.2m) to capture the forward’s signature this summer, with him once again being the subject of transfer rumours due to his high-scoring tallies in the Bundesliga.

Though Fullkrug didn’t leave Hannover during the summer of Villa’s reported interest, he did depart to rejoin his former club Werder Bremen the year after in 2019, joining for a fee of €6.3m (£5m).

Now, as listed by CIES Football Observatory, the German international is valued at just €10m (£9m), telling the story of the difference in value in England and Germany, with fellow 30-year-old striker Harry Kane moving to Bayern Munich for £100m.

While Kane scored 30 Premier League goals last term to bolster his price tag, Fullkrug was just 14 league goals behind him in the 2022/23 campaign, suggesting that Villa and other clubs could have picked up a bargain by signing him when interest was swarming.

How many goals has Niclas Fullkrug scored?

Goals have been a consistent theme in Fullkrug’s career in his homeland, with his current domestic tally sitting at 146 goals in 381 games representing a host of German clubs.

His strong form over the past few years was rewarded internationally, as he was handed his national team debut by Hansi Flick in 2022, where he has since gained nine caps and scored seven goals.

After joining Bremen from Hannover in 2019, the goals kept coming for the striker, who was once dubbed “clinical” by scout Cal Murray, who also described the German as a “great finisher”.

During his four-year stay at Bremen, the 30-year-old scored 46 goals, with 19 of them coming in the decisive 2021/22 season that saw Bremen get promoted back to the top flight thanks to his contributions.

His consistent scoring streaks make it easy to see why Bruce was interested in the prospect of bringing the forward to the Midlands, with what has come since being interesting reading for those at Villa.

What is Niclas Fullkrug doing now?

Last season, the Hannover-born whiz found the net 16 times in 28 Bundesliga appearances, meaning that he outscored Villa talisman Ollie Watkins who claimed 15 goals in 37 Premier League appearances in 2022/23.

In 133 Bundesliga games in his career thus far, Fullkrug has bagged an impressive 46 goals and provided a further 11 assists, with that a remarkably similar record to what Watkins has achieved in England's top flight, having scored 44 goals and registered 17 assists in 117 games to date.

As highlighted in the table below, there are also direct similarities between the two forward’s games, with their averages per 90 last campaign suggesting just how much Fullkrug offers to his side in comparison to Watkins, who is adored in Birmingham.

Watkins vs Fullkrug 2022/23 averages per 90

Ollie Watkins

Niclas Fullkrug

Non-penalty goals

0.40

0.40

Total shots

2.42

2.69

Progressive passes

1.12

3.27

Shots on target %

53.6%

43.2%

All figures via FBref

While not many would trade the Englishman considering the form he has been hitting under Emery’s guidance, it epitomises the quality that Bruce could have captured for his Villa side for a mere price of just £8.6m.

Who did Villa sign instead of Fullkrug?

It wasn’t all doom and gloom at Villa for Bruce that summer, as they recruited Tammy Abraham on loan from Chelsea in a move that proved pivotal to the Villans’ promotion to the Premier League, as he netted 26 league goals.

The Englishman did of course return to his parent club at the end of that season, in a bittersweet goodbye from Villa Park, who were eternally grateful for his contributions to their push for the top-flight.

Looking back, the signing of Fullkrug could have been a strong move for Bruce, who would have found the missing piece to his puzzle in the German international, who continues to show his worth in the Bundesliga.

From £8.6m to outscoring Watkins, Villa could have struck gold by unearthing the status of Fullkrug in the Premier League, however, things just weren’t meant to be for both player and club.