All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United had a mammoth £25 million bid accepted during the final phase of the summer transfer window, but a deadline day deal unfortunately collapsed for Daniel Farke after a key issue in proceedings.

Leeds spend £25 million over an underwhelming summer

Farke and co will be disappointed after what was a very underwhelming summer for the Whites, who spent £25m in total on eight new additions in defender Joe Rodon, winger Largie Ramazani, right-back Jayden Bogle, Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka, left-back Isaac Schmidt, keeper Alex Cairns, midfielder Joe Rothwell and winger Manor Solomon on loan from Spurs.

Leeds United's most expensive signings of all time

Who is the Whites’ record signing?

ByCharlie Smith May 31, 2024

On the surface, they've reinforced in great numbers, but it is very questionable whether Leeds have done enough to replace a host of key stars who departed Elland Road over the last few months.

Crysencio Summerville, who sealed a multi-million-pound move to West Ham, will be a very sore miss given the Dutchman racked up 20 goals in 46 Championship appearances alone last season.

Match

Date

Hull City (home)

Today

Burnley (home)

September 14

Cardiff City (away)

September 21

Coventry City (home)

September 28

Norwich City (away)

October 1

Meanwhile, Georginio Rutter also departed for Brighton, with Farke now left to question who will replicate his 7 goals and 15 assists in 48 Championship appearances last campaign.

Alongside the star attackers, English sensation Archie Gray sealed a switch to Tottenham, which prompted a heartbreaking statement from Leeds, while a host of other names like Marc Roca, Charlie Cresswell and Glen Kamara were among those to make moves away.

The West Yorkshire giants did try to bring more names through the door on deadline day and in the build-up to it. Indeed, Leeds were plotting a late bid to sign Bachir Belloumi, according to some reports (he later joined Hull City), following their last-gasp moves for Schmidt and Tanaka.

Leeds agreed £25 million deal for Martin Baturina

According to Croatian news outlet Sportske Novosti, Leeds agreed a £25 million deal to sign Martin Baturina from Dinamo Zagreb, with the Croatians accepting their bid for him.

However, the international midfielder refused to make the move to Elland Road, which ended all hope of Farke signing him before 11pm. Some media sources have even compared Baturina to Luka Modric, suggesting that the 21-year-old could be their next answer to the Real Madrid legend.

If Leeds managed to get him over the line, it would've been a sensational piece of last-minute business for the second-tier promotion hopefuls, but it appears Baturina wasn't quite ready to swap his homeland for the Championship, with the report claiming he felt "it was not the best place for his football development".

A testing campaign now awaits for Farke, with Hull awaiting them at 3pm this afternoon.

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal to sign another "elite" new player for Oliver Glasner, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Crystal Palace transfer rumours

The Eagles recorded their first win of the season in the week over Championship outfit Norwich City in the Carabao Cup. However, after the victory, Glasner refused to be drawn on transfer speculation.

Imagine him & Lacroix: Crystal Palace to make late bid for Guehi successor

The Eagles are looking to add to their defensive department before Friday’s deadline.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 28, 2024

“I turn 50 tomorrow and I think I have one free wish, and my wish would be that I don’t have to answer questions about the transfer window, so you can decide if you give me a gift or not.

“Today I pushed everything away from me, and all the players who played the game, they deserved 100 per cent Oliver Glasner and not thinking about the transfer window, not thinking about different players.

“They needed the support before and during the game from all of us so I think it would be terrible from my side if I focused on other players, because they had to win the game.

“They did it fantastically, especially how we scored the goals. It’s almost (midnight), I don’t think about the transfer window, and I hope tomorrow when we meet for training I hope we get some good news.”

It does look as if there will be some more incomings and outgoings at Selhurst Park before the deadline, though, with Eddie Nketiah on course to join from Arsenal and Sam Johnstone joining Wolves.

Nketiah is set to cost Palace an initial £25m plus a further £5m in add-ons, and by the looks of things, he’ll soon be joined by a defender.

Crystal Palace agree Maxence Lacroix deal

According to Romano, Palace have also agreed a deal with Wolfsburg to sign centre-back Maxence Lacroix.

The Athletic have provided more details, saying a transfer will be worth an initial €18m (£15.2m) for the 24-year-old, with a potential €3m (£2.5m) due in add-ons.

Romano added on Thursday morning: "Maxence Lacroix to Crystal Palace, story confirmed and here we go! All documents are approved by #CPFC and Wolfsburg, fee around £18m. He’s always been the #1 target for Glasner to replace Andersen. Medical in London in the next 24h."

Personal terms are seemingly agreed with the Frenchman, who could come in and provide a much-needed option at the back after Joachim Andersen’s move to Fulham and Marc Guehi still being linked with a move to Newcastle.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Lacroix

Guehi

Passes Attempted

46.9

50.6

Pass Completion %

84.7%

86.9%

Progressive Passes

3.02

2.98

Progressive Carries

0.19

0.67

Tackles

1.83

1.24

Blocks

1.34

0.98

Interceptions

0.91

0.72

Aerials Won

2.44

1.29

Lacroix, called an "elite defender" by journalist Tobias Kröger has been with Wolfsburg since 2020 after leaving FC Sochaux and has made 130 appearances for the Bundesliga side, scoring seven goals in the process.

It now looks as if a move to England with Palace could go through before the deadline, providing there isn't a late hitch over the next 24 hours or so.

Heading into the new Premier League season, Chelsea were seen as the 'banter' club once again.

Why? Well, unless you've been living under a rock, Todd Boehly has waved his big fat chequebook around again to bolster his squad further.

New bodies were needed under Enzo Maresca and they have actually completed some impressive business this summer. Pedro Neto has long been sought-after by clubs in the Premier League. Tosin Adarabioyo was smart on a free transfer and Joao Felix is a pretty handy player.

Yet, it's the way in which they've handled player exits that defies belief. Academy graduates Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah were alienated from the first-team squad and the same treatment has been dished out to high-earner Raheem Sterling.

So, when the Blues tasted defeat against Manchester City on the opening weekend you feared the worst once again.

Fortunately, they have bounced back well, producing their best performance in many a month to dispatch Wolves 6-2 at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.

Chelsea's best player vs Wolves

There's no prize for guessing this one. Noni Madueke – who among the thrills and spills of this transfer window has been linked with an exit – scored a remarkable hat-trick during a frantic 14-minute period of football.

It was the first of his career and one that will likely now keep him at Stamford Bridge. Talk about timing. This Chelsea squad won't be easy to feature regularly in this season but the former PSV Eindhoven star has begun the season with some aplomb.

All three strikes were supplied by Cole Palmer, running Wolves ragged with a trio of goals that silenced a crowd who had been booing the winger due to comments on social media prior to the game.

His first may have been deflected beyond the goalkeeper by Rayan Ait-Nouri but there was no doubting the quality of the other two goals, firing beyond Jose Sa from very similar angles having been laid off by the inevitable Palmer.

That said, despite a rosy day for Chelsea, there was one notable underperformer in Blue.

Chelsea's worst player vs Wolves

Coming into this new campaign Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk was sporting a new head of hair. Gone were the luscious blonde locks. Instead, a skinhead had arrived back at Cobham, ready and raring to show something different on the pitch too.

Sadly, the mega-money signing during the winter of 2023 is still failing to produce the goods and is leaving fans to wonder why on earth they paid such a pretty penny to beat Arsenal to his signature.

Mudryk's lack of influence on the game was summed up by his withdrawal at the break. Maresca said after the game that he was "not happy" with his display in possession.

Why was that the case? Well, the stats do all of the heavy lifting for us. Inevitably producing fewer touches (13) than goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's 54, he left the pitch having mustered a tally of just five completed passes. From his low number of touches, he ceded possession on six occasions.

On that evidence, it's hardly a surprise the new manager was a bit fed up with the winger's performance.

Minutes played

45

Touches

13

Accurate passes

5/8 (63%)

Crosses

0/1

Key passes

0

Dribble attempts

1/2

Ground duels won

1/4

Aerial duels won

0/1

Possession lost

6x

Shots

0

To make matters worse he failed to carve out a single key pass on a day where Chelsea ran rampant. Mudryk also succeeded with just one of his two dribble attempts.

This was a particularly poor afternoon for the attacker who was given a hammering by the media post-game. Football.London's Bobby Vincent handed him a 5/10, lambasting his 'quiet' nature. GOAL were particularly scathing with reporter Mark Doyle suggesting it was a 0/10 display, writing that it was an 'embarrassingly ineffective display'. Tell us what you really think, eh?

So, with Neto champing at the bit for his first league start for Chelsea, Joao Felix recently signed and Christopher Nkunku also looking over his shoulder, it would not be a surprise to see Mudryk benched next time out.

Move over Madueke: 9/10 Chelsea ace was the real star for Maresca

Chelsea smashed Wolves 6-2 for Maresca’s first Premier League win.

ByConnor Holden Aug 25, 2024

Wrexham are in talks over the signing of a Championship "gamechanger" in the summer transfer window, according to an exciting new update.

Wrexham make winning start to life in League One

The Welsh side have enjoyed a memorable few years, with the ownership of Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney making them one of the most talked-about clubs in the EFL.

Wrexham sealed promotion to League One at the first attempt last season, having escaped the National League back in 2022/23, with their new campaign getting underway on Saturday afternoon. Phil Parkinson's side started with a win, getting the better of Wycombe Wanderers in a 3-2 victory at the Racecourse Ground in front of their biggest crowd since 1980.

While still clearly only early days, it was a perfect way to hit the ground running, and with each win that comes their way, the more belief will grow that they could even find themselves in the Championship in 2025/26, and just one division away from the promised land of the Premier League.

For that to happen, though, new signings will need to keep coming in, with some important faces added this summer, including Arthur Okonkwo and George Dobson, both of whom have come in on free transfers.

Wrexham in League One: Latest standings, fixtures, results & key dates

FFC has all the latest Wrexham info as they seek promotion from League One, along with a look at the Red Dragons’ journey to where they are today.

ByStephan Georgiou Oct 8, 2024 Wrexham in talks to sign attacking "gamechanger"

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Wrexham are "in talks" to complete the signing of Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith before the current transfer window closes.

The report goes on to add that the Owls are "open to offers" for Smith after recently welcoming Ike Ugbo back to the team, with the 32-year-old considered a good option who can bring proven League One experience to Parkinson's squad.

Smith could be a great addition at the Racecourse this summer, and the fact that he is out of contract at Wednesday next year surely increases the chances of him moving away, allowing them to receive a fee for his signature.

The striker has been an important squad player for the Owls, if not always a key starter, scoring 24 goals in 83 appearances in total, and helping them go from League One to the Championship in 2022/23, finding the net during an incredible comeback against Peterborough United in the play-off semi-finals.

His former manager, Darren Moore, has heaped praise on him in the past, too, saying after a comeback win over Mansfield Town in 2022: "Michael Smith is a gamechanger today. The quality showed at the end of it, and that’s what Michael is. He was in the right place at the right time and that’s what quality strikers do."

Rotherham United

210

60

Swindon Town

72

26

Sheffield Wednesday

83

24

AFC Wimbledon

25

10

Portsmouth

37

10

Granted, Parkinson already has a plethora of attacking quality at his disposal from Paul Mullin to Ollie Palmer, but increased depth and competition for places can never be a bad thing in the EFL given the relentless nature of the fixtures.

Everton are targeting a deal to sign Jack Harrison this summer, according to Football Insider, as Sean Dyche prepares for his first full season at Goodison Park.

Everton transfer news – will they sign Jack Harrison?

The Toffees are reportedly looking to swoop in and bring Harrison to Goodison Park this summer after the Leeds United winger suffered relegation to the Championship last season.

As per the report, the 26-year-old dynamo's current contract at Elland Road includes a release clause of just £16m following their demotion to the second tier.

With such a low fee, the Merseyside outfit may need to act fast in order to secure Harrison's signature this summer, as they begin a rebuild which Dyche will hope ensures their Premier League safety and more in the coming campaign.

Will Jack Harrison replace Demarai Gray in Everton's line-up?

If Harrison does make the move to Everton this summer, then Demarai Gray should be concerned.

Since the arrival of Dyche, the former Leicester City winger has struggled to establish himself in a similar way that made him a key figure under former boss Frank Lampard, going from playing the full 90 in four consecutive games to being instantly benched in the new manager's first game in charge, against Arsenal.

The arrival of Harrison would only limit Gray's game time even more, too, given the fact that they are both wingers, primarily on the left flank, and the Leeds man is coming off the back of an impressive season in a struggling side.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the reported target was involved in 16 goals in all competitions, with six goals and 10 assists to his name as Leeds were relegated – pretty impressive returns considering just how badly the Whites struggled in front of goal.

Meanwhile, in comparison, the man that he could replace at Everton managed just seven goal involvements in all competitions – scoring six goals and assisting just one other. He also ended the season with a barren run, with nine straight games without a direct goal contribution.

That's not to say that Dyche wouldn't have a selection headache, however, as statistics show players of very similar potential and quality.

As per FBref, both players make over three progressive carries and have over 30% shots on target success per 90. The key difference, and the stat that should leave Gray worried about his place is Harrison's passing ability.

The Leeds man makes over double the amount of progressive passes per 90 than Gray, and as Everton look to finally find some goals in their side in a bid to change their fortunes on the pitch, this could be the key.

Harrison has certainly attracted praise in the past, too, even when struggling, with Kevin Phillips telling Football Insider:

"Harrison was quite brilliant last year.

"He hasn’t been anywhere near as effective as this season though which has surprised me.

“The second season is always more difficult though because people work you out, as a team and an individual. You need to come up with different ways of playing to combat that. The sign of a good player is one that is continually evolving and getting better.

"Harrison is undoubtedly a good player. It’s great that he got himself a goal. It will do his confidence the world of good."

The former Sunderland man was proved right as well, as Harrison – who was also once hailed as a "beast" by Leeds reporter Beren Cross – bounced back and could now be on his way to Everton in a move that may spark concern for Gray's future at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa are interested in completing the signing of Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte this summer, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

Is Laporte set to leave Man City?

City are still celebrating their impressive treble triumph in 2022/23, having beaten Inter Milan in last weekend's Champions League final. They also won both the Premier League and FA Cup during the season, cementing their place in the history of English football.

While many individuals have played enormous roles in City's success, whether it be Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, one player who has had more of a bit-part job is Laporte.

The 29-year-old only started 11 of his side's league games throughout the campaign, and with the likes of Ruben Dias and John Stones playing so well, it could be difficult for him to win his place back moving forward.

For that reason, the £120,000-a-week-earning Laporte could potentially move away this summer in order to be a regular starter, which is where Villa come into play, having been linked with him in the recent past.

Do Villa want to sign Laporte this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones claimed that Unai Emery is keen on acquiring Laporte's signature in the near future, although his exit is far from a given:

"There's definitely interest. There are a few options that Villa are looking at. Laporte is obviously potentially leaving Manchester City this summer, so that makes sense. Whether he would be willing to step down to Aston Villa remains to be seen."

Laporte, who was hailed as the "best in the world" back in 2020, would be a superb addition by Villa if they could get a deal over the line, with the Spain international someone who has won five Premier League titles with City, not to mention the Champions League now, among various other trophies.

Pep Guardiola has hailed the centre-back as "incredible" before and he could prove to be a step up from any other current Villa defender, for all the good form of someone like Tyrone Mings.

He would bring with him a winning mentality and so much quality in and out of possession, having enjoyed a 93.1% pass completion rate in the league in 2022/23, and averaged 2.5 clearances per game.

At 29, Laporte wouldn't represent the long-term future, which is a slight negative to the move, but the Villans should be able to get two or three years out of him at his top level, which could be ideal.

Real Madrid have put Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane atop their list of potential Karim Benzema replacements.

With just a year left on his current deal, Harry Kane has attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, but it is perhaps Europe’s biggest that will end up taking him away from north London.

What’s the latest on Harry Kane?

According to Spanish Football expert Guillem Balague, Real Madrid have made Kane their new priority to replace the departing Karim Benzema.

The news comes on the back of the recent announcement that the club’s all-time leading goalscorer has left the club for a lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League.

Before the Frenchman departed from the Spanish capital, the most likely destination for England’s record goalscorer looked like it would be Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

However, the new vacancy in Real’s attack has turned everything on its head.

The prospect of playing under Carlo Ancelotti and for a team that has made winning the Champions League a habit might prove too much to turn down for Kane.

What are the stumbling blocks?

The most significant barrier to this deal being completed is undoubtedly the hefty price tag that Daniel Levy has placed on his star man reported to be a minimum of £100m.

This is in spite of the fact that the 6ft striker only has a year left on his deal, and according to Balague, this figure is something ‘Real would be reluctant to pay.’

Then there is the much-publicised desire from the player himself to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal record of 260 goals, only 47 more than Kane’s current tally.

Would Harry Kane improve Real Madrid?

The Walthamstow-born forward has been an integral part of every Spurs side he has played in and quickly established himself as one of the first names on an England team sheet.

He certainly has the approval of Pep Guardiola, who only this year described him as ‘one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life.’

With praise like that, it shouldn’t be surprising to find out that according to WhoScored, Kane has averaged a rating of 7.51 throughout his 38 games in the Premier League this season.

Those 38 games have seen him rack up 33 goal involvements in a dysfunctional Spurs side.

In contrast, Benzema, the man he would be replacing in the Spanish capital, could only reach 22 goal involvements in LaLiga this term.

The underlying numbers are there as well. According to FBref, the Spurs man ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 14% for non-penalty goals per 90.

If Florentino Perez and Daniel Levy can figure out a way to make this deal work, Harry Kane could well end his career with a whole host of trophies in Madrid.

Referee John Brooks and his VAR team may have made a big mistake this weekend as they failed to punish Manchester City defender Rico Lewis for a handball inside his own box.

What's the latest on Man City vs Brentford?

The Cityzens sealed the Premier League title last weekend and so had nothing on the line as they made the trip to West London to take on Brentford.

And having lost to the Bees at the Etihad earlier on in the campaign, Pep Guardiola's men were once again not at their best when facing Thomas Frank and co.

In the end, a single goal from Ethan Pinnock – coming via a well-worked free-kick routine – was enough to seal all three points for Brentford who have now finished ninth in the league

However, the home side potentially could have won the game by an even greater margin had Brooks pointed to the spot when the ball clearly hit Lewis' arm inside his own box.

As you can see in the image below, taken from the Sky Sports highlights package, the Man City player is potentially lucky to get away with this one.

Was this a penalty for Brentford?

The incident occurs when Brentford come forward and Vitaly Janelt cuts a low ball into the box for Ben Mee to attack.

The defender takes a slightly heavy touch and then stretches to flick the ball towards goal but Lewis comes across to block it.

He does just that but uses his hand to stop the ball from continuing towards goal before City eventually clear their lines.

The commentator notes that "VAR are going to have to get involved" but referee Brookes was not advised to change his initial decision and so no penalty was awarded.

In the end, it wasn't too costly for Brentford as they still won the game and both teams could come away from the match with smiles on their faces with City obviously the league winners even before kick-off. Although Guardiola may have been disappointed as his team's run of 25 matches unbeaten in all competitions came to an end.

After the final whistle, Bees boss Frank spoke about how delighted he was for his team even if they couldn't quite secure a finish in one of the European spots.

He told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): "The team deserve a lot of praise. [The win] sums up a fantastic season.

"Sometimes you need to look back where we've actually come from. To finish ninth with 59 points and the second-lowest budget is incredible. Now we want to have a rest and come back as strong as possible."

Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou has been heavily linked with a move away from the Scottish Premiership with several English top flight clubs on the search for new managers.

The 57-year-old was asked by Sky Sports whether any of the speculation, particularly amid interest from Spurs, had come across his radar. To which he defiantly said: "And yet, I'm still here."

Adding more to his reply, Postecoglou said:

"Listen, it doesn't,""I think anyone that knows me knows that what is important for me is the here and now. I've never planned anything in my football career."My ambitions right now are to enjoy tomorrow and have a good game and try to win a cup final to have a special year. It's not every year that you get the chance to win a Treble. If anyone thinks that I am thinking anything other than that then they don't know me."

Celtic face Iverness in the Scottish Cup final and the manager appears focused on bringing the treble home for Celtic fans.

What's the latest on Ange Postecoglou's Celtic future?

In the last 48 hours, the Daily Mail's Rob Draper reported on behind the scenes news he's heard on Spurs' interest in Postecoglou in a promising boost for Celtic fans.

With Tottenham set to part ways with acting manager Ryan Mason following the end of the Premier League season, It's reported that Xabi Alonso, their initial no.1 candidate, had ruled himself out of contention while Postecoglou looks quite likely to commit to another year at Celtic.

For Spurs there wouldn't be an exorbitant exit clause due to the 57-year-old's one-year rolling contract with Celtic. Yet, the manager's desire is to remain at the club with his "ultimate ambition" said to be to guide Celtic through to the Champions League knockout stages.

Additionally, the current Celtic side has been "largely recruited by him" and so Postecoglou wants to yield returns on that faith shown in him by the club.

What is Ange Postecoglou's contract situation at Celtic?

As reported by the Daily Mail, Postecoglou is on a one-year rolling contract. This means that unless terminated by either the club or the manager, it will renew again and "roll" into another season.

For Celtic, it's a precarious situation as they can do little to prevent Postecoglou from leaving if he decided to due to the lack of a prohibitive exit clause.

For instance, another former Spurs managerial candidate, Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has a £17m release clause, while the Daily Mail claims Postecoglou's contract does not contain an "expensive" clause.

That said, Postecoclgou seems set for another year at the club with a European adventure in sight.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their attempts to bolster their midfield options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Newcastle?

According to Calcio Mercato, the Magpies are one of the clubs eyeing up a potential bargain swoop to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the Old Lady powerhouse is yet to reach an agreement over a new deal with the Italian giants and this means that he is set to be a free agent at the end of June.

It is stated that Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also in the race for his signature, whilst the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona could also join the growing list of suitors.

How has Adrien Rabiot performed this season?

The former Paris Saint-Germain maestro has been in terrific form in the Serie A for Juventus in 2022/23 and his arrival could be bad news for current Toon midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Newcastle's academy graduate has been a crucial cog in Eddie Howe's side in the Premier League – starting 27 matches – but his position in the starting line-up would be under threat with Rabiot in the building.

Longstaff has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.74 and chipped in with one goal and 1.8 tackles and interceptions per match in the top-flight. The Englishman has also created 0.7 chances per game for his teammates and won 47% of his physical duels.

Rabiot, meanwhile, could offer more quality at both ends of the pitch and in his average performance level.

The 28-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.06 across 28 Serie A starts and produced eight goals and 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game for the Italian giants. This suggests that the Frenchman, who has created 0.9 chances per match in the Italian top-flight, would be an improvement on Longstaff in terms of what he is able to provide in and out of possession.

Rabiot, who ex-teammate Gianluigi Buffon once hailed as a "wardrobe" due to his impressive physique, wins the ball back more frequently for his side and carries a great goalscoring threat, whilst they create a similar amount for their respective sides.

The France international has also averaged more progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 (3.3) than the 25-year-old (1.04) over the last 365 days and this indicates that the Juventus star is better at bringing the ball forward and progressing the team up the pitch.

The £152k-per-week machine has also featured in 60 Champions League matches across his career, whilst the Magpies man has never played in a European game, and Howe could lean on his experience in the competition if they qualify for it in their last two Premier League outings.

Therefore, Longstaff should be concerned by the possible arrival of Rabiot as the Frenchman could take up his position in the starting XI and leave the English gem as a rotational option rather than a go-to starter.