From You'll Never Walk Alone to Blue Moon, the Premier League is packed with walk-out songs that electrify the crowd and set the stage for kickoff.
Football and music are inseparable, with songs serving as the soundtrack to a club’s identity. Whether it’s terrace chants passed down through generations, stadium DJs setting the mood before kickoff, or tunes adopted by supporters, music plays a crucial role in the matchday experience.
One of the sport's most cherished traditions is the walkout song—a track that sets the stage as the home side and their opponents emerge from the tunnel. More than just a pre-match ritual, the right song fuels the crowd’s passion and sends a message to the opposition. It’s the first thing visiting players hear as they step onto unfamiliar turf, so it needs to make an impact. That’s why clubs stick with signature tracks, ensuring the same charged atmosphere greets every kickoff.
The Premier League is home to some of the most iconic walkout anthems, with clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal boasting tracks that resonate through the stands. However, not every team gets it right—some pre-match choices miss the mark.
From Manchester City's "Blue Moon" to Liverpool's "You'll Never Walk Alone," the league is full of songs that define a club's identity. GOAL has compiled a list of the walkout music for all 20 top-flight sides.
Liverpool | You'll Never Walk Alone | Gerry and the Peacemakers
One of football’s most legendary walkout songs, Gerry and the Pacemakers' rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone became synonymous with Liverpool in the 1960s. Its influence grew so strong that the club officially incorporated its title into their crest as their motto in 1992.
Read more about the You'll Never Walk Alone Liverpool FC chant here.
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Arsenal | The Angel – North London Forever | Louis Dunford
has emerged as Arsenal’s go-to anthem in recent years. Although tracks like , Fatboy Slim's hits, and Eminem's music have featured in the pre-match buildup at the Emirates, Louis Dunford's tribute to the Gunners has taken center stage since its release in February 2022.
West Ham | I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles | John Kellette
Originally released in 1919 by American musician Ben Selvin, this classic tune found its way into West Ham’s identity between the 1920s and 1940s, cementing itself as one of English football’s most recognizable anthems. At the London Stadium, the song sets the stage for kickoff, accompanied by a spectacle of bubbles drifting across the pitch.
The tradition took hold after former manager Charlie Paynter introduced the song, and it has since become an inseparable part of the club's heritage.
Chelsea | Liquidator | Harry J Allstars
Many clubs across English football have adopted the instrumental track by Jamaican band Harry J Allstars for their pre-match walkouts, but Chelsea proudly claim to be the pioneers, having introduced it at Stamford Bridge back in 1969. Over the years, the tune has echoed through various stadiums, with clubs such as Wycombe Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Yeovil Town, and St. Johnstone also making it their own. However, it remains most closely associated with the west London giants.
Two of Australia’s finest batters will go head-to-head in the BBL at the SCG on Saturday
AAP20-Jan-20232:32
Miller: The benefits in Steve Smith’s Sussex deal
Australia could have a ready-made replacement for Aaron Finch in T20 cricket, with Steven Smith declaring his desire to open more often in the shortest format.Smith was left out of Australia’s team for the majority of their home T20 World Cup disappointment last year, featuring in the middle order in only the final group game.His response on return to T20 cricket in the BBL has been emphatic, with an impressive 36 off 27 balls for Sydney Sixers on a difficult SCG wicket last Sunday before a 56-ball century against Adelaide Strikers in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday.Related
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Smith has long indicated his preference is to bat at the top of the order in T20 during the fielding restrictions.”I like it up top, who wouldn’t want to open in T20 cricket?” Smith said. “Two men out, it gives yourself a chance to just play the ball as you see it early on.”And then once the fielders go out you’ve got yourself in and have the chance to play your shots. It’s a place I enjoy batting. I did it a couple of times in the IPL and went okay.”Australia’s T20 captain Finch is yet to announce his retirement from international cricket, but is considered long odds to play in the 2024 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.Cameron Green and Travis Head would loom as the likely frontrunners to replace Finch at the top, with other options including Alex Carey, Josh Philippe and Josh Inglis.Steven Smith struck a brilliant century against Adelaide Strikers•Getty Images
Smith said he had not considered whether his BBL output could help his cause to partner David Warner at the top when Australia next walk out for a T20 fixture, in August.”I’m not reading too much into it,” he said. “I am just going out and playing and doing my best. We will wait and see what the future holds, it’s a while until the next T20 international anyway.”Smith and Warner will face off on Saturday night in the BBL, with the game on the verge of being sold out and the potential for the biggest crowd for a Sydney BBL game since January 2017.
Smith opening in T20s
69 (47) – RR vs CSK, 2020 50 (27) – RR vs Kings XI, 2020 3 (7) – RR vs KKR, 2020 5 (5) – RR vs RCB, 2020 39 (34) – RR vs KKR, 2021 36 (27) – Sixers vs Scorchers, 2023 101 (56) – Sixers vs Strikers, 2023
Warner showed some signs of firing ahead of the blockbuster on Thursday night with 26 in the Sydney Thunder’s crucial eight-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades.Warner said afterwards he expected life to be harder for Smith against Thunder at the SCG than at Coffs Harbour on Tuesday, where the right-hander hit seven sixes.”The boundaries are going to be bigger for Smudge,” Warner quipped. “They’re not going to be a 60-metre hit for him. So we’ll see if he can come out and clear those [SCG] boundaries.”
Despite the Reds’ excellent run under Arne Slot – sitting top of the Premier League and Champions League – one Liverpool player now reportedly wants to head for the Anfield exit door.
Liverpool transfer news
Liverpool’s slot machine hit the jackpot once again against Aston Villa, securing a 2-0 victory courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s brilliance. The Egyptian set up the first for Darwin Nunez before single-handedly countering late on to seal the points for his side and send them five points clear at the top of the Premier League. 15 wins in 17 games in all competitions, Slot has made an unprecedented start to life as a manager in English football.
What makes the Dutchman’s start even more impressive is how little business Liverpool completed in the summer transfer window, deciding to welcome just two players in the form of Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, with the latter on loan at Valencia for the rest of the campaign.
2025 could prove to be slightly more chaotic, however, given that Virgil van Dijk, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are yet to agree new deals and remain on course to become free agents at the end of the campaign. Those departures would be disastrous for the Reds, who could also be left bidding farewell to another player.
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According to Caught Offside, Wataru Endo now wants out of Liverpool after struggling to break into Slot’s side so far this season. The Japan international has reportedly attracted the interest of Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Fulham with Liverpool valuing their midfielder at just €15-18 (£12-15m) in 2025.
Endo has fallen victim to the emergence of Ryan Gravenberch, who has a strong argument to be Liverpool’s Player of the Season so far and looks to have done enough to show his competition the door.
"Exceptional" Endo must be replaced
If this is to be it for Endo at Anfield then Liverpool must replace their midfielder when next summer arrives. The Japan international may not take the spotlight very often, if at all, but he adds crucial depth. Without him, Liverpool are arguably one injury to Gravenberch away from forcing Alexis Mac Allister out of position once again and losing the attacking element that he adds in his preferred role.
To his credit, Endo has outperformed the expectations placed on his shoulders since arriving at Liverpool last season as Jurgen Klopp struggled to find a solution to his midfield problem.
Summing up his impact, Klopp had fallen in love with the £50,000-a-week midfielder by the end of his tenure, telling reporters after Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea, via Sqawka: “I’m pretty sure in three [or] four years Wataru will sign another long-term contract at Liverpool just because he might be 30 or 31 on his passport but he’s not.
“He’s a machine. He is footballing-wise exceptional. His defensive brain is outstanding. He gives us a lot of freedom for a lot of things. Yeah, top development. Very helpful, very helpful.”
ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2015..And Mumbai Indians’ fielders were helping his cause with a few dropped catches•BCCIIt took a fantastic diving catch from Lendl Simmons to dismiss Gayle in the third over•BCCIFrom then on, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli put on 215 runs, the highest for any wicket in Twenty20 history•PTI De Villiers flayed the bowlers to all parts of the park with some classical cricket shots•BCCISlowly, more than just Sarfaraz Khan’s family started cheering for de Villiers as the ‘Mumbai-Mumbai’ chants turned to ‘AB-AB’•BCCIThe duo powered Royal Challengers to 235 for 1, the highest team total yet this season, and left Rohit Sharma and Mumbai’s team management with a lot to ponder over•BCCIA brilliant throw from Kohli and some quick glove work from Dinesh Karthik resulted in the run-out of Parthiv Patel•PTI Despite the fall of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard tried to give some life to the chase with his 24-ball 49 but got out miscuing a S Aravind delivery to Mitchell Starc at sweeper cover•BCCISimmons managed to remain unbeaten on 68 off 53 balls but had little support from the other end as Royal Challengers ran away with a 39-run win•PTI
Crucial decision goes against Pakistan as umpire’s soft-signal comes under scrutiny again
Danyal Rasool12-Dec-2022Ollie Pope’s diving catch down the leg-side to dismiss Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel cost Pakistan and shouldn’t have been given out, according to Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Speaking after Pakistan succumbed to a 26-run defeat in Multan that confirmed a series loss to England, Babar said it appeared as if the ball had touched the ground”The Shakeel dismissal cost us,” he said. “It looked to us as if the ball had touched the ground. As a professional, you have to respect the umpire’s decision, but we felt the ball had been grounded.”Related
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Shakeel’s dismissal came at a vital juncture in the match, with lunch approaching and Pakistan reasonably positioned to pull off their second-highest fourth-innings run-chase. Pakistan required another 64 runs to win when Shakeel – six runs away from a hundred – pulled at a short ball outside leg stump, getting a tickle on it. Pope dived to his right to snare it low off the ground, although the replays suggested significant uncertainty as to whether the catch was clean.Part of the frustration of Shakeel’s dismissal was down to the manner in which the decision was reached, with Aleem Dar sending a soft signal of “out” to third umpire Joel Wilson. Wilson ended up sticking with it to confirm the dismissal.Despite discussions among the ICC Full Members around the protocols surrounding the on-field soft-signal, there has been no change to the playing conditions itself (the IPL has scrapped the soft-signal). The regulations continue to state that in the event of “inconclusive replay evidence, the on-field decision communicated at the start of the consultation process shall stand”.The TV umpire does review the footage and has complete authority to make his/her decision independent of the soft signal. Increasingly the trend among match officials has been to offer clarity to any decision and one way they have agreed to do that is to avoid using language that reflects that – so words such as ‘conclusive’ or ‘inconclusive’ referring to evidence have been removed from the radio communication between the TV and on-field umpires and instead, the former simply conveys his own decision as either out or not out.The issue is likely to be on the agenda of the ICC’s cricket committee when it next meets in March.”I think it’s for the umpires to decide [if the soft signal should be done away with],” Babar said. “Like I said, we felt the ball was grounded.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The Pakistan dressing-room’s reaction was one of disbelief after Shakeel’s dismissal was upheld, revealing both surprise and a sense of the importance of the moment. Control of the match switched hands once and for all, with England taking the final three wickets with Pakistan still well away from the target.England captain Ben Stokes was more equivocal in his view. Immediately after the match, he said he felt there weren’t any doubts about the ball carrying, but also pointed out those sorts of decisions could end up going either way.”I don’t think [there were any doubts about the catch], personally,” he said. “The only thing where you start worrying is when it gets looked at for a long period of time because that’s when you start having doubt in your own head. I’ve been part of games before where I’ve been on the team who’s been on the receiving end of those decisions and you’re always like, ‘that’s not carried’.”You see a lot of lot of those decisions and those type of catches in cricket. You could say the similar thing was when Rooty got caught at short leg – you could say that might have touched the floor. But you’ve just got to go with what the umpire’s decision is. It went our way but I’ve been involved in a few decisions where stuff like that has gone against us. But you can’t change that.”The man at the centre of the controversy was certain the ball had reached him on the full but admitted that, after that, it was hard to be sure.”I knew it had carried,” Pope said. “I didn’t think it had bounced before. As a keeper when you’ve got the gloves on you honestly can’t tell. I didn’t think it had touched the ground after. When you have gloves on you feel it go in but that’s it.”
Over-coached, over-analysed, overwrought and, very often, over all too soon. The enormity of the entire cricketing structure in England and Wales is the burden these young men must carry. If they succeed, it is despite of it
George Dobell28-Feb-2015England can still qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup if they lose to Sri Lanka. Such is the bloated nature of the tournament, they can even qualify if they lose by a similar overwhelming margin as they did against New Zealand.But if England are going to move into the knockout stages with any confidence, with any credibility, with any realistic hope, then they have to start winning games now. Expecting to turn up for a major game and suddenly find form is naive. And a multi-million pound organisation that has supposedly planned for this event for several years should really not be trusting to luck.If England were to produce a highlights DVD of their last five-and-a-half World Cup campaigns it would be found in the horror section of any shop.The unvarnished truth is that, since losing the World Cup final of 1992 in Melbourne, England have only won five games against teams from the top eight of the Test rankings and none against Australia, India or New Zealand. Their other 12 victories have come against the likes of Netherlands (three times), Kenya (twice), Canada, Scotland, Ireland, UAE, Namibia, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. And there have even been some defeats along the way.The usual suspects are blamed for such a record: the coaches, the players, the standard – and amount – of county cricket, the draining international schedule. Perhaps there is a grain of truth in each of them.But a detailed analysis does not support such a conclusion. In between World Cups, England have played some very good limited-overs cricket. In 2012, they topped the ICC’s ODI rankings. In 2013 they contested – and probably should have won – the Champions Trophy.They won a tri-series in Australia in 2006-07 and the four-nation Sharjah tournament in 1997. They beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in 2007 and made the final of the Champions Trophy in 2004, which they probably should have won too. In 2009, they got the better of South Africa in South Africa. It is a patchy record, certainly, but it is not as hopeless as their recent World Cup record.That suggests, perhaps, a propensity to underperform on the biggest stage. Just like their counterparts in the national football side, when England’s cricketers find themselves in global events, the 2010 World T20 is an obvious exception, they seem to not so much revel in the spotlight, but become frozen in it.While players from other teams seem inspired, England seem overawed. They seem more likely to buckle and cower than flourish. Fear of failure may well be at least as big an impediment as domestic structure or any inherent lack of talent.It is not hard to see why. Put yourselves in the shoes of these young men for a moment: imagine your 24-year-old self addressing a press conference. Imagine your words being used against you. Imagine having a net while a member of the England support staff makes notes on a clipboard. While members of the media judge you.Imagine, too, the last time any of this England squad played this great game for fun. Just for fun. Many of these players were talented -spotted before they were 10 and have been hot-housed ever since.Peter Moores wakes to another destruction of his methods most mornings•Getty ImagesOh, sure, they’ve enjoyed it many times. They will have enjoyed success. But they will also have been expected to lead the way for every team they have represented. They will have been promoted beyond their age group and, at every level, felt pressure to perform and to climb to the next rung of the ladder. Most of them will not have played a game for years without their dismissal being analysed by the media, their opponents and their own coaching team.Add to that the layer of coaches and analysts and support staff – some excellent, some looking to justify their own existence, nearly all well-meaning – at every level. School, county age-group, England age-group, Academy, Lions… all with their views and their advice and their note-taking.One recent England player observed that the England dressing room during Andy Flower’s tenure was the most claustrophobic environment they had experienced. An environment where every movement was catalogued for dissection. The environment where a member of the support staff was told not to celebrate their birthday lest it create a distraction.Those of us in the media do not help. Our scrutiny, propensity to over-praise and over-criticise – neither benefits in the long term – and, most of all, the sense that we are always there: watching training, watching games, watching in press conferences and on Twitter.Former players are often the most critical. While some simply tell it as they see it – Geoff Boycott and most of the Sky team, for example – others have a clear agenda or need to produce hard-hitting comments to ensure they remain commercially popular.Peter Moores wakes to another destruction of his methods most mornings. It must be hard for him not to ignore that and not pass on his anxiety to the team.In recent days, “stories” have circulated about England players enjoying nights out and Eoin Morgan declining to sing the national anthem. Some even complained that, following the defeat to New Zealand, the coach and some players were seen smiling as they walked through the airport.None of these things is the reason England have been losing. And none of them would be much of an issue if England were winning. But, coming now, they tighten the noose a little more. They increase the sensation that every move is analysed; that the world is closing in; that they’re under pressure.Cricket, in England at least, is a serious business.And while England’s joyless methodology can still work, up to a point, in Test cricket, it is an impediment to limited-overs success. For while success in Tests can be earned by denial and discipline, in limited-overs cricket success requires other skills. It requires freedom and raw skill. It’s ever more about allowing instinct to take over. It’s ever more about allowing the joy to suppress the pressure.Ah, but players of every other country have the same issues, I hear you say. But no other team carries with it the same press pack. No other team has to stage an almost daily press conference. No other team has such a deep professional structure, meaning their players never develop without the complication of coaching. No other team is under quite the same sort of constant, unyielding, joyless pressure.And we tell them to relax and be themselves? It’s the last thing they know how to do.Over-coached, over-analysed, overwrought and, very often, over all too soon. The enormity of the entire cricketing structure in England and Wales is the burden these young men must carry. If they succeed, it is despite of it.
Brendan Rodgers has admitted his frustration at an off-field issue happening at Celtic currently, claiming the situation is a “disappointing” one.
Celtic cruise into another cup final
The Hoops faced Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals on Saturday, in a game that looked exciting on paper, as it pitted the two teams level on points at the top of the Scottish Premiership currently against each other.
Instead, Celtic ran riot at Hampden Park, beating their rivals 6-0 and scoring three goals in either half, booking a place in the final against Rangers next month.
It was a scintillating performance by the Hoops, who once again showed why they are the most prominent team in Scotland, even though Aberdeen have impressed in their own right so far this season. While the result at Hampden was a memorable one, there was still something irking Rodgers after the game that needs to be addressed at Celtic moving forward.
Rodgers disappointed by Celtic team leaks
Speaking to reporters [via RTE], Rodgers admitted his displeasure at his Celtic starting lineups constantly being leaked before games, saying the individual doing it cannot call themselves a Hoops supporter.
“It’s obviously clearly disappointing. It’s something that we’ve seen before, and it’s not ideal, however it comes out. In the modern game, there’s no real secrets in football. That’s the reality of it. But it’s not nice when it gets out there. And especially if it’s out from Celtic supporters.
“It might feel great for someone’s ego to put it out and pass it on to other people. But I can tell you as a manager that I’ve had that before with other teams.
“And when I’ve got to know about it, it has really, really helped me in my preparation. So whoever is putting it out, if it’s someone from Celtic, you’re not a Celtic supporter. You’re not a Celtic supporter because you’re not helping Celtic. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not a Celtic supporter, we will do everything we can to find out.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks on.
It is good to see Rodgers speak out about this problem, and as he rightly points out, the modern game is full of antics like this, with people wanting to gain notoriety, even without necessarily revealing themselves.
Supporters drink in so much content these days, with their impatience meaning they need to hear news as soon as possible, meaning even waiting until an hour before kick off to see starting lineups feels like a struggle.
If the person leaking the Celtic team supports the Hoops, they would be wise to listen to Rodgers and stop risking giving opponents an early advantage, in terms of allowing the opposition manager to know exactly what team their side will be facing.
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The Celtic defender should be a regular in the team, even with the usual first-choice fit.
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Thankfully, these leaks don’t appear to be having much impact on Celtic’s season currently, but the boss has spoken, and his demands need to be listened to.
New England boss Thomas Tuchel will reveal his first-ever Three Lions squad later this week, it has been confirmed.
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Tuchel to announce squad later this week
First assignment as England boss
Three Lions take on Albania and Latvia in World Cup qualifiers
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WHAT HAPPENED?
England are scheduled to face Albania and Latvia on March 21 and March 24 respectively in 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Ahead of those games, new manager Thomas Tuchel will reveal his first-ever England squad on Friday, March 14, it was confirmed on Monday.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Tuchel was named as Gareth Southgate's successor in October last year, but the German coach did not formally take charge of the team until January 1. In the last three months, the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich head coach has watched several club games across the country to assess his options before announcing his final squad for the March international break.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 51-year-old manager has decided to begin his stint as head coach of the England national team by providing all eligible players a clean slate in regard to whatever happened during predecessor Gareth Southgate's reign.
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WHAT NEXT FOR THOMAS TUCHEL?
The German head coach will only have one more Premier League match left to watch before finalising his group. He could be in attendance at London Stadium on Monday as West Ham take on Newcastle.
Manchester United "will not be happy" with Marcus Rashford's bright Aston Villa form amid reports of a permanent summer exit, warned Dwight Yorke.
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Yorke excited to see Rashford shine at Villa Park
Believes Man Utd made a mistake
Hailed Emery for getting the best out of him
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Since joining Aston Villa, Rashford’s performances have seen a remarkable upturn, highlighted by his pivotal role in their 2-1 comeback win against Chelsea last Saturday. The forward registered both assists for Marco Asensio, helping Villa secure a vital victory.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ex-Manchester United forward Yorke has been quick to praise Rashford’s revival at Villa. At 27, he believes that Rashford should be one of the Premier League’s top performers and lavished praise on Villa for their shrewd business in the winter transfer window.
WHAT YORKE SAID
Speaking toYorke said: "I know there's still 11 games, but you watch. The reason why Villa will be so sustainable and consistent for the remainder of the season is because of the addition of Rashford. He is electrifying. I've been in football for a long time, and I consider myself as a baller. This guy is also a baller. Rashford can fly. You get his mindset right; he will lift up the place if he's in the right mood. And he looks like he's getting his juice back.
"I think the manager that he's playing for is an exceptional manager and we'll get the best out of him. The Man United camp will not be very happy with what they're about to see in the coming weeks and months. Watch him go to work. He's just going to send a message and say, right, there you go. Just watch the space."
DID YOU KNOW?
According to , the England international is now seriously considering a permanent move to Villa Park. Rashford is reportedly eager to continue his development under Unai Emery, whom he believes is the right manager to help him rediscover his best form. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the Carrington graduate is hoping that a strong full season with Villa will help him secure a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Aston Villa maintained their position in the Champions League places in the Premier League with a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at Villa Park on Saturday.
The Villans are fourth in the division, after nine matches, despite a late goal from Evanilson in stoppage time preventing them from picking up all three points against the Cherries.
Ross Barkley had given the hosts the lead with 14 minutes to go but the Brazilian produced a fine header in the 96th minute to beat Emi Martinez.
Unai Emery’s side are now 11 matches unbeaten in all competitions and, whilst the Spaniard will surely be pleased with that, he may still be disappointed that his team did not claim all three points on Saturday.
They could have secured the victory if super substitute Jhon Duran had pulled off his usual heroics, as the Colombia international missed a ‘big chance’ after coming off the bench.
Ollie Watkins cut the ball back for the striker and he caught the ball brilliantly but the curling effort fizzed past the outside of the post, rather than settling into the bottom corner.
Aston Villa could find an even bigger talent than Duran, though, when the January transfer window opens for business, amid reported interest in a Serie A starlet.
Aston Villa's interest in Serie A sensation
According to JuveLive, Aston Villa are interested in Juventus starlet Kenan Yildiz and are eyeing him up ahead of the next transfer window at the turn of the year.
The report claims that Juventus are preparing for January and that they could need to replace one of their players, as the Turkey international has garnered interest from across Europe in recent months.
It states that the most interested club in the young forward is the Villans, as sporting director Monchi would be ‘delighted’ to bring the forward to England ahead of the second half of the season.
JuveLive claims that Monchi is desperate to secure a deal for Yildiz and that he would be willing to do ‘crazy’ things to strike an agreement with the Italian giants, as it also reveals that Villa would have the money to do business with them if they get through to the next round of the Champions League.
The outlet reveals that the Old Lady would demand a fee of up to €70m (£58m) for the 19-year-old sensation, and adds that Villa would be willing to offer that amount of money ahead of any other interested club.
However, JuveLive reports that a deal is unlikely to be sanctioned by Juventus in the January transfer window and that it is more likely that a transfer would go ahead in the summer.
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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whilst it is not completely ruled out that Villa could swoop for Yildiz ahead of the upcoming window, they may have to wait until the end of the season to make their move.
If Monchi does get his wish and does ‘crazy’ things to bring the Turkish whiz to Villa Park, Emery could have an even bigger talent than Duran on his hands.
Jhon Duran's form for Aston Villa
The 20-year-old forward, who turns 21 in December, is an emerging star at Villa Park and looks to have a huge future ahead of him, at the club and in football in general.
Duran, who joined from Chicago Fire at the start of last year, has scored 15 goals in 62 appearances for the club in all competitions to date, including nine goals in 44 Premier League outings.
He has also scored two goals in 13 caps for Colombia at senior international level, which shows that the left-footed ace has proven his goalscoring quality at club and national level at a young age.
24/25 Premier League
Jhon Duran
Appearances
9
Starts
0
xG
2.37
Goals
4
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Duran is yet to start a game in the Premier League this season but has still plundered four goals from 2.37 xG.
He has been a terrific super sub as a scorer, albeit his lack of creativity may be one of the reasons why Emery has opted against starting him regularly, and appears to be a fantastic prospect for the future.
Whilst Duran is clearly a big talent, given his return of four goals in the Premier League this season as a 20-year-old striker, Yildiz is an even bigger prospect.
Why Kenan Yildiz is a bigger talent than Jhon Duran
Firstly, the Turkish gem is 19 and does not turn 20 until next May, which means that he is around 18 months younger than the Aston Villa striker.
Despite being considerably younger than Duran, by senior measures, Yildiz has already emerged as a regular starter for Juventus in the Serie A.
Kenan Yildiz celebrates.
The teenage whiz, who is predominantly used as a second striker or a left winger, scored two goals in 27 appearances and nine starts as an 18-year-old in the Serie A last term.
Yildiz has also been capped 16 times by Turkey, which means he has been capped more than Duran at international level, and scored one goal for his country, to go along with four assists.
U23 scout Antonio Mango once hailed his “exceptional” technical qualities and they have been on show in the Italian top-flight for Juventus this season.
24/25 Serie A
Kenan Yildiz
Appearances
9
Starts
7
Goals
2
Assists
2
Pass accuracy
87%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 19-year-old ace has been a regular starter in the Serie A for the Old Lady and contributed with four goal involvements in seven starts.
The versatile forward has also scored one goal in three starts in the Champions League, taking him into double figures for starts, which shows that Thiago Motta trusts him to start on the biggest stage.
Therefore, Monchi could land an even bigger talent than Duran as Yildiz is already starting games regularly and making an impact at the top end of the pitch for a European giant, whilst being younger than the Villa man – who is yet to displace Morgan Rogers or Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa struck gold selling a star who's now worth £30m less than Duran
Aston Villa may be happy they sold him when they did