This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Charlie Nicholas believes that the visit of Bournemouth is a game Newcastle could win quite easily, particularly given their current form.
What did he say?
Newcastle have performed well in spurts this season but one thing they lack is consistency, having failed to register back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
The Cherries have recorded two away wins so far, more than the Magpies have managed at St James’ Park, so they will be no pushovers, and should be feeling buoyant after ending a goal drought of nearly six hours against Manchester United last week.
Nicholas suggested that Bruce is an attack-minded manager who is doing the best he can with the players at his disposal, but he did point to three players who could provide the key going forward.
Writing in his Premier League predictions for Sky Sports, he said:
“I know Steve Bruce likes to play attacking football, but he cannot do so with this team. Miguel Almiron is like a little whippet who cannot slow down to finish.
“The fans love him as he is energetic, which I do like about him, but the other phases of his play need to come sharpish. Allan Saint-Maximin is skilful and unpredictable, while Jonjo Shelvey is back in the team. If Newcastle win, they are heading towards the top end of the table.”
The former striker also noted the Cherries’ prowess in attack, stating they “can cause any team problems”, which is a worry for the Magpies given Martin Dubravka has had to make 36 saves this year – the joint-third highest amount in the division.
Will counter-attack style work?
Newcastle have struggled at home in the main this term. From their five league games at St James’ Park they have scored just three goals and a lack of ambition and ideas going forward has let them down.
The front-three showed signs of potential in the win over West Ham last week, but they had space to run into and the counter-attack worked in Newcastle’s favour.
At home to Bournemouth it is likely that they won’t get such joy in behind the defence, and that could limit the influence of the wingers, particularly Almiron.
That being said, it is difficult to envisage Bruce moving away from his settled system of five-at-the-back, but with the Cherries’ front-three often prolific, scoring 35 goals between them last season, and Joshua King finding his scoring boots last week, that may be the best option to nullify the visitors’ attack.
If Newcastle manage that, they may only need one goal to win it in order to record their first back-to-back victories this term.
West Ham United’s disappointing form continued on Saturday afternoon as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Burnley in the Premier League.
The Hammers are now on a run of five matches without a league win, which is not exactly ideal form heading into their next encounter – a huge game with Tottenham Hotspur.
As expected, a number of the club’s fans were angry at head coach Manuel Pellegrini both during and after the match.
Watch West Ham United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
And some took exception to the manager’s second change of the match, which saw Manuel Lanzini enter the field in place of Felipe Anderson.
Anderson, according to WhoScored, did not have a single shot, make a single challenge or complete a successful dribble during his time on the field.
However, not too many could understand why Pellegrini decided to replace the Brazilian with Lanzini, who was then forced off the field in the latter stages with what looked to be a shoulder problem.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
When Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in a jaw-dropping deal worth £144m, there was a general air of malaise. Jurgen Klopp had fostered a delightful strikeforce and it was carving opponents open at will.
Hindsight shows us that Liverpool need not have worried, for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were signed with the Coutinho money and the Merseysiders would go on to win hordes of silverware under Klopp’s wing.
Premier League
152
41
35
Europa League
14
2
2
FA Cup
13
4
1
EFL Cup
12
2
3
Champions League
10
5
2
Coutinho missed out, but Liverpool did not. The attack not so much purred as growled throughout the years, Mohamed Salah and co obliterating all in front of them. Klopp’s system relied upon a certain machine-like industriousness in the engine room, and Coutinho was quickly forgotten as the trophy hunting began.
He was never really replaced, but there was one young star who was signed with a similar type of profile. His name’s Fabio Carvalho, and he’s still only 22, but he doesn’t play for Liverpool any more.
Fabio Carvalho's time at Liverpool
Liverpool’s youth system was reborn throughout Klopp’s tenure. In stages, bit by bit, a fusty old academy was polished and dusted and given a fresh lick of paint.
Now it’s a juggernaut. Okay, Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold are two salient members of the Kirkby youth system, but further emerging talents were somewhat few and far between before Klopp arrived and lifted Anfield back up.
The revised look on promoting up-and-coming quality stretches beyond just that of homegrown nature, with Carvalho one of the targetted teenagers to be welcomed in their early stage and nurtured toward the first team.
Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho.
Harvey Elliott is another, still plying his craft at the club today and being hailed by broadcaster Nubaid Haroon for having “changed the game so many times” last term.
For Carvalho, though, his role in Liverpool’s squad was short but sweet. The Portugal U21 international scored a dramatic late winner for the Reds at the start of the 2022/23 season but faded after the opening months, restricted to a bit-part role.
He languished with RB Leipzig throughout the first half of last term but dazzled on loan at Hull City from January 2024 to the end of the year. His feats, scoring nine goals and averaging 2.1 key passes per game (Sofascore), led Southampton to launch a £15m bid for his services in March, but it was Brentford who ultimately prevailed after presenting a proposal worth £22m – though this could rise to about £27.5m with add-ons included.
He’ll be hoping to play a standout part in Brentford’s Premier League campaign, and though Liverpool have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal, Carvalho could have been the difference maker, something different to the existing options.
Slot may rue selling Fabio Carvalho
Carvalho’s ability to operate at number ten and out on the flank, playing with a kind of breezy elegance, is something that scant few other stars can replicate.
Former Liverpool star Jason McAteer even remarked that he looked “like Coutinho” in 2022, indeed carrying the same kind of glittering energy and creative swagger as the Brazilian magician.
Now, Arne Slot has sold him to a Premier League rival, one that will probably finish lower down the league ladder but offers the perfect platform for Carvalho to showcase his quality.
Take the attacking midfielder’s recent display against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup, for example. Sure, not Premier League-level opposition, but boy did Carvalho put on a show.
He scored one goal and set up two more against Orient, creating a total of four key passes in a playmaking masterclass. Now, Liverpool might have something of a creative overload, but he would have slotted right in – last season, the Anfield side’s 102 big chances created surpassed every other outfit in the division, while 14 from four fixtures this term puts them joint-first with Aston Villa.
Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho
Given that Liverpool still haven’t really replaced Coutinho, nurturing Carvalho closer toward the fore would have been a wonderful way to fill that hole in the team. Especially when you think that the maestro, now plying his trade in his homeland for Brasileiro Série A club Vasco da Gama, signed for only £8.5m in January 2013.
Carvalho arrived on Merseyside from Fulham in May 2022, with Liverpool paying the London side a tribunal fee of just £5m. He was sold for a profit that equates to a 450% increase, so the reasoning was just, but it could have potentially been so much more, further down the line.
21/09/24
Bournemouth (H)
Premier League
25/09/24
West Ham (H)
Carabao Cup
28/09/24
Wolves (A)
Premier League
02/10/24
Bologna (H)
Champions League
05/10/24
Crystal Palace (A)
Premier League
The action is going to continue to storm forward like a freight train over the coming weeks, and Liverpool will need to muster all their forces to return to form in the Premier League, continue their good start to their campaign on the continent and indeed start their Carabao Cup defence successfully.
With Elliott ruled until likely after the October international break after fracturing his foot with England U21s, Slot will be desperate for the rest of his squad to maintain their fitness levels.
Liverpool thought they had the new Gerrard, but he left under Klopp for £0
He was once seen as a very promising talent during his time at Anfield.
ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024
Carvalho might have been sold for a pretty penny, but he’s certainly showcasing his quality with Brentford and maybe, just maybe, Liverpool will come to regret their decision to part ways…
Looking to find their next Jarrad Branthwaite, Everton reportedly believe that one young centre-back is on course to become a Goodison Park star by gaining experience out on loan this season.
Everton transfer news
If Everton are to ensure that their poor start doesn't spiral into a season-long disaster, then Branthwaite's return should prove to be the key. The England international stayed put as Amadou Onana headed for the exit door in the summer transfer window to hand Sean Dyche a major boost when he returns from injury.
Everton chiefs failed to land experienced international target for Dyche
The Toffees could have done with his expertise…
1 ByTom Cunningham Sep 4, 2024
The international break should hand the Toffees a welcome boost on that front, with their defender handed more time to recover once and for all from injury and perhaps even return to Everton's side in their first game back against Aston Villa and former star Onana at the end of September.
Even when out injured, however, the rumours regarding Branthwaite's future haven't stopped, with Liverpool – of all clubs – recently linked with a controversial move to sign the defender. As things stand though, he remains on the blue half of Merseyside and represents the importance of Everton's youth setup, which has seemingly provided another gem after his move from Carlisle as a teenager.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
According to Football Insider, Everton believe they have another defensive prodigy in Reece Welch, who is set to seal a loan move to Belgian side KMSK Deinze before their transfer window closes on Friday. The 20-year-old centre-back spent last season on loan at Forest Green and is set to head out yet again in pursuit of minutes, before playing the part many believe him to be capable of at Goodison Park.
This time next year, given that he's rated so highly at the club, Welch may even be the man to step in for Branthwaite if he does secure an eventual departure away from Everton, with this move expected to be his own version of Branthwaite's time at PSV.
"Physical" Welch can follow Branthwaite path
Whilst Everton aren't in the position to spend the money that they once were, their youth pathway should be in position to reap the rewards, as highlighted by Branthwaite's rise to stardom. The defender arrived from Carlisle and quickly emerged from loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and then PSV to become arguably the Toffees' most important player.
Now, Welch – standing at 6 foot 4 – can follow the same path by impressing on loan in Belgium. The young centre-back already impressed on loan at Forest Green last time out, and has been nurtured as the Toffees' next big thing for years, with Blues coaches believing all the way back in 2020 that they had a top teenage talent in Welch, when he had just turned 17.
Former manager David Horseman told the club's official website when he arrived at Forest Green: “This is one we’re really excited about. A big thank you to Everton for making it sure got done. Reece is a really physical centre-back with good mobility. He’s a lovely footballer. He arrives with good pedigree, and he’s highly rated at Everton. He will help us a lot this season."
It's now up to Welch to enjoy another fruitful spell for a Deinze side gunning for promotion to the Belgium Pro League from the Challenger Pro League. They've already started well on that front too, taking seven from nine points available.
Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to complete a free transfer for Unai Emery, according to reports coming out of Italy.
Aston Villa still wary of financial fair play
The Villans were forced into early transfer action over the summer thanks to the June 30th deadline for their accounts, with the club needing to balance their books for Premier League financial fair play reasons.
So tight was their deadline that they announced the departure of Douglas Luiz on June 30th, but didn't announce the confirm of Juventus duo Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior until July 1st, a new financial year.
Aston Villa sold a "beast" in 2015, now he scores more often than Watkins
He was terrific for the Villans during his time at the club.
1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2024
Of course, the two deals were separate transactions, but the pair relied upon one another to be completed. Villa's position was also boosted by the sale of Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad later in the window, with the club recouping a hefty fee for the winger.
Despite this upheaval, it was still a strong window for the Midlands outfit, with the Villans signing eight new players headlined by the arrivals of Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen from Everton and Chelsea respectively.
Aston Villa's new signings (summer 2024)
Player
Fee
Amadou Onana
£50m
Ian Maatsen
£37m
Cameron Archer
£14m
Jaden Philogene
£13.5m
Lewis Dobbin
£8m
Samuel Iling-Junior
£11.8m + add-ons
Enzo Barrenechea
£6.7m + add-ons
Ross Barkley
£5m
With a net spend of just £40m, they have managed to add seriuos quality and depth to Unai Emery's side, but the issues with financial fair play have not disappeared entirely. According to the Athletic, Villa are "still tight on PSR restrictions", which may restrict big spending in the months to come despite Emery's potential wishes.
One way to fix that is to continue their shrewd spending, and now they have been named as one of the clubs chasing a potential free transfer.
Villa eye up soon to be free agent
That comes as reports from Italy name Aston Villa as one of the sides "in the running" to sign Jonathan David next summer, after having had contact with the Lille striker this summer. He is down to the final 10 months of his £27,500 a week deal with the Ligue 1 side, and is yet to pen fresh terms, though he hinted he could be willing to do so while on international duty with Canada.
Jonathan David for Lille.
“Well, right now we’re speaking with the (Lille President Oliver Letang) about a possible extension,” David said. “We’ll see how that goes. I’m open to anything."
Should he opt not to sign a new deal, he will be a free agent next summer and have his pick of interested clubs. The report adds that Emery personally admires the striker, who was described as a “phenomenon” by old Gent manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck and has found the net 87 times in 190 outings for Lille.
Inter are also interested, but can already call upon the services of Ballon d'Or nominee Lautaro Martinez and World Cup finalist Marcus Thuram. On a free transfer, David may well be the perfect solution to Aston Villa's financial conundrum, with the Villans needing to improve their squad on a budget.
Everton are in the market to make much-needed improvements to their attacking threat this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.
What's the latest on Everton's interest in Jack Harrison?
According to one journalist, Everton are in talks with Leeds United over a potential deal to sign Jack Harrison.
As per the report, the Toffees are interested in the midfielder who has a £16m release clause and the player would be very much open to a move to Merseyside due to having family connections in the North West.
Would Jack Harrison be a good fit for Everton?
After losing both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon over the last 12 months, Everton's presence in front of goal has been significantly weakened after scoring just 34 league goals last season, having further suffered due to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's constant injury issues.
Sean Dyche will surely be making it a top priority to improve the attacking presence in the team to ensure that his team don't fall into another Premier League relegation battle next season or worse, fall into the Championship.
As a result, the signing of Harrison would be a major coup for the club as the Premier League-proven attacker could not only provide a real threat in front of goal but could even be Everton's next Steven Pienaar.
The former Toffees talisman tallied up 229 appearances, 26 goals and 48 assists in his selfless versatile role at Goodison Park; predominantly deployed in an attacking left midfield position in a time when strikers would often be deployed alone in the final third, he played 37 times in a left-winger role and was also found occasionally in right or attacking midfield positions too.
Now Harrison could emulate Pienaar's strong presence across the Everton attacking threat as, just like the retired South African, the Leeds left-winger also offers huge versatility in his positioning and has often been deployed in a left midfield role, on the right flank and in a central attacking midfield role too.
Over 206 appearances for the West Yorkshire outfit, the 26-year-old whiz – hailed "phenomenal" by YouTuber Conor McGilligan – has scored 34 goals and registered 32 assists, again similarly to Pienaar offers a great balance of both goal-scoring ability and a keen eye for providing goal-creating opportunities for his teammates.
With that being said, if the powerbrokers at Goodison Park can strike up a deal for Harrison this summer it would be a great statement of their ambitious intent to form a much stronger attacking presence against opponents next season.
Celtic did not waste much time in finding their replacement for Ange Postecoglou as they officially confirmed the appointment of Brendan Rodgers on a three-year deal earlier this week.
The Hoops had been on the lookout for a new head coach after the Australian chief opted to ditch Parkhead for a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Dermot Desmond has persuaded the ex-Leicester City boss to take the job and he is now in his second spell with the club, after winning seven domestic trophies at Paradise between 2016 and 2019,
The club are reportedly set to hand him a stunning £30m to work with in the transfer market but the Nothern Irish tactician already has a number of quality players at his disposal, chiefly Reo Hatate.
How has Reo Hatate performed at Celtic?
Rodgers worked with some terrific players during his time with the Foxes in England and could already have his next version of Youri Tielemans in Reo Hatate, who is one of the current stars of Celtic's midfield.
The Japan international is an excellent number eight who can make an impact in and out of possession and the 25-year-old could now thrive under the new boss, who was able to get the best out of Tielemans at the King Power.
Only Scott Sinclair (238) has played more matches for the manager than the now-Aston Villa ace (184) throughout his career, illustrating how much trust he placed in the 26-year-old.
The pinnacle of their time together, arguably, came when the Belgian rifled in a screamer from 25 yards to win the FA Cup against Chelsea in 2021.
Tielemans was a consistently excellent performer for Rodgers in the Premier League, as well as in cup competitions, and enjoyed a terrific campaign during their last full season together in 21/22.
Former Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans.
He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 across 32 league outings and contributed with six goals and 1.2 key passes per game. The Foxes maestro also showcased his defensive ability with three tackles and interceptions per match and a 51% duel success rate for the side.
Hatate, who has been hailed as "all action" by ex-Scotland defender Alan Hutton, is also a midfielder who puts himself about on and off the ball.
The 25-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.23 across 32 Scottish Premiership matches and chipped in with six goals and 1.3 key passes per outing, whilst the Japanese hero also won 57% of his duels and made 1.5 tackles and interceptions per clash.
These statistics suggest that the pair are similar midfielders, with both able to hold their own in physical contests and have the quality in possession to score goals and create chances.
Indeed, Rodgers may not need to use any of his £30m budget to bring his next Tielemans to Celtic as he already has one in the form of the £12k-per-week menace.
Newcastle United supporters will be eagerly anticipating the club's transfer activity this summer after ending a two-decade absence from the Champions League and years of malaise under the ownership of the despised Mike Ashley.
Now, a Saudi-backed consortium have pumped fresh, lucrative life back into St. James' Park, making impressive moves on the transfer front, impressive decisions in appointing Eddie Howe as manager and Dan Ashworth as technical director, and achieving a major confluence as the facets combine.
A fourth-placed Premier League finish illustrates the meteoric ascent, but this is the most important phase of the process thus far, as the side must now demonstrate their calibre is perpetual and they will not be knocked from their pedestal among the division's elite, instead rising closer and closer to the creme-de-la-creme of European football.
By Howe's own admission, several 'marquee' moves might be taken this summer to cement the high-fliers' new position, but one which might just go under the radar is the attention on Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha.
According to the Telegraph, the 22-year-old is attracting the Magpies' attention and could join the fold for around £15m, with Howe keen to bolster his thriving midfield with one or two astute options.
Should Newcastle sign Felix Nmecha?
Nicolo Barella and James Maddison are both making the headlines right now as the Toon look to please their fans with an established phenom, but signing Nmecha could prove to be a prudent move as Ashworth looks to craft lasting success.
The notion that Newcastle boast a bottomless pit of plunder has left Howe guffawing; the 45-year-old has always maintained that the diligence permeating through the outfit since the takeover will not crumble away, and Nmecha would be unlikely to cement a starting berth with regularity in his maiden season in England, instead absorbing the fruits of his peers' labour and creeping towards a standout role.
He has been in fine fettle in the Bundesliga this year, though, starting 19 times, scoring three goals and registering six assists after playing a peripheral role across past terms.
Niko Kovac said: "Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha
He would be the perfect partner for someone like Barella, who is reportedly closing on a £50m move to Tyneside this summer and is undoubtedly one of Europe's first-class midfielders, with the box-to-box midfielder one of the most impressive around, especially from an offensive standpoint.
The Italy international has been in scintillating form this term, registering 19 direct contributions, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, and being hailed as a "genius" by journalist Mike Piellucci.
Given that Nmecha has been dubbed "intelligent" himself by journalist Josh Bunting and already ranking among the top 22% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 4% for rate of assists, as per FBref, he might just be apt for moulding into a prolific star of Barella's ilk.
Considering the various elements, Nmecha could be a shrewd signing to make, bolstering the ranks and ensuring the ambitious squad is layered with quality as it continues its soaring ascent.
He may not be an instant hit on Tyneside but rest assured a genius duo lies in wait, ready to dominate the domestic and continental stage with swashbuckling ease.
Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim and The Nine Two Foundation may have set up a way to exit the ownership process on their own terms by submitting a new bid to try and seize control of the club, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest ownership news involving Manchester United?
According to Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and The Nine Two Foundation has submitted a fifth and final bid to take over at Manchester United and has stated that the offer must be accepted by this Friday or he will bow out of proceedings.
The report claims that Sheikh Jassim wants to acquire 100% control of the club and wants to upgrade infrastructure around Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex alongside clearing £1 billion worth of debt at Manchester United.
His rival bidder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS, are proposing taking majority control of the Red Devils in a deal that could keep Joel and Avram Glazer on as minority stakeholders.
BBC Sport claim that there has not been any indication yet from the Glazer family over who they would prefer to sell Manchester United to as of yet.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that The Nine Two Foundation may have set up a scenario to leave the bidding war on their own accord rather than by being rejected.
Jacobs told FFC: "If they're not successful, then they've put something out there that effectively says this has to resolve itself one way or the other, or quickly, which means that instead of being rejected, or instead of being made to wait, they are trying to either win or walk away on their own terms. I think that that is very typical of a bid from Qatar, whereby they don't like to lose, so they're doing everything that they think it takes to win. At the same time, they're paving the foundations to walk away if they need to, because they think that the Glazers might not want to sell as the six and do so on their own terms."
What next for Manchester United?
Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag and his recruitment team can't control the destination of where the ownership of the club may lie and will instead focus on trying to bring in quality additions ahead of next season as they aim to build on a solid showing in 2022/23.
ESPN report that the Dutch manager isn't sure where he stands with regards to his plans for the upcoming window, stating: "I think it's clear what I want, but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions. It's not up to me, so I do everything I can and I influence the processes I'm in charge of."
Mason Mount Chelsea
In terms of potential additions to his squad, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been a prominently mentioned name in the media and is said to have agreed personal terms over a transfer to Old Trafford, as per talkSPORT.
Tottenham Hotspur star man Harry Kane is also on the radar at Manchester United, as per Sky Sports, though it will remain to be seen how much financial muscle the Red Devils will be able to flex in the market while in the process of a potential transition of ownership.
Bayern Munich are thinking about reigniting their interest in Barcelona star Raphinha, per Mundo Deportivo.
The dangerous winger was one of the Premier League's best players during his two years in the division, with ex-manager Marcelo Bielsa hailing him as a 'complete player.'
However, after a summer of transfer links to some of the biggest European clubs last year, Raphinhia finally signed on the dotted line for FC Barcelona.
Despite initially struggling for form and game time, the Brazilian has quickly established himself as a firm favourite amongst the Camp Nou faithful.
It was after a particularly impressive display against Sevilla earlier this year that Barcelona Manager Xavi labelled him "extraordinary."
His strong end to the season in Catalonia helped the Blaugrana win a first LaLiga title since 2019.
What's the latest on Raphinha?
With the Brazilian still performing at an elite level, it should come as no surprise that he has once again attracted the attention of clubs from across the continent, most notably Bayern Munich.
According to a report from Javier Gascon of Mundo Deportivo, the Bavarian club have reignited their interest in the player due to the admiration of Thomas Tuchel.
The Spanish publication reports (via Sky) that the German coach is a 'big fan of the Brazilian winger.'
Gascon reports that, alongside Tuchel's admiration for the player, the Bayern board want to bring in a player of his quality to 'not experience another Bundesliga like the one that recently ended.'
However, should the board want to bring the 5 foot 9 winger to FC Hollywood, they'll have to loosen their purse strings.
Barcelona paid Leeds £55m for his signature just last year, and so any new deal will likely exceed that valuation.
Would Raphinha improve Bayern Munich?
Primarily playing on the right-hand side, Raphinhia would be in direct competition with Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry.
Looking at their season ratings from WhoScored, it is the Brazilian who comes last at 7.04, whereas both Gnabry and Sane sit at 7.10. However, with rankings that close, it is hardly decisive.
Goal involvements, whilst impressive at 14 for the ex-Leeds man, are again lower compared to Sane's 15 and Gnabry's 19.
It doesn't get much better when you look at the underlying numbers, either. According to data from FBref, the Porto Alegre-born winger notches up 0.55 expected non-penalty goals and assists per90, whereas Sane manages 0.62, and Gnabry, a staggering 0.78.
Things balance out more when looking at their passing stats. Whilst Raphinha has the lowest pass completion of all three players at just 66.8%, he does average 2.20 key passes per 90, 0.19 more than Sane and 0.26 more than Gnabry.
Overall, whilst the numbers in isolation are certainly impressive, compared to his competition, they leave a little to be desired.
There is no doubt that Raphinha is a great player, and who knows, a move to Bayern might just bump those numbers up even higher.