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An lengthy injury is something everyone in football dreads. Whether that is the player themselves, their manager or the fans. However, it is, unfortunately, part and parcel of the game and we see injuries picked up on a regular basis.

The majority of injuries only have a short-term effect on the team with a matter of weeks usually needed to see the player recover and return to the side.

However, there are some occasions when this is not the case and, in fact, the player can find themselves out for months and sometimes even over a year.

Indeed, over the Premier League era, there has been some horrific injuries which have not only been gruesome to witness from the stands, but also caused lengthy setbacks for the player who has been forced to undergo long periods of intense rehabilitation before being able to step back onto the pitch.

With 30 years of the Premier League now in the history books, we at Football FanCast have taken a look into the ten worst injuries over the course of the English top flight – as we know it today.

10 Ryan Mason – Fractured skull

Going back to 2017, Ryan Mason had moved on from his boyhood club, Tottenham Hotspur, and was playing for Hull City. However, on a return to the capital, the midfielder played what proved to be his final game of football at the age of just 26.

Indeed, Mason was facing one of Tottenham's London rivals, Chelsea, and as a corner came swinging into the box, Mason and Gary Cahill collided heads as they both battled for the ball.

Mason stayed down following the clash of heads – for eight minutes of on-field treatment -and was forced off on a stretcher with the severity of his injury to emerge following his trip to the hospital.

After his trip to the hospital, it became apparent Mason had suffered a fractured skull which saw the Englishman spend eight days in the hospital where he had to undergo surgery as 14 metal plates and 28 screws were bolted onto his skull to help his recovery.

Ultimately, Mason was forced to retire and has since gone on to kickstart his managerial career with interim spells as the Spurs boss.

9 Peter Cech – Fractured skull

Similarly to Mason, the former Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech, suffered a horrendous head injury back in 2006 against Reading.

Cech's career has gone down in Premier League history with the Czech Republic shot-stopper having won five FA Cups, four Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League.

However, his career could have been ended a lot sooner than when he retired back in 2019.

After Stephen Hunt collided with Cech's head in the opening seconds of the game, the goalkeeper was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery to have metal plates inserted into his head.

Although Cech was able to continue his career, he was forced to wear – the infamous – protective head guard for the remainder of his playing days.

8 David Busst – Broken leg

Playing for Coventry City against Manchester United in 1996, David Busst took to the field for what proved to be the final time in his career.

After a crunching clash between Busst, Denis Irwin and Brian McClair, the game was halted for a whopping nine minutes as the Coventry ace received treatment.

The injury was so severe that the double fracture to his right leg saw the United goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, wiping blood off the pitch following his exit from the game.

Amid the threat of amputation, Busst had to undergo 22 surgeries following the injury in 1996 and was advised by medical professionals to hang up his boots.

7 Luc Nilis – Broken leg

Aston Villa forward Luc Nilis was only three games into his career at Villa Park when he clashed with the opposition goalkeeper.

The striker broke his leg and was forced to undergo surgery twice in the space of the first four days following the injury.

However, despite reports from his surgeons suggesting that his recovery was going well, Nilis decided not to return to the game and that clash in 2000 proved to be his final time taking to the pitch.

6 Eduardo Da Silva – Broken leg

Rolling it back to 2018, Arsenal's Eduardo Da Silva suffered one of the most gruesome broken legs the Premier League has seen.

Playing away to Birmingham City, Eduardo suffered a severe leg break after a shocking challenge from Martin Taylor which saw the Brazilian's bone poking out his sock.

It was immediately clear just how bad this injury was with the likes of Cesc Fabregas visibly upset after witnessing the incident.

And it is fair to say the striker was never the same after the injury as he returned to action over one year later before being sold to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Club physio – at the time – Gary Lewis said: "I'll never forget it. It's probably the worst injury I've ever seen and when you see something that bad it really sticks in your memory.

"When I went on the pitch I noticed his ankle was dislocated and in the wrong shape. I also saw the bone sticking out of his sock, so I knew it was an open fracture.

5 Aaron Ramsey – Broken leg

Sticking with the Gunners, Welshman Aaron Ramsey suffered a similarly horrific injury just a matter of years on from Eduardo, in 2010.

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were playing away to Stoke City, this time, and Ramsey fell victim to a horro challenge from the Potters' centre-back Ryan Shawcross.

The Englishman was instantly shown a red card for the challenge which snapped both the tibia and fibula of Ramsey.

Despite the severity of the injury, Ramsey was able to return to action later on in the year, however, this was just the start of what has been an injury-riddled career for the midfielder.

"I heard the crack of Ramsey’s leg from the bench," former Stoke forward Dave Kitson told The Sun.

"I heard the screaming. And the build-up to the game contributed to this moment.

4 Djibril Cisse – Broken leg

This was another leg break which was instantly clear of just how bad the injury actually was.

Back in 2004, Liverpool took on Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, but the game was overshadowed by one of the worst leg breaks in the history of the league.

Indeed, with the French forward's foot planted into the turf, a challenge from Jay McEveley saw Cisse's leg break instantly.

The injury was so severe it snapped both his tibia and fibula and the eccentric Frenchman has since claimed had it not have been for the work of the Liverpool medical team he could have even lost his leg.

3 Gary Mabbutt – Fractured skull

Almost going all the way back to the conception of the Premier League – as we know it today – the Spurs defender also suffered a horrendous fractured skull.

Coming up against Wimbledon, John Fashanu was the man to deal the blow to Mabbutt who had to undergo surgery as a result.

No action was taken against Fash the Bash on the day, however, the injury was so severe it is believed to have nearly cost Mabbutt both his career and his eye.

2 Raul Jimenez – Fractured skull

There is an ongoing theme in this list and fractured skulls are becoming a common injury.

However, the case of Raul Jimenez is truly one of the worst injuries which the league has ever seen.

The Mexican striker was enjoying life in the English top flight and had proven himself to be a real threat up top at Molineux. But what was to follow in a game against Arsenal would bring all of that to halt.

Indeed, after a clash of heads from a Wolves corner, Jimenez suffered a fractured skull and had to undergo emergency surgery.

Once a reliable outlet of goals in the Premier League, Jimenez has never looked the same since his return to the game.

1 Pedro Mendes – Knocked out

In a list which has been filled with fractured skulls and broken legs, we will bring it to an end with something slightly different.

There is certainly an argument for more severe leg breaks which have been missed off this list with the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa and Andre Gomes.

However, there was a great deal of brutality surrounding this incident which involved Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes and Ben Thatcher.

Having played a pass, Mendes' face was caught with a purposeful elbow from the Manchester City star. The elbow sent Mendes hurtling into the advertising boards and left him unconscious.

But the injury did not end there as the Portuguese midfielder was driven to hospital, he suffered a seizure.

Mendes did make a full recovery from the incident, however, it could have certainly been much worse.

Stuart Broad averaged over 36 with the ball in 2017, his worst year since 2010, but currently sits on 399 Test wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018Stuart Broad has been honing his bowling action ahead of England’s Test series in New Zealand next month where he will arrive sitting on 399 wickets.In a pair of tweets posted on Tuesday, Broad explained how he was working on getting more side-on on his delivery stride. In recent times he has found it harder to move the ball away from right handers.”Working on my action to get more side on. More twist in my shoulders to get my front arm more towards the target, helping my feet align much better,” Broad wrote alongside a short video. “Walk throughs give me a great feel of how my body is moving. Some balls come out great, some horrible, but I always say try different things in training cause if something clicks for you it can help your game, no one cares if you get it wrong in the aim for improvement!”The Ashes was largely a struggle for Broad as he claimed 11 wickets at 47.72 – five of them coming in the fourth Test at Melbourne – his most expensive return in a series of more than three matches, while he finished with his worst Test figures of 0 for 142 in Perth.

Working on my action to get more side on. More twist in my shoulders to get my front arm more towards the target, helping my feet align much better. Walk throughs give me a great feel of how my body is moving. Some balls come out great, some horrible, but I always say try… (1) pic.twitter.com/P2cJDlgYBX

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 13, 2018

Broad came in for heavy criticism after the performance in Perth, with former England captain Michael Vaughan questioning his place in the team, but responded with his best outing of the series in Melbourne.Throughout 2017, Broad found Test wickets harder to come by than previous years, finishing with 30 scalps at 36.06 – his highest average since 2010.Broad claimed his 399th Test wicket early in Australia’s first innings at the SCG last month – when he bowled Cameron Bancroft with his second delivery – but remained short of his next landmark through 29 overs as Australia amassed 649 for 7. He will become the second England bowler after new-ball partner James Anderson to reach 400 wickets.The first Test against New Zealand, a day-night match at Eden Park, starts on March 22.

Glasgow Rangers secured a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League playoff round tie at Ibrox last night.

The result was a carbon copy of last years match as the sides shared the spoils in what was an end to end encounter in front of a typically raucous home crowd.

With a major financial boost on the line, Michael Beale, brought a few players back into the starting XI who had dropped to the bench for the League Cup win on Saturday, most notably Todd Cantwell and James Tavernier.

There was also a place on the bench for Rabbi Matondo, who shone against Greenock Morton, and he would go on to enjoy a solid cameo against the Dutch side.

Does Rabbi Matondo have a future at Rangers?

The Welsh winger scored no goals last term while grabbing just five assists, and it looked as though his time in Glasgow was going to be cut short.

Rangers Review journalist Euan Robertson said Matondo was their “bright spark” against Morton on the weekend, and he was perhaps unlucky to drop to the bench against PSV.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

His impact, however, was worth the wait. The tie was finely poised at 1-1 when the winger entered the fray with just over 20 minutes to go, injecting some much-needed pace into the Rangers attack.

He took four shots in total during his cameo while succeeding with four of his five dribbles and at one point, channelled his inner Lionel Messi to evade three defenders while dribbling into the box, but the move didn’t come to anything.

The 22-year-old also scored his first goal for the club after a stunning move, and it led Joshua Barrie to claim that “Matondo continues his redemption arc”, however, one of the finest players on the pitch was Cantwell.

How did Todd Cantwell perform vs PSV?

The former Norwich City maestro was sorely missed against Morton as the Gers lacked any sort of creativity throughout the midfield, but this was remedied last night.

The Englishman was deployed just behind Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima in an attacking midfield role, and it proved to be a stroke of genius by Beale.

Despite taking just 41 touches during his time on the pitch, he made sure they all counted as he looked to link the midfield with the attack.

Cantwell succeeded with 100% of his dribbles while winning four out of his seven ground duels, suggesting that he used his physicality to good effect.

Barrie praised the 25-year-old at half-time for his contributions, saying:

“Despite that late goal, think Rangers still need to change something in possession/make the ball stick with the front two. Cantwell's been head and shoulders making something out of nothing on the ball with limited options.”

With some better defending, Rangers could have secured a famous win over the Eredivisie side, yet the performances of Matondo and Cantwell will have pleased Beale.

Does he stick or twist heading into the away leg?

With European group stage football guaranteed no matter the result, the manager will surely tell his team to go for the jugular in Eindhoven.

Aston Villa could lose Lucas Digne this summer, but journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed something that will see the Villans land a huge profit from any such move.

How old is Lucas Digne?

The Villans experienced a huge turnaround in fortunes last season, with Unai Emery replacing Steven Gerrard and guiding his side into the European places after a brilliant run of form.

While last Saturday's 5-1 defeat away to Newcastle United was a horrible way for Villa to start their Premier League campaign, there are still hopes that they will go up another gear in 2023/24. The signings of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby could all prove to be inspired, while Nicolo Zaniolo is also coming in from Galatasaray, in what is another exciting acquisition.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

There is much focus on potential incomings at the moment, but players could also be heading out of the exit door before the end of the month, with Digne one of those who may move on to pastures new.

Now 30 years of age, the Frenchman has struggled to consistently make a positive impact at Villa Park since arriving from Everton in 2022, scoring twice and registering four assists in 48 appearances.

Will Lucas Digne leave Aston Villa?

Writing on Twitter on Wednesday morning, Romano provided an update on Villa's pursuit of Marcos Acuna, but also revealed their is Saudi interest in Digne:

"Aston Villa have genuine interest in Marcos Acuna. He's on the list as potential next target, no agreement on fee with Sevilla; player keen on PL experience

"Lucas Digne could leave as Saudi clubs & also two European clubs are keen on signing him. Zaniolo, arriving today."

There is no doubt that Digne has been an underwhelming signing for Villa, considering he has won 46 caps for France and been lauded as "fantastic" by Marco Silva during their time together at Everton, so getting a big chunk of cash from a Saudi suitor would be no bad thing.

The former Blues man certainly didn't impress in the aforementioned drubbing at Newcastle last weekend, losing possession 13 times and only completing three out of eight accurate crosses, and at 30, he could be a player who is on the wane at this point in his career.

Should Digne depart for Saudi in the near future, it is imperative that they replace him with a strong option, however, or Emery will be left with a lack of options at left-back. There was no recognised out-and-out alternative to him on the substitutes' bench at St James', so it looks like an area of the pitch that could end up being problematic if Alex Moreno cannot stay fit.

Should Digne end up staying put beyond the summer transfer window, it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing, but far more consistency is required from him moving forward. Moreno is the top option, but he is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, so more depth could be further required as Villa look to impress across four different competitions this season.

Newcastle United have been linked with Galatasaray midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, but now another key update has emerged regarding their interest in him.

Do Newcastle want Nicolo Zaniolo?

The Magpies made a sensational start to their Premier League season on Saturday evening, dispatching of Aston Villa 5-1 at St James' Park in a thrilling contest.

It was an early sign that Newcastle fans could be in for another treat of a campaign, with some superb football on show, not to mention new signings Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes both finding the back of the net.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

While the performance and result against Villa were memorable, it is still important that the Magpies continue to kick on this summer, bringing in some more new faces. Not many signings are needed, considering how strong the squad now looks, but a couple of additions would be the icing on the cake.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to Newcastle is Zaniolo, who is currently at Galatasaray, having joined them earlier this year. The Italian is also wanted by Villa, with a switch away from the Turkish giants on the cards.

Now, a new update regarding his future has dropped, however, and it looks as though a move to St James' is out of the question.

What's the latest on Nicolo Zaniolo to Newcastle?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that Newcastle signing Zaniolo doesn't look on the cards this summer, with their interest in him never particularly strong:

"I don't think there's been too much with Zaniolo and Newcastle in terms of any action. I know that we've had him linked before, but he has obviously suffered quite a tough two years with injuries and then his relationship with Jose Mourinho before eventually moving to Galatasaray."

Zaniolo is a high-quality footballer who has won 13 caps for Italy, scoring twice in that time, so in many ways, seeing him in a Newcastle shirt would have been exciting, giving them something different in attacking midfield after being called a "decisive" player by Claudio Ranieri.

That being said, as Jacobs alludes to in his update, the former Roma man has suffered terrible luck with injuries down the years, so there would be a concern that he would break down continually in a Magpies shirt, ultimately not proving to be worth the money spent on him.

It could be argued that Zaniolo has now overcome the worst of his issues, and is still a young player who can prove his worth for another decade or so, but it would feel like a risky signing when there are other good options out there.

With Newcastle's interest in him seemingly non-existent at this point, it is important that they now turn their attention elsewhere, look to snap up someone with a similar ability to link the deeper midfielders and the attack, coming in as someone may be rotated with the likes of Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, making the Magpies' squad even more formidable and enhancing their hopes of back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League this season.

Such is the attraction of playing in Pep Guardiola's current treble-winning side, combined with the amount of money the Premier League champions have at their disposal, Manchester City can usually feel confident about landing their key transfer targets.

And all seemed to be pointing in the usual direction in the case of Josko Gvardiol, too, with the deal even receiving the famous Fabrizio Romano 'here we go', which almost always means a deal will reach completion.

RB Leipzig are in no mood to entertain the transfer expert's news, however, even contradicting Romano in a shock new twist.

In what will no doubt rub some salt in the Man City wounds, too, it appears as though Liverpool have played a deciding role in the unexpected Grvardiol twist.

Manchester City suffer Josko Gvardiol blow

Taking the opportunity to shut any rumours down, RB Leipzig director Max Eberl said, via Philipp Hinze of Sky Germany: "There is no agreement with Manchester City. Not even close."

He then continued, saying: "The fact is that Manchester City would like to have him. Currently, we are still very far apart. The transfer of Szoboszlai has secured us financially. We don't need the money. We would prefer Josko to stay."

Slamming the message home, Eberl added: "We are not a club that blocks anything. We are transparent. But we have our ideas and want them to be implemented.“

It will likely leave Liverpool delighted that their £60m deal to bring Dominik Szoboszlai to the club has played a large part in Leipzig's stance on Gvardiol.

The defender was pictured in training this week, despite initial reports from Romano stating that the defender had completed the first stages of his medical at Manchester City.

The transfer specialist has since claimed that tensions are high between Leipzig and City in the final stages of negotiations, causing a delay to the medical, which was supposed to be booked today.

Also speaking about Gvardiol, Leipzig manager Marco Rose said, via Hinze: "Josko is one of our players and as far as I know he will remain one of our players. I don't know anything about a medical check, nothing about a first and nothing about a second. I think if it was, I would know as head coach!"

After Leipzig contradicted Romano, the Gvardiol saga is certainly one to keep an eye on.

How did Josko Grvadiol perform last season?

There's a reason why Leipzig want a reported €100m (£86m) for Gvardiol this summer. The defender had another outstanding campaign last season, as the club finished third in the Bundesliga, five points behind champions Bayern Munich.

When compared to Nathan Ake, who could be his future teammate at Manchester City, the Leipzig defender outplayed the Dutchman in certain areas.

According to FBref, last season, Gvardiol made more blocks, clearances, won more tackles, and made more interceptions per 90 than Ake. So, statistically speaking, the transfer target would be an upgrade for Guardiola.

As things stand, though, the chances of Gvardiol becoming a Manchester City player seem to be growing slimmer and slimmer, with those at RB Leipzig quick to contradict Romano's initial claims.

As the saga goes on, however, more twists and turns could easily occur.

The focus of Liverpool's recruitment during the summer transfer window has been the midfield department so far as they have brought in two new recruits to bolster the squad.

Jurgen Klopp has swooped to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig respectively, following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner's respective departures at the end of last season.

However, the Reds could yet look to strengthen their options in defence as they have been touted with a move for a new centre-back to compete with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip.

Liverpool were named as one of a number of teams interested in signing Bayern Munich central defender Benjamin Pavard last month, alongside top-flight rivals Manchester City and Chelsea.

How good is Benjamin Pavard?

The 27-year-old warrior, who can also be deployed as a right-back, has the quality to be a phenomenal player for Klopp if he is able to translate his form from the Bundesliga over to the Premier League.

Pavard could be the dream partner for Ibrahima Konate moving forward, given that he is five years younger than 32-year-old Virgil van Dijk, due to his ability, experience as a winner, and their pre-existing relationship.

They are both French internationals and started four matches alongside each other in defence for their country last season, which resulted in four wins and one draw – with only two goals conceded.

This suggests that Pavard, who would arrive as a proven winner with four Bundesliga titles, a Champions League, and a World Cup winner's medal, could hit the ground running next to Konate as they are already familiar with each other and there would not be a language barrier between them.

The Bayern star could also be an outstanding defensive performer for Liverpool due to his performances last term. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 30 league matches for the Bavarian side, which would have placed him top of the Reds' squad – above Trent Alexander-Arnold's club-leading score of 7.32 in the Premier League.

Pavard also made 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game for the German giants – more than any of Klopp's central defenders managed – as he showcased his ability to win possession back for his team on a regular basis to prevent his goalkeeper from being tested.

The French brute, who was once hailed as "underrated" by current boss Thomas Tuchel, is also an exceptional passer of the ball who could complement Konate's lack of progressive play.

Over the last 365 days, the Bayern titan ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 – as per FBref.

This essentially means that the talented stopper is able to consistently find teammates in advanced positions whilst also being able to dribble further up the pitch to gain ground on the opposition.

On the other hand, the former RB Leipzig colossus places below the average in both statistics, which suggests that the 24-year-old ace does not excel on the ball.

This is another reason why the £83k-per-week Liverpool target could be the dream partner for Konate as his magnificent ability to progress his team up the pitch to start attacks could make up for his compatriot's lack of quality in that department.

The future of Chelsea defender Levi Colwill will become clearer by the "end of next week" following conversations with manager Mauricio Pochettino, according to Sky Sports' Paul Gilmour.

Is Colwill still a Chelsea player?

Despite spending last season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, making 22 appearances in all competitions, Colwill potentially still has a big future at Chelsea.

With a contract running until 2025 at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are in no hurry to sell the 20-year-old phenom, nor do they want to in the slightest.

Brighton have already seen a £30m bid rejected by Chelsea, who have frequently reiterated that they have no desire to lose yet another high-potential academy talent.

After a thoroughly impressive U21 European Championship with England in which he helped the Three Lions to the trophy without conceding a single goal in six matches, Colwill's price tag has understandably had a few million added to it as Chelsea fend off interest.

Speaking after England's final victory over Spain, which enjoyed a chaotic end that Colwill was at the heart of, he said (via Liverpool Echo):

"I’ll speak to my family, speak to everyone I need to and make a decision. I’ve got to play at the end of the day to hopefully get there [England senior team] and go to the next camp."

Pochettino has already scheduled talks with the youngster to convince him to stay at Stamford Bridge but potential suitors will be eagerly awaiting any fallout from possible discussions over playing time.

Gilmour told Sky Sports: "His future is still uncertain but it should become clear by the end of next week. We know Brighton where he spent last season on loan are still firmly interested in him. They had a £30m bid rejected earlier this summer by Chelsea who see the England U21 defender as part of their long-term plans.

"Mauricio Pochettino could be key in all of this. He is expecting Colwill to be on tour when Chelsea depart for America next week and he expects to hold talks with him. Colwill also keen to hold talks and both parties keen to get an understanding of, certainly from a Colwill perspective, where fits into the team this season.

He added: "From a Pochettino perspective, I guess it is a selling of the project and what's ahead and convincing him that he is firmly part of these plans. So, those talks expected to happen next week when Colwill returns."

As Colwill has said himself he is desperate to play regular football next season, something that may not always be possible at Chelsea as he has to fend off competition from Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva.

A move to Brighton or Liverpool, the latter showing interest, in Colwill in recent days, may result in more regular minutes with both clubs having extra European football next term.

A team with Chelsea's unwillingness to sell may make it a hard deal to pull off even for the expert recruitment teams of Brighton and Liverpool.

How good is Colwill?

One of Colwill's great strengths is his versatility. A left-footed centre-back who is very comfortable in possession and stepping into midfield, he can also be shifted to left-back as well as playing in a standard back two.

Despite only playing 17 times in the Premier League last term, Colwill made a phenomenal impact for the Seagulls.

He ranked in the top nine percent of league centre-backs per 90 last season for passes completed (75.76), progressive passing distance (551.43 yards), key passes (0.52), passes into the final third (5.75) and pass completion for long passes (70.8%). All of this highlights his wonderful technically ability and forward-thinking attitude, making him a perfect modern centre-back.

Nicknamed the 'new John Terry' and appearing in GOAL's top 50 NXGN wonderkids in 2022, Colwill has continually shone throughout his development at Chelsea and on loan.

The crowning achievement of his short career so far was lifting the U21 Euros with England, performing wonderfully in the final itself, and he earned himself a 7.4 average Sofascore rating throughout the tournament.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier has decided to remain in north London and is excited by the prospect of working with Ange Postecoglou.

Who is leaving Spurs?

The Lilywhites have moved quickly to confirm a few major additions for Postecoglou, perhaps most notably Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and playmaker James Maddison.

The latter duo in particular represent great coups for Spurs, especially given Vicario cost just £17.4 million to prise away from Empoli, while Maddison's signing only set Tottenham back £40 million.

Speaking after the signings of both men, Postecoglou drew particular attention to their attitudes and elite mentalities, with the Austrailian explaining they are exactly what the club needs.

“It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," said the former Celtic boss.

"It’s what they bring as people as well because we are going to play football that requires a certain type of personality and character.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

However, to make room for these players, certain squad members may be deemed surplus. Indeed, it is believed that Hugo Lloris, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Tanguy Ndombele are nominations to follow Harry Winks out the door.

Lucas Moura and Arnaut Danjuma left north London too, with Dier being one of the names linked to potentially leaving this summer. However, a new report has shed light on the Englishman's situation, and it's other contrary to reports.

Sharing an update on the 29-year-old and his future, reliable Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed he wants to remain at N17, all while being excited by the prospect of working with Postecoglou.

Gold wrote for football.london:

"Eric Dier, who has 12 months left on his contract and returned to training at Hotspur Way this week following his groin surgery at the end of last season, is understood to have no intention of departing the club this summer and is excited about the coming season under Postecoglou."

What's been said about Eric Dier?

The defender has endured his fair share of criticism over the last 12 months, with members of the media calling him "very poor" and "nowhere near the required level" for Spurs to succeed.

However, when at his best, the former Sporting Lisbon star can be a useful asset to Postecoglou. Former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, speaking after a 2020 draw with Burnley, heaped praise on Dier for his versatility and attitude.

"I think it’s a question of self-esteem and self-confidence," said Mourinho.

“To be playing so well as a centre-back, to raise the levels of confidence and he goes to midfield and was very, very good. Very, very good.

“When people were asking about his frame of mind I think they don’t need to ask again because I think he was very, very good.”

أعلنت لجنة المسابقات برابطة الدوري الإسباني عن عقوبة مدرب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، بعد طرده في مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد.

ونال تشافي الطرد من قبل حكم مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد بسبب الاعتراض وتمت معاقبته من لجنة المسابقات بالإيقاف لمدة مباراتين مقبلتين.

وكانت صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية قد أفادت بأن إدارة نادي برشلونة قد قررت عدم تقديم أي التماس على أي عقوبة يتعرض لها تشافي.

اقرأ أيضًا | بيدري يعلن تطورات إصابته مع برشلونة.. وفرص التتويج بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا

وبالتالي، لن يتواجد تشافي في مباراتي برشلونة القادمتين أمام لاس بالماس وقادش على أن تكون العودة في الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد.

ويلعب برشلونة في إطار الجولة الثلاثين أمام لاس بالماس بعد التوقف الدولي يوم 30 مارس على ملعب “منتجويك”، ثم قادش في الجولة 31 يوم 13 أبريل في ملعب “ميرانديا”.

وستكون مباراة برشلونة وريال مدريد يوم 21 أبريل المقبل في ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة”.