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Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna this summer and a significant update has now emerged regarding the situation.

How many times has Marcos Acuna played for Sevilla?

The 31-year-old left-back has enjoyed a strong career for club and country, most notably winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina last December. He made six appearances in the tournament, four of which were starts, putting his experience to good use.

Acuna has also played 125 times for Sevilla since arriving from Sporting CP in 2020, winning the Europa League with them last season, in what has arguably been the most successful period of his career.

The Argentine has emerged as a primary transfer target for Villa this summer, as Unai Emery looks to add more quality and depth to his squad. Lucas Digne has been a disappointing signing from Everton and can be improved upon, and it looks as though the Sevilla man has been identified as the No.1 target in that position.

A move to Villa Park certainly appears as though it is increasingly likely at this point and another update has only further added fuel to the fire.

Will Aston Villa sign Marcos Acuna?

According to Football Insider, talks are continuing over the weekend between Villa and Acuna representatives, as they look to complete another strong signing:

"Aston Villa are continuing talks on Saturday over a deal to sign Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna.

"Unai Emery has made it a priority to sign a new left-back to compete with January signing Alex Moreno, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury."

It really does feel as though it would be a surprise if Acuna didn't complete a move to Villa at this point, considering talks are seemingly progressing at a good speed and Digne looks to be on his way out.

Assuming a deal is agreed in the near future, he could be a great signing at left-back, adding experience, fight and ability to a Villans side that is improving all the time, regardless of last weekend's 5-1 defeat away to Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola has described Acuna as a "top defender", which speaks volumes about the calibre of footballer he is, while Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has heaped praise on him in the recent past, saying:

"Acuna is someone who transmits his experience to the young players. He is one of the best wing-backs in the world in a three-man defensive system."

At 31, Acuna is admittedly not getting any younger, but he is such fit player, providing constant energy down the left flank, that he should remain in and around the peak years of his career for the foreseeable future, slotting in seamlessly at Villa and making them an even more formidable outfit under Emery.

Arsenal have a long and illustrious history littered with silverware, but the truly elite honours have eluded them for some time now. Mikel Arteta is clearly seeking to ensure that this summer finally gives them the chance to challenge once again at the pinnacle of English football, and they seem far from finished with their dealings.

Is Marc Guehi leaving Crystal Palace?

With Declan Rice the outstanding acquisition from this window, his big-money move perhaps overshadows the equally important signings of Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber. All three of these combine to give the Gunners a massive boost with regard to their depth, which was sorely needed.

However, rumours continue to circulate despite these improvements, suggesting that sporting director Edu Gaspar is still very much incensed when it comes to tempting new faces to the Emirates.

One such report that remains, despite emerging in May, did suggest that Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi remained a viable option for the north London club.

Although his £50m price tag could provide a stumbling block, signing the England international could prove a remarkable coup for a side seeking to cultivate a youth-focused squad with the talent to challenge for those top titles now and long into the future.

How good is Marc Guehi?

During the early years of Arsene Wenger's reign, despite claiming the Premier League title in just his second season, he had suffered many near-misses in the pursuit of domination.

Between 1998 and 2001, the Frenchman led his squad to three consecutive second-placed finishes, failing to take that next step to truly achieve greatness.

That was until he signed Sol Campbell.

It was noted in the English defender's biography [Sol Campbell – The Authorised Biography, pg. 106] that he was signed on the claims of Wenger, who noted: "It was as if he was indestructible, such a power spread from him."

He was tall, powerful, fast and menacing, yet had a touch of class; he would propel the Gunners to stardom.

TheScore served to supplement such a notion, writing the following review on the 48-year-old after ranking him as the 11th-best player of the legendary manager's reign: "Sol Campbell is the epitome of an athletic centre-back, whose robust frame and barrel chest hid the fact that he was sublime on the ball."

His first year after moving from Tottenham Hotspur saw him win the Premier League title, and two years later he would be ever-present during their Invincibles run. His acquisition proved to be a catalyst, and in Guehi, they could repeat this feat.

He too boasts many of the physical qualities that made Campbell so revered, alongside a passing range that mirrors the legendary centre-back's. After all, his England U21 teammate Josef Bursik branded him an "absolute tank" back in 2021.

Just last season saw him maintain a 6,94 average rating in the league, with that figure largely upheld by his 85% pass accuracy, 82% dribble success, 1.4 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His ability to remove danger from his own penalty area would have seen him ranked first among Arsenal's squad last season.

With his bulky frame and speed off the mark, he can stride out from the back to then find a teammate.

Should things then go wrong, he boasts the raw pace to return back in position to thwart opposition attacks.

Guehi is the quintessential modern-day centre-back and could help take Arteta's side to the next level, should Edu manage to lure him across the capital this summer.

Having also finished second last campaign, the Spaniard will be seeking the edge that can help them overtake Manchester City.

Perhaps, given just how similar Guehi is to Campbell, he could prove to have a similarly revolutionary effect that propels them to a league title in his first year upon joining.

Tottenham Hotspur have now held talks with Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki's representatives over a potential summer move to the Premier League, but they may face competition for his signature from Chelsea, according to a report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have already made a number of attacking signings this summer, bringing in the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Manor Solomon. However, manager Ange Postecoglou is still keen to bolster his squad even further, recently saying:

“We’re working with the players we’ve got at the moment and I’m really happy with the way they are all working hard.

“But we’ve obviously still got time in the transfer window and we’re still looking to do some business.”

On Saturday night, Spurs were linked with a shock move for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, as the French club are now considering a sale, however, that move does not seem very likely, given that he will surely be keen to play Champions League football.

Postecoglou is tasked with finding a potential replacement for Harry Kane, amid the uncertainty over the striker's future, with reports from Germany recently detailing his wife and family have been spotted in Germany inquiring about houses and schools.

The Lilywhites have therefore made an approach for Fiorentina striker Arthur Cabral, although the report also claims they have several other names on the list of potential replacements for their talisman.

Tottenham are also seemingly still keen on another attacking midfielder, with Football Transfers recently reporting they have held talks with the representatives of Cherki in London.

The 19-year-old is said to be regarded as one of French football's hottest prospects, and he has been attracting the attention of some top Premier League clubs, with Chelsea also holding talks over a summer move.

As a result of their financial problems, Lyon would be open to selling the youngster, but only for the right price, having already knocked back an offer from Chelsea. The Blues are ready to make an offer of €40m (£35m) for the Lyon star, so Tottenham may have to move swiftly if they are to win the race for his signature.

What position does Rayan Cherki play?

The Frenchman is capable of playing in several attacking positions, including on both wings, and he has occasionally played as a striker, however, he has predominantly featured in an advanced midfield role throughout his career so far.

Lauded as a "difference-maker" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet ranks in the 84th percentile for assists per 90 in the past year, showcasing his creative flair, while he also places in the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions.

The Lyon-born attacker is still very young, but he has already established himself as a key first-team player with his current club, having made 34 Ligue 1 appearances last season, following up the 2021-22 campaign in which he made 27 outings.

As such, the indication is that Cherki would be able to push the likes of Maddison, Kulusevski and Heung-min Son for a starting spot from the get-go, and he could be a very good acquisition for Tottenham.

Amid the talk of who should make up England’s batting line-up for the Ashes, there has been a growing mood behind Alex Hales after his shift down the order

Jon Culley30-Aug-2017In the days when a strong performance in a one-day final at Lord’s could make up the mind of an indecisive England selector, Alex Hales would surely have had his winter itinerary firmly mapped out by now, with Christmas in Australia at the centre.After all, it is hard to imagine anything much stronger than his record-breaking unbeaten 187 as Nottinghamshire beat Surrey to lift the Royal London Cup.Yet things are different now on two counts. The selectors – apparently – are a bit more scientific in the way they go about their business. And the one-day final takes place not in September but July.Whether something special on Finals Day in the NatWest T20 Blast can make any difference, therefore, is open to debate. Nonetheless, Hales will be doing all in his powers at Edgbaston to put himself in the spotlight again and, perhaps, revive a Test career that has been on hold since the Pakistan home series in 2016.”To go on an Ashes tour would be an unbelievable experience and I will try to keep knocking on the door,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché, but all you can do is score runs.”So the ball is in my court now to score as many as I can across all formats before the end of the season and leave the selectors with a tough decision to make.”In fact, even though there will not be September showcase at Lord’s to take into account, they almost certainly will be looking at Hales’s white-ball form for guidance. They have no choice. With a one-day series against West Indies taking up much of the final month of the season, Nottinghamshire’s Championship fixture against Worcestershire next week will be his last opportunity to face a red ball in a season that has generally not afforded him many.”That has been a bit of a frustration,” he said, speaking during Nottinghamshire’s match against Northamptonshire in the Championship this week.”Before this match, I played three four-day games at the beginning of the season, then a random pink-ball game in June and then a game in the middle of the T20 block at the beginning of August.”I have not really had a run of four or five games in a row of red-ball cricket. It’s been sort of stop-start.”In all of those games, what’s more, he batted only once, which means no one has had much of a chance to assess his form since swapping his place at the top of the order for the No.5 slot, in which he hopes the judgment the Test selectors evidently reached after his 11-match run as an opener can be reversed.

I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting

Yet Hales believes 2017 has seen his game rise to another level in every aspect, in every competition. And there is evidence to back it up. Thrown in with all the brilliant moments in one-day cricket, he has a Championship double-hundred against Derbyshire in the early-August round to support the claim.”The highlight of the year has certainly been the Lord’s final,” he said. “To beat a strong Surrey side in that manner when we had our backs against the wall for a lot of the game is probably one of the highlights of my career so far.”I definitely think it was as well as I have ever played, up there if not better than the Pakistan innings at Trent Bridge [when he made England’s highest ODI score of 171 in their world-record total of 444], just because of the occasion it was for the club and how we were up against it against a team that had their tails up.”But I have really enjoyed batting where I have been batting in the Championship side. Across all three formats this year I have felt really on top of my game and felt that I have taken it to that next level.”Working with Peter Moores, he says, has had a lot to do with that, not so much in anything the new Nottinghamshire head coach has done in terms of technical advice but in giving him confidence to play his own game.”He is very good at player management, he understands what players need and what certain players don’t need. He just lets me get on with my stuff.”And he brings this constant positive energy. There is never a day when he is down, never a day when he is frustrated. His general all-round positive energy has been a massive lift for the squad and it is something I have really enjoyed.”It has helped give that squad a chance to mark Moores’ first season in the role with a treble, assuming that the Division Two title is in the bag along with the One-Day Cup.Hales, meanwhile, has found his own way of taking a relaxed view of his Ashes prospects. “The next few months is a win-win situation for me,” he said. “I have a chance to go on an Ashes tour, and there is also the chance to play in South Africa and maybe the Big Bash too and develop my white-ball game, so whatever happens it is going to be exciting.”It has been an approach that has served him well in the NatWest Blast so far. His strike rate of 206.38 is the best in the country, he has a first domestic T20 century to his name and, against Durham, at Trent Bridge in August, he would have equalled Chris Gayle’s 30-ball world record for the fastest T20 hundred had he not been out attempting to hit a 10th six.Anything similarly explosive at Edgbaston on Saturday would only add to a dilemma the selectors are surely facing already.

Jude Bellingham has equalled David Beckham's Real Madrid goalscoring tally of 20 goals – and in 126 fewer games.

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Bellingham helps Madrid thrash GironaBags 19th and 20th goals of seasonMatches Beckham's Madrid goal haulGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Los Blancos struck a big blow to Girona's La Liga title hopes with a thumping 4-0 win over Michel's side on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu. A Bellingham double, either side of goals from Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, saw Madrid go five points clear at the top of the table. The England international's goalscoring feats in 29 matches mean he is primed to surpass Beckham's goalscoring haul of 20 goals in 155 appearances – and in just over six months.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 20-year-old swapped Borussia Dortmund for Madrid last summer for £89million ($113m) but if anything he has been somewhat of a bargain so far. Last year the midfielder won the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award and the youngster is playing a huge role in Madrid's success this term. Bellingham is also now 93rd in Real's all-time scorers list, which puts him ahead of legends like Clarence Seedorf and Arjen Robben.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

During Madrid's drubbing of Girona, Bellingham went off with an ankle injury at a time where the Spanish giants have a number of key players out on the sidelines. It remains to be seen when he will return for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

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WHAT NEXT?

Madrid are back in Champions League action on Tuesday away to RB Leipzig in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, before returning to La Liga on February 18 at Rayo Vallecano. League games against Sevilla and Valencia follow on February 25 and March 2 respectively and Bellingham will hope to back fit as soon as possible.

England and New Zealand played out an entertaining series, although the decider was one-sided. What stood out over the five matches?

Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton11-Mar-2018England’s batting can adaptThere was little doubt about England’s prowess on true batting pitches, but questions remained how willing they were to curb their natural instincts with the Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan and two startling collapses against the swinging ball, at Lord’s and in Adelaide, as examples. The victory in Wellington on a grubby, uneven drop-in pitch was, therefore, significant with them having to assess that it wasn’t even a 270 wicket and dig their way to a defendable score. In fact, the major collapse which came in this series was a new variety: losing 8 for 46 in Dunedin having been 267 for 1. But to knock off the runs in Christchurch in such domineering fashion meant that the batting bandwagon continued to role.Liam Plunkett plays a vital roleLed by Man of the Series Chris Woakes, England were outstanding with the new ball – never letting New Zealand get off to a flyer and twice keeping them to under three-an-over in the first 10. In three of the matches that was backed up very effectively by the spin pair of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali. However, the contrast between spin and pace in the middle overs was stark: between overs 11 and 40, the spinners took 11 wickets and conceded 4.50 per over, the quicks took three wickets and conceded 5.96. Partly, that can be attributed to the spinners bowling extensively in that period, but it also highlighted the crucial role that Liam Plunkett has played in extracting life when the two new balls have become a little softer and before ‘death’ skills take over. In 2017, Plunkett was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. He is in that World Cup starting XI, fitness permitting.New Zealand have a problem at the topNew Zealand’s opening partnership had a shocker. The highest stand between Martin Guptill and Colin Munro in five matches was 12. It meant, in the four matches he played, Kane Williamson was exposed early. He is good enough to overcome that, but it’s an added pressure on the captain. Barring his 49 in Wellington – a worthy if lucky innings – Munro was batting in single digits. It appeared to have a knock-on effect on Guptill who, even in his two more substantial innings, could not break the shackles. Munro had showed some promise when pushed up to the opening role but against high-quality seam and swing he is vulnerable. With the 2019 World Cup in the first part of the English season, that could be a problem.Ross Taylor brings out the trademark hundred celebration•Getty ImagesBen Stokes can keep his focusThe start of the series marked the big comeback. Five months after the incident in Bristol that led to a not-guilty plea to a charge of affray, Ben Stokes returned to international cricket. In truth it was a soft landing, a world away from the reception and scrutiny he would have received in Australia. Still, Stokes has had a lot on his plate so it wasn’t a given how seamlessly he would slot back in. Parking the debate about whether he should have been on the tour, it was a successful series for him. He almost turned the opening match with two wickets and was Man of the Match in Mount Maunganui. He was never used for his full 10 overs – and his Test workload will be interesting to watch – but he hit good pace, looked in decent nick with the bat (his determination in Wellington was impressive) and was a livewire in the field.Ish Sodhi makes his caseAt the beginning of the series, Ish Sodhi was effectively included in the squad as cover for fellow legspinner Todd Astle who was carrying a niggle. He quickly became the first-choice. Hamilton was Sodhi’s first ODI since last May, when New Zealand took a second-string side to Ireland, but was preferred throughout when the XI wanted two spinners and his career-best 4 for 58 helped turn the match in Dunedin. There was some severe tap for him in Christchurch courtesy of Jonny Bairstow and there remained plenty of loose stuff thrown in, but he is a wicket-taker. Continuing to work on his batting and fielding could be key to whether he makes the 2019 World Cup squad.Ross Taylor on one leg is better than some on twoIt’s a decent pub debate: was New Zealand’s greatest ODI innings played by Ross Taylor in Dunedin? He is batting on another level at the moment, the unbeaten 181 followed another matchwinning hundred in Hamilton, and New Zealand will be desperate that his body stands up for at least another 18 months. Alongside Williamson he is irreplaceable in this current New Zealand era. The match he was run out in and the two he missed, New Zealand lost. Though Tom Latham showed development in the middle-order role – combining with Taylor for stands of 178 and 187 – the loss of either Taylor or Williamson is too great a burden for the team to cover.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why he substituted Kobbie Mainoo at half time against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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Ten Hag explains Mainoo's substitutionMcTominay replaced Mainoo at half timeUnited went down 2-1 against ForestWHAT HAPPENED?

The youngster made it to Ten Hag's starting lineup against Nottingham Forest on Saturday but was subbed off at half-time as the Dutch manager brought in Scott McTominay in midfield. The United manager later confirmed in a press conference that Mainoo did not suffer an injury, and his removal from the pitch was a tactical call for which he has "no regrets". Ten Hag's decision was met with general confusion amongst fans and pundits alike, as the teenager was one of his side's brighter sparks.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Dutchman explained why he introduced McTominay in place of Mainoo in the second half. He said, "Scott [McTominay] brought energy, I think the second half was much better on our side. The first goal, when you analyse it well, has nothing to do with the midfield. The second goal came from poor communication."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Red Devils ended 2023 on a depressing note as they suffered their ninth defeat of the ongoing Premier League season. Forest took the lead with Nicolas Dominguez's strike in the 64th minute before Marcus Rashford brought his team back into the game for a brief period. Morgan Gibbs-White then scored the winner in the 82nd minute to seal a memorable win for the hosts.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

Ten Hag's side's first game of the new year is an FA Cup third-round clash against Wigan Athletic on January 8, before they take on Tottenham in their first league game of 2024 on January 14.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with the spirit his side showed in Saturday's draw with Manchester City but rued missed opportunities.

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Pochettino delighted with 'aggressive' first halfRegrets not scoring crucial second goalBlues head to Wembley with renewed optimism WHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues caused the champions all sorts of problems before going ahead just before half-time when Raheem Sterling finished off yet another threatening counter attack. City piled the pressure on during the second half, creating a host of chances but Chelsea had opportunities to double their lead before Rodri rescued a late point for the hosts. After the game, Pochettino reflected on a performance that he believes is another step forward in the development of his team.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

"Very pleased," Pochettino told after the match. "I think that is the spirit that we want to show. We are working for that. I think today against the the best team in the world, to show this type of performance, we need to be feel very proud. I congratulated the players at the end of the game because we were so brave.

"First half was really good. I think we were very aggressive with the ball going forward and winning duels. In the second half I think they dominated and they forced us to defend deeper. But I think we sustained the effort and we created chances that we should score and win the game. I am so happy. It is a good draw for us and when you face this type of team I think it is important to be brave and to fight in every single aspect.

"Manchester City have the quality and capacity to create chances and they have amazing players. It is fantastic for us because we are a young team and we need these types of experiences to grow."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

It's less than two weeks since Chelsea's collapse at home to Wolves appeared to put Pochettino on borrowed time. But an FA Cup win at high-flying Aston Villa backed up by two strong league performances has suddenly changed the mood at Stamford Bridge with a young and haphazardly assembled squad finally showing some signs of cohesion. Chelsea fans can now head to Wembley dreaming rather than dreading the Carabao Cup final next Sunday.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

That first silverware of the season is on the line when the Blues make the short trip to Wembley Way next weekend. Pochettino has a free midweek to prepare his side, while injury-hit opponents Liverpool have to inspect their walking wounded as well as attending to league business against Luton Town on Wednesday.

Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away, and West Indies’ selectors are on the look out for talent

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2017Consistent batsmen and fast bowlers clocking more than 80mph are on the West Indies selectors’ wish list when the Regional Four-Day Championship begins on October 26.”Finding a few consistent batsmen is important, but what is also key for us is to unearth some young fast bowlers, so that we can add to the pool that we currently have, especially players that can clock in the high 80 to 90 mph range,” Courtney Browne, chairman of the Cricket West Indies selection panel, said. “So this upcoming regional season is key for players. There is an upcoming tour to the Caribbean by the England Lions early next year and such a high-profile ‘A’ Team tour has not happened in a number of years. It is where our players can showcase their talent and we can identify players for selection to our ‘A’ Team.”Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away. The teams are: Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes.Browne urged the players to focus on fitness and consistency in performance, should they harbour hopes of retaining their place, or breaking into, the West Indies side.”We would also like to urge players to work on their fitness and aim at achieving the fitness levels expected as our international teams have ramped up their fitness and conditioning work,” Browne said. “There are cases where players do perform and may not make it into the senior team as quickly as persons expect.”If there are players in the senior team that are already there, they have to be given a full opportunity and the emerging player will have to wait a bit longer than usual, rather than the chopping and changing approach. But we would urge them to continue to strive for consistency and show it over a longer period and not a one-off performance.”The tournament will be played in three phases – from October 26 to January 21 – with all matches starting on a Thursday. Six matches will be played with a pink ball under lights.”As selectors, we are happy with the length of the season,” Browne said. “We believe 10 matches in the #D4Day [the four-day championship] is a good yardstick for the players and for us.”

England’s women cricketers have been recognised in the New Year Honours following their World Cup victory at Lord’s this summer.

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Dec-2017England’s women cricketers have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours following their World Cup victory at Lord’s this summer.Heather Knight, the captain, and Mark Robinson, the head coach, have both been awarded OBEs, while Tammy Beaumont, the player of the tournament and Anya Shrubsole, whose six-wicket haul sealed a pulsating final against India, have been awarded MBEs.In addition, Clare Connor, the ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, has been awarded a CBE in recognition of her role in the remarkable growth of women’s cricket in this country. The former England captain, who won the Ashes in 2005, has previously been awarded an MBE and an OBE.”Our sincere congratulations to Heather, Tammy, Anya, Mark and Clare on their inclusion in today’s New Year’s Honours List,” said Colin Graves, the ECB chairman. “It’s fitting recognition for the way in which the team’s magnificent achievements this summer captured the imagination of the sporting public.”Winning the World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s was a truly game-changing moment not just for the team, but for the wider women’s game.Clare Connor said: “I am immensely proud of our England players and staff for their incredible hard work, dedication and passion which came together this summer to create something very special.”The memory of Anya Shrubsole claiming the final Indian wicket, arms out-stretched and screaming in celebration to the sky, will stay with us all for a long time. And for that moment to have been seen by a full Lord’s cricket ground and by a television audience of 180 million around the world is testament to the vast progress our sport has made.”