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A nine-man Glasgow Rangers side crashed out of the Europa League at the round of 16 stage on Thursday evening.

Steven Gerrard’s men were defeated at Ibrox for the first time in just over a year by Czech Republic champions Slavia Prague, also ending a 13-game unbeaten run in the competition.

The visitors took the lead early in the first half, but things went from bad to worse after the break. Just six minutes after being introduced from the bench, Kemar Roofe received a straight red card for catching the goalkeeper with a high boot.

Slavia Prague doubled their advantage shortly later as Leon Balogun followed the 28-year-old in for an early shower.

However, the Gers duo weren’t the only two players to badly let Gerrard down on the night. You could probably make a case for pretty much everyone, although the fact that Scott Arfield was hooked after just 55 minutes was rather damning.

As a key member of that engine room, in the absence of the injured Ryan Jack particularly, the 32-year-old veteran should’ve stepped up to the mark in what was a historic occasion for the newly-crowned Scottish champions.

Instead, he was lightweight and anonymous alongside Steven Davis and Glen Kamara.

Arfield managed the fewest number of touches (29) of any Rangers player to start from the off, even fewer than goalkeeper Allan McGregor (40), and that’s just not what you need from someone who is supposed to pull the strings in the middle of the park.

From those limited touches, the Canada international struggled in possession, losing the ball nine times whilst he could only make 71% of his 24 passing attempts. This was comfortably the worst effort from any Gers player, and that’s just not what you need from a midfielder.

Considering Arfield is averaging an accuracy of 84.4% of his passes this season, via WhoScored, he was clearly having an off night.

The former Burnley ace won just one of seven duels (14%) too, only emphasising how much he struggled to combat the industrious strength of the visiting Czech Republicans.

GlasgowLive graded Arfield a 4/10, the joint-worst from the starting XI alongside Balogun and claimed: ‘It’s just not worked out for him since coming back from injury and he really struggled in his 50 odd minutes on the pitch.’

Indeed, the ageing midfielder hasn’t managed above a 6.22 WhoScored rating since mid-December and last night was just another sign of why the Gers should be looking to move on from him sooner rather than later.

He badly let Gerrard and the club down.

AND in other news, Exclusive: West Ham will be monitoring Rangers striker, claims Pundit…

Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from their draw with Brighton & Hove Albion when they play host to Leicester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Villans will head into the match against Leicester on the back of a 0-0 draw with Brighton away from home in the top flight.

Dean Smith’s side will be determined to make amends when they try to secure all three points from the encounter and maintain their push for a place in the top four.

With that in mind, here is Football FanCast’s prediction for Smith’s starting XI to face Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Ahmed Elmohamady will most likely replace Matty Cash at right-back as one of three changes that could be made this afternoon.

Smith’s No.1 Emi Martinez is fast becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and will keep his place in the starting XI, as he has done for all league games so far this season.

Apart from Elmohamady coming in for the injured Cash, the rest of the back four will be left unchanged. Alongside Matt Target, the in-form Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa are undroppable if fit, and they should provide stability at the back to combat Leicester’s lively attacking players.

It’s hard to imagine too many changes to the midfield, either, with Douglas Luiz and John McGinn also both likely to keep their places, although Morgan Sanson could return in place of Ross Barkley to earn his first start of the season.

Going forward, Ollie Watkins keeps on improving, with two goals in his last four starts.

Last year’s Villa Player of the Season Jack Grealish is a mainstay, while the £75k-per-week Trezeguet, valued at €15m (£13m), deserves the chance to stake his claim for a starting spot after impressing in a brief cameo against Brighton, which means Bertrand Traore may be forced to settle for a place on the bench.

AND in other news, Tyrone Mings was superb for Aston Villa vs Brighton…

Daylight robbery. If there was one phrase to describe Sunderland’s draw with Crewe on Saturday, it would be that.

The Mackems were 2-0 down after 38 minutes and following Grant Leadbitter’s dislocated shoulder, it looked as though there was no way back for the Black Cats.

However, cue four game-changing substitutions from Lee Johnson. He was fed up with a large portion of his side and who can blame him following the ease with which Crewe found proceedings at Gresty Road?

Jordan Jones and Chris Maguire stepped up to the plate, though, and scored two delightful goals. Jones fired in from long range before the latter popped up with a rare strike this season, volleying home.

It was a rescue act from the two attackers in what was a rare quiet day at the office for the likes of Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke.

We know they have the ability to provide quality and you can excuse their poor performances. That being said, you cannot excuse some of their defenders; namely Callum McFadzean.

The left-back has been particularly poor in recent months and once again on Saturday, he let Johnson and his teammates down. He was given a match rating of 2/10 by The Chronicle’s James Hunter, who gave him the following review; “Caught out time and again, and it was no surprise he was hooked on the hour.”

A quick look at the stats tells you just how poor McFadzean was. He completed only 54% of his passes, a tally that only Leadbitter had a worse record in.

On top of that, he lost possession of the ball on 26 occasions. Alongside Max Power, it was the worst number of anyone to take the field for Johnson’s side.

Defensively, he won two out of five ground duels but we shouldn’t be shocked by a performance as lackadaisical as this. McFadzean was guilty of giving away a penalty against Wimbledon back in November and hasn’t been too convincing since.

Both goals came down his side in the 2-1 defeat to Plymouth as he failed to get tight enough to his men.

His role in the side is becoming a big problem for Johnson, especially when you consider what else the manager has to contend with at left-back. Denver Hume is still out injured while Jake Vokins has hardly been convincing himself since a loan move from Southampton.

Like McFadzean, he can be a bit lazy in possession and had a torrid first game against MK Dons. Roker Report described it as one of the worst debuts they’ve seen from a Black Cats player.

If Sunderland want to get promoted, they will have to find an alternative solution from somewhere.

AND in other news, Imagine him & McGeady: Sunderland missed dream signing in “extremely talented” 27 y/o…

Karl Darlow was on the verge of an England call-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Three Lions coaching staff had been in ‘direct contact’ with the Newcastle man to tell him he was being considered.

However, Steve Bruce then restored fit-again Martin Dubravka to the line-up following the 3-1 defeat at Manchester United last month, and that has cost Darlow his opportunity.

Johnstone gets nod over Darlow, who may look to Wales

There was an opening in the England goalkeeper ranks after usual first-choice Jordan Pickford sustained a rib injury, but it has been filled instead by West Brom’s Sam Johnstone, selected alongside Dean Henderson and Nick Pope.

Darlow is understood to be ‘very upset’ at missing out on the call-up, which would have been one of the highlights of his career.

The 30-year-old has kept four clean sheets, made 88 saves and conceded 43 goals in his 25 appearances this season (via Premier League).

Darlow is eligible to represent Wales, and Ornstein says that they may try to persuade him to change allegiance. He rejected the switch in 2018, but it is said that the ‘door is not completely shut’.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Darlow may be frustrated with Bruce, but you can understand why the manager recalled Dubravka. The Slovakian is his usual first choice and was named the club’s Player of the Season in 2019/20.

Ultimately, Darlow gave the Bruce the justification he needed with an unconvincing performance in that game against Manchester United, when was twice beaten at his near post.

In other news, Lee Ryder slammed this attacker’s performance against Brighton. 

After seeing Aston Villa’s young guns put up a brave fight against Liverpool in the FA Cup third round last week, Dean Smith will no doubt have been suitably impressed with a number of his academy stars.

The Villa boss, and the club’s entire first-team, missed the clash against the Reds, with Mark Delaney taking charge of the side and the squad being made up of players from the U23s and U18s set-up.

And whilst Louie Barry no doubt picked up the headlines for being the man to score Villa’s only goal of the game, it’s Kaine Kesler who may be best suited to make a more immediate impression in the Premier League.

The 17-year-old made his first-team debut in that game against Jurgen Klopp’s side, and he more than held his own. As per Sofascore, his match rating of 6.9 was the second-highest overall of any outfield player for Villa, and when you look at the stats, it’s no surprise to see why.

He completed three of his six attempted dribbles, which was more than any Villa player on the pitch and made a whopping ten clearances (second-most) including one off the line as he proved that he doesn’t shirk his defensive duties either.

He also won seven out of his 13 duels too, showing that, despite coming up against a team full of seasoned professionals, he was more than able to handle himself in the physical challenges against top players.

The fact that he was playing out of his natural position – he’s spent his academy career at right-back but played further forward against Liverpool – simply adds weight to the argument that he looks more ready-made to adapt to the rigours and demands of the Premier League than some of his teammates in that game.

In fact, speaking to The Athletic, one source said: “He looks like he’s got a real chance of featuring for the first team in the future. His speed is frightening and that could set him apart.”

And writing for The Athletic, Gregg Evans revealed that “senior players have been taken back by his blistering pace and his desire to make an impression when called upon”, and that “Smith rates the rapid right-back highly”.

If he can play well in a young side against the Premier League champions, then he has every chance of competing in the top division when surrounded by Villa’s best first-team players.

Whilst Barry may be the one Villa fans keep a close eye on after his goal-scoring performance the other day, Kesler’s versatility and mature performance indicates he might see him make his mark on the first-team sooner than the young striker.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are interested in luring this Championship “match-winner”.

Carlton Palmer, while speaking exclusively to Football FanCast correspondent Tom Ward, has urged Aston Villa owner Wes Edens to sign Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley on a permanent transfer.

Palmer believes Villa Park is “the perfect fit” for the 26-year-old to thrive, having seen the England international net once and assist a goal in six Premier League appearances under Dean Smith since moving to Birmingham on a season-long deal.

Barkley had fallen behind Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic in Frank Lampard’s pecking order at Stamford Bridge and departed south west London in search of more regular game time ahead of next summer’s postponed Euros.

Barkley’s efforts under Smith have reportedly caught Chelsea’s attention, with multiple claims that the door remains open for the Everton product to return at the end of the term as Lampard has been impressed by both his attitude and form in claret and blue.

Villa would expect to be priced out of the market should they attempt to strike a permanent deal next summer, though Palmer would urge Edens and Sporting Director Johan Lange to at least try and sign the £96,154-per-week maestro.

“I think it’s the perfect fit for him, I really do,” he told Football FanCast. “I’ve always liked Ross Barkley.

“The only thing with Ross is he picks up too many injuries, but he’s a very, very good player, he is a talented player. I think to go to somewhere like Villa where there’s a lot of players around his age, all got something to prove, I think he just fits in nicely in the way the midfield plays with [Jack] Grealish.

“I’m just conscious of the amount of games he plays, he’s got to get that under his belt, where he’s playing. There’s no point coming in and being sensational for five or six games and then missing the next 10 games. He’s got to get 28 games in a season where he’s playing really well.”

Lampard’s decision to sanction Barkley’s loan move has been slammed previously by former Aston Villa forward Paul Merson, who noted in his column for the Daily Star how the Blues had played a ‘dangerous game’ by allowing the midfielder to leave for a club where he would be a ‘superstar’.

Barkley has proven Merson right since, with Smith starting the £19.35m-rated midfielder in all six available Premier League games before being without the 26-year-old for Monday’s defeat at West Ham United through a hamstring injury.

Yet despite failing to feature at the London Stadium, Barkley ranks third among all Villa players for goals scored in the Premier League this term (2), as well as for successful dribbles (12) and shots on target (6), while ranking second only to Grealish (27) for key passes (17), per SofaScore.

His hamstring strain was expected to keep Barkley out of action for two matches, but could make his return at Wolverhampton Wanderers in next week’s Midlands Derby after one game out following Friday’s scheduled encounter with Newcastle United being postponed.

AND in other news: “I think Villa could” – Exclusive: Pundit makes bold Premier League claim about Aston Villa.

David Sullivan potentially wasted a whopping £31m by signing Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt amid reports West Ham United could look to sell the striker next summer.

What’s the word?

According to Claret and Hugh, Haller is playing on borrowed time at the London Stadium after it was decided that the Ivory Coast international will be placed on the Irons’ transfer list at the end of the season.

Neither the forward nor the club are presently interested in a potential mid-season loan exit for the 26-year-old, who continues to have his admirers in Germany despite failing to make any real impact in England following his £45m capture in 2019.

At least three Bundesliga outfits are believed to have approached West Ham looking to discuss a temporary deal for Haller, only to be informed he is not available until the summer when he will cost any interested side at least £25m.

Further conversations between Hammers chiefs and the unnamed interested clubs have only increased the likelihood of a permanent transfer in the next off-season, when Haller will have earned close to £11m through his £115,000-per-week West Ham contract.

Haller has featured in 13 of David Moyes’ 14 Premier League squads thus far this season but only started seven of his appearances after the Irons lost leading striker Michail Antonio in October through the first of two hamstring injuries.

A major flop

While the claims of interest in Germany suggest Bundesliga clubs forgive Haller for struggling in the Premier League due to Moyes’ tactics, his spell in east London would forever be regarded as a major disaster should he leave the Irons next summer.

Former Director of Football Mario Husillos and manager Manuel Pellegrini spent big on making Haller the Irons’ record signing and awarding him the most-lucrative contract among current West Ham players.

For that, the Hammers have only been rewarded with 14 goals in 50 games across all competitions, including a hit-rate of one every 297 minutes in the Premier League.

Moyes continually asks Haller for more, with the former Manchester United coach urging the France-born forward to show in his performances why he developed a big reputation in Germany, where he netted 24 times in 60 Bundesliga appearances.

“I’ve got to say, he’s got a great reputation throughout Europe. His goals in Germany were excellent at Frankfurt, so let’s hope he can bring them to West Ham,” Moyes said.

“I would hope that I don’t need to categorise him that he can only play in a certain type of game. I want to see a big whole-hearted, committed centre-forward who we know can contribute to the team. We’ve got the makings of a good team and I want Seb to be part of it.”

It remains to be seen, however, for how much longer Haller is a part of Moyes’ team.

AND in other news, David Moyes can discover his ideal West Ham titan in a 12-goal star “everyone loves”.

Liverpool face Manchester United for the second time in a week on Sunday, as they travel to Old Trafford to face the Red Devils in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The third-round win against Aston Villa’s youngsters remains Liverpool’s only win of 2021 so far, with Jurgen Klopp’s side having been far from good enough in recent top-flight fixtures, which has seen them drop off the top of the Premier League table.

Thursday’s home defeat against Burnley, which brought an end to the Reds’ impressive undefeated record at Anfield, was perhaps the clearest example that Liverpool are not the force they were last season, and they will have to perform significantly better on Sunday if they want to beat Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Klopp’s side to line up against Manchester United, with four changes from the side that started against Burnley…

Alisson unsurprisingly keeps his place in goal, and he will be hoping for a similarly impressive performance against United this time out.

There is one change in defence, as Klopp rests Trent Alexander-Arnold after some woeful recent displays, with Neco Williams given the opportunity to impress.

With Jordan Henderson reportedly unlikely to feature, Thiago starts in the defensive-midfield role once again, with Curtis Jones coming in for Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield, despite the Swiss international being one of the better performers in recent games.

In attack, there are two changes, as both Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who earns £120k per week at Anfield, drop to the bench after poor performances against Burnley.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino replace them to start at Old Trafford, and Klopp will be desperate for his front three to rediscover their goalscoring touch against Liverpool’s old rivals.

And, in other news… “Of course he would” – Exclusive: Pundit suggests PL beast would join LFC

Every year, the release of the latest video game in the FIFA (now EA FC) series comes with up-to-date squads, new Ultimate Team challenges and a variety of gaming innovations.

But for all the groundbreaking features each edition brings, there is one thing away from the pitch that is bound to be excited about: the soundtrack.

Many songs have become synonymous with FIFA, so much so that pointing out a tune came from a specific game has been turned into something of an internet meme.

Since background music was introduced for FIFA 98, there have been hundreds of tracks used, with playlists growing all the time. In fact, EA’s website now publishes the soundtrack, such is the cultural significance that has grown over the years.

But which songs have stood the test of time? Which ones are so quintessentially ‘FIFA’ that they deserve to be remembered as such?

We’ve listed 15 of the best songs to feature on the game, ranked by taking into consideration their association with the franchise and, well, how much of a banger the tune is. We’ve even added snaps from the cover stars at the time for that extra bump of nostalgia.

Admittedly, most of these come from the tracklist’s apparent heyday, with its impact today arguably diminished compared to the last decade or so. However, that did not make this an easy task – there are simply too many great songs to choose from.

If you disagree, there’s a playlist at the bottom of the page where you can choose a favourite of your own.

Rank

Song title

Artist

Appeared on

Jerk It Out

Caesars

FIFA 2004

Song 2

Blur

FIFA 98

Dreaming

Smallpools

FIFA 14

Love Me Again

John Newman

FIFA 14

Club Foot

Kasabian

FIFA 13

Cobrastyle

Teddybears

FIFA 06

Town Called Malice

The Jam

FIFA 2004

Machu Picchu

The Strokes

FIFA 12

Black & Gold

Sam Sparro

FIFA 09

Helicopter

Bloc Party

FIFA 06

She’s Got Me Dancing

Tommy Sparks

FIFA 10

I Can Talk

Two Door Cinema Club

FIFA 11

High And Low

Empire of the Sun

FIFA 17

Kids

MGMT

FIFA 09

Complicated (Pablo La Rossa Vocal Mix)

Avril Lavigne

FIFA 2003

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ByJamie Rooke Oct 21, 2023 15 Complicated (Pablo La Rossa Vocal Mix) – Avril Lavigne FIFA 2003

This countdown starts on a relatively mellow note, but even though 20 years have passed, we still see this tune as a FIFA song above anything else. Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ features on FIFA 2003, which isn’t a game overflowing with songs – there are just 13 in total.

Perhaps that’s why it’s remained in our collective consciousness for so long; imagine playing the same 13 songs on loop for a year!

But it is more than that, of course. Lavigne’s vocal is infectious and you can’t help belting it out yourself. Once you’ve become addicted to the game (which had an iconic cover including Edgar Davids and Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs), you’ll have memorised the whole thing in no time.

14 Kids – MGMT FIFA 09

Perhaps featuring one of the best keyboard intros of its time, MGMT’s ‘Kids’ is a rousing indie anthem in its own right.

It’s one of those songs that is so good, it might be worth hanging around the menus a bit longer to let it finish. Appearing on FIFA 09 – the same year Ultimate Team made its debut – there was a lot to like about this particular edition.

13 High And Low – Empire of the Sun FIFA 17

Released in 2016, Empire of the Sun’s ‘High And Low’ is the newest song on this list. Like any good tune, it builds slowly before exploding into a ferocious pre-chorus and catchy refrain. It has all the ingredients of the ideal gaming tune.

And like many bands, Empire of the Sun have featured multiple times on the soundtrack – it seems some artists just have that ‘FIFA’ sound. ‘Alive’ was used on FIFA 14, and wouldn’t look out of place on anyone else’s lists.

12 I Can Talk – Two Door Cinema Club FIFA 11

Northern Irish rockers Two Door Cinema Club are also serial FIFA playlisters. In truth, any of their three appearances in the franchise to date could have been chosen, but FIFA 11’s ‘I Can Talk’ is arguably some of their best work.

Taken from their debut album, ‘Tourist History’, the tune involves the melodic blend of its pounding bassline, searing lead guitar and dance-worthy beat.

Not a bad tune to have in the background while signing a star striker on Career Mode.

11 She's Got Me Dancing – Tommy Sparks FIFA 10

It’s no wonder ‘She’s Got Me Dancing’ has entered the mainstream. Not only did it make an appearance on FIFA 10, but it was also used on Just Dance 3, as well as an advert for the iPod Touch (remember those?).

Not to mention, it’s also a pop sensation. It’s super catchy, and the kind of thing you’d play on repeat or continue to sing after it’s over. Given it is Tommy Sparks’ standout tune, you have to commend the EA team for finding it (or Apple, we’re not sure who got there first).

10 Helicopter – Bloc Party FIFA 06

Some bands are FIFA bands. Some songs are FIFA songs. This is both.

‘Helicopter’ by Bloc Party – who have featured three times on the FIFA soundtrack – almost immediately evokes memories of playing the game. Its opening riff makes it instantly recognisable, and it is just the kind of upbeat rock anthem to get you in the mood for a gaming session.

This game was the first of several featuring Wayne Rooney and Barcelona’s Ronaldinho on the cover – an added touch that made playing this feel special.

9 Black & Gold – Sam Sparro FIFA 09

This isn’t FIFA 09’s first mention in this list, and there are more hits on that game we simply don’t have space for. Duffy, Foals, The Kooks and, er, Tom Jones are all on the setlist.

However, Sam Sparro’s ‘Black & Gold’ is a melodic delight that could not be ignored. It has such an addictive sound to it that you want the verses to go on and on. When they eventually end, we’re treated to a solid beat that builds into the crescendo of the chorus. Magnifique.

8 Machu Picchu – The Strokes FIFA 12

Now we’re talking. The early 2010s boasts arguably the strongest run of EA soundtracks, and The Strokes’ ‘Machu Picchu’ brought their New York sound to the world of FIFA.

This song is all about the contagious post-chorus riff. If the song wasn’t already catchy enough, the riff’s melody would be enough for you to put the controller down and start air-guitaring.

7 Town Called Malice – The Jam FIFA 2004

Nowadays, songs selected for the game’s soundtrack are typically released in the 12 months preceding the current edition. For FIFA 2004, EA began to push the boat out for their tracklists, with more than double the number of songs compared to FIFA 2003.

And in the pre-YouTube age, you can forgive EA for not being able to locate the best sounds of 2003 to accompany their new game. Indeed, the likes of The Stone Roses and The Jam were on the bill.

And with what may have been youngsters’ first introduction to early-80s rock and roll, The Jam’s ‘Town Called Malice’, sung by Paul Weller, quickly became an earworm for players of the game.

You’re playing the bassline in your head right now, aren’t you?

6 Cobrastyle – Teddybears FIFA 06

We’re not sure quite what ‘di bom di deng di deng digi digi’ means, but it sounds awesome. In truth, there’s a lot to like about Teddybears’ ‘Cobrastyle’, whether it’s the addictive rhythm, catchy lyrics or THAT chorus.

Most of the lyrics come from a track by Jamaican singer Mad Cobra, who features on the track himself, hence the title of the song.

The iconic chorus is unique to the Teddybears’ version, and is a superb addition to the original, as well as to the array of FIFA bangers from over the years. This is definitely one we’d have on repeat.

West Ham are eyeing defensive reinforcements.

The East Londoners conceded 55 goals in the Premier League this season, the most they’ve allowed in a single campaign since 2020.

David Moyes’ side eventually finished 14th, but at times it was far from comfortable, and their defensive fragility was exposed on multiple occasions.

With the monumental Europa Conference League victory now under their belts, the Irons are set for an active summer and Roma’s Roger Ibanez is understood to be a serious target.

What’s the latest on Roger Ibanez to West Ham?

According to Romagiallorossa.it (via Sport Witness), the Hammers are “in the picture” to sign the 24-year-old, who Jose Mourinho has previously labelled as “untouchable.”

Despite his manager’s huge praise, the Giallorossi may be forced to raise funds of up to €30m (£26m) before the end of the month due to the stringent stakes of Financial Fair Play that are pushing Roma into unwanted sales.

The 2023 Europa Conference League winners are set to be rivalled by Atletico Madrid for the Brazilian’s signature which could cost €40m (£34m).

Would Roger Ibanez be a good signing for West Ham?

The two-cap international has made 33 Serie A appearances for Roma this season, averaging two tackles, two interceptions, and 2.8 clearances per game, whilst committing zero errors leading to shots.

Outside his own team, the 6 foot 1 titan also ranks impressively across the continent. In Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, Ibanez sits in the top 3% for interceptions per 90, as well as the highest 18% for tackles per 90, according to FBref.

The centre-back also started 12 of his side’s 15 Europa League outings, as they agonisingly lost in the final to Sevilla on penalties.

As per FBref, the defender has been compared to Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. His compatriot has previously been labelled as the “best centre back in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, who added: “Militao is really quick, really good at one-on-one, really good with the ball and he can head the ball so well.”

The former Porto ace has a phenomenal ability to read the game and is an adept asset with possession. This is showcased by the fact that he manages over two blocks per 90, and ranks within the top 21% for progressive carries.

Militao has evolved as a key figure for Los Blancos and made 12 appearances in their sensational journey to European glory when they beat Liverpool to win the Champions League in 2022.

West Ham's target is yet to reach such illustrious heights but is equally good on the ball, ranking in the top 19% for take-ons attempted and is similarly supreme in the air sitting in the best 14% for percentage of aerials won per 90.

Therefore, with West Ham able to attract big players, Ibanez would be a commendable and huge statement of intent for their unwavering ambition next term.