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Leeds United are firmly in the running to bring Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte to Elland Road, according to reports.

What's the latest on Ugarte to Leeds?

The Uruguayan international first arrived at the Jose Alvalade Stadium back in 2021 and has since gone on to make 82 first-team appearances where he’s been a real standout performer this season under Ruben Amorim.

The Primeira Liga talisman is currently his side’s top-performing defensive player and second overall with a match rating of 7.09, and despite his contract still having another three years to run, his form has caught the eye of Javi Gracia.

The Whites have reportedly already made several approaches to the 22-year-old’s camp with Victor Orta being a huge fan of his qualities, and it appears that he still remains a target regardless of the dangerous position that the club find themselves in.

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Leeds are “still in the race” to sign Ugarte and have been “keeping an eye on his development” ahead of a potential move this summer. The Yorkshire outfit are one of “several” other admirers in the top-flight, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United name-checked, and Sporting know that he “has a market”, with it being worth noting that he has a €60m (£52m) release clause included in his terms.

Should Leeds splash the cash on Ugarte?

Leeds’ summer budget and what business they will be able to do is set to depend on whether they maintain their Premier League status, but should they be successful in doing so, Ugarte is definitely a player that they should cash out on having been hailed a midfield “warrior” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The World Cup and Champions League participant is strong in the defensive aspect of his game, ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles, having won 62 from 108 players challenged this season, which is more than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The Montevideo native, who is also capable of operating slightly higher up in central midfield, is additionally able to contribute to his team’s efforts in the final third having provided six assists and scored four goals throughout his career, via Transfermarkt.

Finally, Ugarte is in the 99th percentile for pass completion so is extremely composed on the ball and is able to dictate the game by linking up with his peers from the centre, so this positive impact that he has across all areas of the pitch makes this a no-brainer of a deal to complete.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the running to sign Sporting CP winger Nuno Santos this summer, according to recent reports from Portugal.

What's the latest Wolves transfer news?

Wolves appear to be keen on signing a new winger this summer, given that they have recently been linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Moura, making contact with the Brazilian over a potential move to Molineux.

The Old Gold are also said to have submitted an official proposal for Barcelona's Ansu Fati, although it is likely to be very difficult to win the race for his signature, considering the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle United have registered their interest.

Julen Lopetegui is tasked with bringing in new options out wide as Adama Traore's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with the Spaniard said to be "seeking a new challenge" in the 2023/24 campaign.

According to a report from O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Wolves are interested in signing Nuno Santos, although they are not the only Premier League club in the running, with Nottingham Forest also interested.

There may be a great deal of competition for the winger, as the likes of Nice, Frankfurt and Torino are also named as potential suitors, for a player who will cost upwards of €15m (£13m).

The 28-year-old has a €60m (£52m) release clause included in his current contract, however Sporting CP know they will not be able to demand that much, and won't use that price as a reference.

Should Wolves sign Nuno Santos?

The Trofa-born winger is incredibly versatile, having regularly featured on both wings and even at left-back throughout his career, but he has predominantly featured at left midfield for Sporting so far this season.

In 47 appearances in all competitions, the "immense" £13k-per-week earner has weighed in with nine goals and eight assists, showcasing his ability on the front foot, and Wolves are in dire need of a creative spark in the attacking third.

Lopetegui's side are the lowest-scorers in the Premier League this season, having scored just 30 goals, and the Sporting CP star could play a huge part in changing that record in front of goal next season.

Given that Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa have just four goals between them this season, a new striker will need to be a priority for the Old Gold, but Nuno Santos would still be an excellent addition to Lopetegui's squad.

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest shared the points in an entertaining draw at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling was back to his imperious best, netting his first Premier League goals since New Year's Day against the same opponents via a brilliant brace in a rare showing of attacking quality for the Blues.

The winger will deservedly receive the plaudits for his fabulous performance, but Trevoh Chalobah, who is currently deputising out of position for the sidelined Reece James – with the defender ruled out for the rest of the campaign due to injury – was also fantastic.

How did Trevoh Chalobah play against Nottingham Forest?

The 23-year-old has endured an extremely difficult campaign, only starting 15 Premier League games, whilst registering just the 22nd-best average rating in the West London outfit’s squad (6.51).

However, the centre-back excelled against the Reds and justified Frank Lampard’s decision to field him in the starting lineup in an unfamiliar area of the pitch.

The former Ipswich Town loanee was fantastic defensively as he registered four clearances, two tackles, wasn't dribbled past, as well as winning all his ground and aerial duels.

The youngster has always shown this promise and when he was loaned to Lorient for the 2020/21 season, he averaged the most interceptions per game (2.4) in the squad.

The defender was also magnificent in attacking areas, managing 125 touches, two key passes, one accurate cross, and three successful dribbles.

Interestingly, he ranks in the top 16% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers over the past 365 days for progressive carries, as well as the highest 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area, as per FBref. These statistics indicate that he is comfortable when in possession and has an underrated ability for popping up in dangerous attacking areas.

Due to Todd Boehly’s extraordinary lavish spending, the reportedly incoming Mauricio Pochettino is to inherit a hideously bloated squad, but the academy starlet, who has been at Chelsea since 2007, should be kept in the squad for his versatility and reliability.

Furthermore, fellow centre-backs Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly are both over 30 years old, and with two seasons of senior first-team football experience at Stamford Bridge under his belt, Chalobah could be a useful asset next season.

As someone who is accustomed to the surroundings in a period of extreme change, he is a fountain of stability that will be much appreciated next term.

Stephen Parry’s 5-13 routed Worcestershire for 53 as Lancashire stunned one of the pacemakers in the North Group of the NatWest Blast

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford24-Jun-2016
ScorecardStephen Parry wrecked Worcestershire with five wickets [file picture]•Getty Images”Democracy,” wrote HL Mencken, “is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” A modern sensibility might recoil from the aphorism’s vulgar reference but Mencken’s sardonic wit has its applications. To judge from their roars many in the crowd at a T20 match show up because “what they want” is to see cricket balls hit “good and hard” and long and often.Yet the spectators’ appreciation of the skills on show at a short-form game is becoming ever more sophisticated. This was particularly fortunate at Old Trafford on Friday evening because a mere eight fours were struck in a quite bizarre contest which lasted 33.5 overs. And even those statistics do not do justice to the full lunacy of Lancashire Lightning’s 96-run win over Worcestershire Rapids.For while the home side batted their full allocation to make 149 for 5 with Alviro Petersen’s unbeaten 68 representing his first T20 half-century for Lancashire, Daryl Mitchell’s men were hustled out in 83 legitimate deliveries for a paltry 53, their lowest short-form score. It was Lancashire’s second biggest victory in this format.Moreover, slow left-armer Stephen Parry returned his county’s best T20 bowling figures of 5 for 13, taking three wickets in four balls as the Rapids’ later batsmen made lemmings seem cautious. Three were caught in the deep and Ed Barnard was the last man to go, attempting to reverse sweep Arron Lilley. Jack Shantry ran out of partners yet again. There were tears before bedtime across the Malverns.Yet there was also interesting strategy behind the remarkable facts of the game. Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, did not spare his top order batsmen from criticism after the game but he also accepted that he and probably by inference his skipper, Mitchell, too, had erred both in not playing another slow bowler and in not opting to bat when they won the toss.”I sat there watching it and thinking we’ve done this wrong, we should have batted first,” said the admirably candid Rhodes. “But we all made mistakes and that was a mistake. We didn’t read the pitch as well as we could. We thought it looked dry and had the potential to take spin and we did think about changing our side but we didn’t and that was a mistake. But let’s take nothing away from Lancashire, they are the current T20 champions and they outbowled, outbatted and outfielded us in every respect. The disappointing thing for me was the way we keeled over.”That rapid subsidence began with the first ball of Worcestershire’s innings when Nathan Buck had Tom Kohler-Cadmore caught at the wicket after he apparently gloved a leg side catch to Tom Moores, who was playing his first game of county cricket after agreeing his one-month loan spell from Nottinghamshire.Moores later added another leg side catch and, indeed, a leg side stumping off Parry to his tally of victims. He was busy and competent and so must think the county game a fine way to spend your time. The first batsman he removed was not so cheery. It was confirmed that Kohler-Cadmore really didn’t think he’d gloved the ball. So KC was hardly a member of the sunshine band as he trooped off.That wicket began a slide which only gathered pace. Bowling with speed and accuracy and extracting good lift from the Old Trafford wicket, Buck also removed both Mitchell and Joe Clarke in a three-over spell which cost 12 runs. Then Parry more or less took over, bouncing to the wicket with good rhythm and taking wickets with the gleeful delight of a man who keeps feeding a fruit machine which is stuck on three triple bars. Worcestershire hit three fours in their innings and only Brett D’Oliveira got to double figures. The Worcestershire boys were, as they say, not that happy.Yet Lancashire’s innings had hardly been a run-stuffed idyll. Petersen’s innings included a four and a couple of sixes and Liam Livingstone deposited successive balls from Barnard over the ropes before falling leg before to D’Oliveira for 28. All the Worcestershire seamers stuck to tight lines and there was plenty of debate in the mid-innings break as to the match-winning merit of 149 for 5. Such discussions were stilled early in the second half of the contest.

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly made a bid to bring Antalyaspor forward Haji Wright to Ibrox this summer.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale appears to be making transfer plans ahead of his first full season in charge of Rangers. The Gers have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, with the majority of those targets based in England.

Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to move north, whereas an approach has been made for West Brom striker Karlan Grant with the Baggies open to a sale.

Meanwhile, experienced goalkeeper Jack Butland has been linked with a move to Ibrox as well as young Liverpool midfielder Leighton Clarkson, but it looks as if the club’s search for new signings has now taken them abroad.

According to journalist Salim Manav, Rangers have made a £7m offer for Wright. He adds that the bid includes a 15% sell-on clause, however, Antalyaspor have rejected the proposal and want a fee over €10m (£8.7m).

Who is Wright and why do Rangers want him?

Wright, a USA international, is primarily a centre-forward but can also turn out on either wing when required. The 25-year-old made his move to Antalyaspor permanent last summer, and it has proven to be one that has paid off, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising to a career-high €6m.

He appears to be at the top of his game and has scored an impressive 16 goals in 26 games in all competitions this season, while also scoring an outrageous goal for his country at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Beale has confirmed that Alfredo Morelos will depart over the coming months, whereas Antonio Colak could also be on the way out of Ibrox this summer. Therefore, you can see why Rangers are on the search for a new marquee attacker ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Wright, known for his pace and once labelled as a ‘dangerous striker’ by former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt, has impressed in Turkey, netting a total of 31 goals in 61 games for his current employers, so he could be a shrewd addition, and it’ll be interesting to see of Rangers make an improved offer following this update.

The England coach Trevor Bayliss has admitted England’s wicketkeeping position remains a debating point for the selectors ahead of the Test series against Pakistan

George Dobell14-Jun-2016The England coach Trevor Bayliss has admitted England’s wicketkeeping position remains a debating point for the selectors ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.Bayliss was as impressed as anyone with Jonny Bairstow’s batting during the series against Sri Lanka – “nobody is hitting the ball better than Jonny,” he said – but confirmed that Jos Buttler would keep wicket for the limited-overs games and revealed that other names were being considered for the Test team.Bairstow claimed 19 dismissals against Sri Lanka – a record for an England keeper in a three-match series – but also missed four chances, including a straightforward effort off Chris Woakes at Lord’s. He also missed, by conservative judgements, six chances in the four-match series against South Africa. While his position in the team as a batsman is beyond question after he contributed two centuries and was named Man of the Series, his future as keeper is less clear.CricViz, the analytics company, gave Bairstow’s keeping a rating of -111 for the Sri Lanka series. For comparison, they rated Dinesh Chandimal -22 for the same games, gave Sarfraz Ahmed a rating of +20 for the Pakistan series and AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Dane Vilas ratings of -62, -21 and +41 respectively for the series against England in South Africa. Bairstow finished that series with a -28 rating.Bayliss on…

Tymal Mills
“I’ve only seen him at one practice in South Africa and the reaction of our batters at the time said enough: there was plenty of them lining up in the spinners’ net to have a bat to stay away from him. It will be exciting to see what he’s got.”
Resting players
“If there was a World Cup just round the corner I’d be playing our strongest team. But it’s just a one-off match. It is a chance to give them a little bit of a break and get about 12 days off. And it’s a chance to look at a few new, younger players.”
Broad’s limited-overs future
“The limited-overs team has been picked on merit but that does not mean that it’s the end of his career. There’s bowlers in the team that still haven’t cemented their spot. He’s there or thereabouts. He’s keen to play at home in the 2019 World Cup and we are aware of that. There is no reason why he couldn’t be playing in the Champions Trophy next year.”

Describing himself as an “old school” judge who would always prefer to pick the “best wicketkeeper” rather than a batsman who can do a job with the gloves, Bayliss mentioned Ben Foakes, the young Surrey wicketkeeper, as one man under consideration.”I am a little bit old school,” Bayliss said. “I think the best wicketkeeper should be the wicketkeeper.”Our wicketkeepers – and there are three of them if you include Sam Billings – are young and inexperienced, I suppose. They are probably batters who are wicketkeepers.”I’ve said to all three of them that I believe the wicketkeeper in the team should be the best we have. Basically just to make sure they continue to work hard. Jonny, Jos and Sam certainly have stepped it up with the practice.”Personally I believe it is a wicketkeeping position. Ben Foakes is one name that has been mentioned, along with two or three others. From the selectors’ point of view, it is something we are going to have to work through and think pretty carefully about.”Foakes is only 23 and enjoying his first season as first-choice wicketkeeper at Surrey. While he developed at Essex, he was obliged to leave for more opportunity as his progress was blocked by the brilliant James Foster. But Foakes was identified as a player of great potential long ago: he was selected for the Lions side for the 2012-13 tour of Australia before he had played a List A game and has been invited to train with the full England team several times since.He is a good enough batsman to have played for much of last year as a specialist and, while Bayliss has yet to see him play, Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, rates him as “the most talented keeper in the country” and Andy Flower has long recognised him as one for the future.Whether that future is now remains uncertain. In an ideal world, Foakes would be allowed to continue to develop in the county game before being exposed to the pressure of international cricket. But the England management are concerned about the prospect of a winter where England will play seven Tests in Asia, with the keeper expected to spend a large amount of time standing up to the stumps against the spinners.In the short term, Bayliss has reassured Buttler that he remains first-choice keeper in the limited-overs sides and suggested he could go some way to convincing the selectors to recall him to the Test team with a strong performance in the white-ball matches. Realistically, though, he will need to prove himself in the County Championship with Lancashire; he has not played a first-class game since he was dropped from the Test team in October and he is not scheduled to play one ahead of the Pakistan series.”Jos will be the wicketkeeper for the limited-overs games,” Bayliss said. “He has been in the last few white-ball series.”Runs could put him back in the frame for the Test side, but the selectors would like to see him score runs in the four-day game to show us he’s back in form. We know the devastating player he can be. It’s a bit unfortunate we don’t have any games for another couple of weeks, but he will get his opportunity I’m sure.”Bayliss also hinted that Scott Borthwick was in pole position to replace Nick Compton as England’s No. 3 against Pakistan. While he is another player Bayliss has yet to see play in the flesh, his record on Durham’s tricky surfaces is exceptional. He has passed 1,000 first-class runs in each of the most recent three seasons and also offers legspin bowling – he won a Test cap as a spinner in early 2014 – and strong fielding.”I haven’t actually seen him bat,” Bayliss said. “But the feedback I’ve got is that he is a player who is in form. He is a tough sort of a cricketer playing at Durham where sometimes the wickets have got a little bit more in them. He is very enthusiastic; a great guy to have in the team. But he’s not the only one. There’s a few others around that could get a game.”

Manchester United moved to within just a point of securing Champions League qualification after edging past AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men ending their recent away woes with a much-needed 1-0 win.

Having gone into the game with a rather grim record on the road this season – notably losing away to both West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion in recent times – the Red Devils made the perfect start this time around, with influential midfielder, Casemiro, producing a stunning, acrobatic finish from close range.

With United going on to ultimately labour to victory in what was a rather unconvincing, all-round display, the top-four hopefuls were left thankful for the "big performance" of the ex-Real Madrid man, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell, as the Brazil international looked 'back to his best' – as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

Amid a battling, hard-fought encounter, the 31-year-old was a real effective presence at both ends of the pitch, notably winning nine duels on the day as a marker of his ball-winning prowess, as well as contributing three key passes as a sign of his creative quality.

The summer signing was not alone in having helped teammate David De Gea to a 17th Premier League clean sheet of the season, however, with centre-back star, Victor Lindelof also having been "excellent" on the south coast, in the words of Luckhurst.

How did Lindelof perform against Bournemouth?

With Lisandro Martinez out for the season – and with Harry Maguire resigned to a watching brief – Lindelof has stepped up as the consistent presence in the backline of late, having now made nine successive starts for Ten Hag's side.

The Sweden international appears to have particularly thrived amid the return of Raphael Varane from injury in recent games, with the aforementioned Whitwell stating that the pair "look good together" in the centre of defence.

While substitute Kieffer Moore did burst clear late on to produce a rare attempt on goal for the Cherries, that was one of few occasions in which the visitors looked like being breached, such was the commanding nature of both Varane and Lindelof's performance.

In the case of the latter man, the £120k-per-week machine may have only won five of his 11 total duels, although he was particularly adept at snuffing out the danger after making six clearances and registering three tackles.

The 79-touch ace – who also showed his composure on the ball after recording a 90% pass accuracy rate – was rewarded for his solid display with a 7.2 match rating, as per Sofascore, having been crucial in nudging the Old Trafford outfit ever closer to securing a place in Europe's premier competition.

With the FA Cup final looming, it looks likely to be the defensive axis of Varane and Lindelof that will be tasked with keeping a certain Erling Haaland quiet…

Surrey can ease their relegation fears with victory against the bottom club Hampshire and Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley ensured that first-day runs were not in short supply

ECB Reporters Network17-Jul-2016
ScorecardRory Burns made his first century of the season•PA PhotosRory Burns, the Surrey opening batsman, struck his first century of the season as the visitors made light work on a flat track at the Ageas Bowl.Burns, who became the 2,000th Surrey player to reach three figures in first-class cricket, looked at ease during his 144 ball stay before knocking his 17th boundary to take him to three figures.Hampshire, who toiled for nearly two thirds of the day, finally had something to cheer about in the evening as they pegged the away side back somewhat with a handful of wickets.The early stages of this match was always going to rely heavily on who won the toss, with the track looking impeccably hard and flat.Gareth Batty, just as predictably, refused the offer of bowling first before winning the coin flip – the skipper has yet to lose a toss this season.Burns, with the equally unimpeachable Dominic Sibley, saw off the first session with ease – the pair already up to 72 in the opening hour, Hampshire already being forced to use all four seamers.Burns quickly moved past 4,500 runs for his first-class career, before reaching his 25th format fifty at an almost run a ball 54 deliveries.He continued to cash in after lunch to climb to three figure, playing the aggressor to Sibley’s watchful style, in 144 balls.Sibley, who passed his half century in almost same amount of time it took Burns to reach a ton, 141 balls, was waiting patiently for the poor ball to come along.The partnership appeared impenetrable with seemingly every option exhausted – before Mason Crane produced a corker to see off Burns 10 balls before tea.The young leg spinner pitching one outside off stump and back of a length to the left hander to turn back to cramp Burns up for space – edging low to Sean Ervine at first slip.Crane continued his troubling turners to get Zafar Ansari before he had got going – tempting the al-rounder down the track before Lewis McManus smartly swivelled and stumped.Soon after the new ball was taken, which was the first thing to cause Sibley a sweat in his heavy cable knit jumper.Reaching 99, the only other time he has a Championship century was on his debut when he bagged a record 242, he was bowled by a Gareth Berg delivery which moved back off the seam to crunch into the off stump.Berg, who finished the day the pick of the bowlers with two for 47, then had a short and tempered battle with Jason Roy – the bowler, after missing the outside edge twice and having an lbw shout turned down, finally got his man leg before.Quietly, as the wickets tumbled around him, Australian international Aaron Finch teed off in entertaining fashion – pilfering a quick 50 before the close to stand overnight on 56, his team on top at 332 for 4.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will both be rested from Australia’s upcoming one-day tour of South Africa

Brydon Coverdale02-Sep-2016Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will both be rested from Australia’s upcoming one-day tour of South Africa. Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday that the pair would not be named in the squad “to allow them time to refresh ahead of the Australian summer”. The move comes after captain Steven Smith flew home during the ODI series in Sri Lanka to give him a break ahead of the South Africa tour and home summer.The first Test of Australia’s home season – against South Africa in Perth – begins three weeks after the last ODI in Cape Town. Starc and Hazlewood are Australia’s two leading Test fast bowlers and will be key members of Smith’s attack for the six home Tests against South Africa and Pakistan, and the four in India that follow.Hazlewood will return home immediately from the tour of Sri Lanka, having not been named in the T20 squad and with the ODI series already having been won. No fast bowler has delivered more international overs than Hazlewood’s 509.4 over the past year, and of all bowlers only England offspinner Moeen Ali has sent down more balls.Starc will stay on in Sri Lanka for the last match of the one-day series and the two T20s that follow. Starc had a long injury lay-off in the first half of 2016 as he recovered from ankle surgery, returning to action in June during the one-day tri-series in the West Indies. However, despite being sidelined for six months from late November, Starc is Australia’s leading international wicket taker of the past year.”Both Mitchell and Josh have had big tours of Sri Lanka and have a heavy workload ahead of them with ten Tests to be played this summer,” national selector Rod Marsh said. “As such, it is important they are managed appropriately and we believe missing the tour of South Africa is the right time for them to take a break.”This also provides a good opportunity for some of our up-and-coming fast-bowler to push for selection. With a number of bowlers currently coming back from injury it is important for us to continue to build up a battery of quality fast-bowlers for Australia.”Nathan Coulter-Nile will miss the series due to a back injury, but Victorian pair John Hastings and Scott Boland will likely be part of the squad after joining the group in Sri Lanka, where Hastings claimed a career-best 6 for 45 on Wednesday.James Faulkner will remain a key ODI pace bowler, while other contenders for a call-up could include South Australian pair Kane Richardson and Daniel Worrall, currently playing for Australia A in a one-day series in Queensland, and Victoria’s Chris Tremain, who did not play at all in last year’s Matador Cup but began the one-day A series with consecutive five-wicket hauls.Australia’s tour of South Africa begins with a one-off ODI against Ireland in Benoni on September 27, followed by five ODIs against South Africa in Centurion, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Burnley are eyeing a number of new signings this summer as they look to build on their Championship title win, with Ryan Kent one man linked with a move to Turf Moor.

Would Ryan Kent be a good signing for Burnley?

The Rangers man, who will depart Ibrox on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires, is an option for the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United, Everton and Leeds United according to TEAMtalk.

Since signing for the Scottish outfit permanently in 2019, the tricky winger has gone on to make 218 appearances in total, contributing 38 goals and 57 assists.

He was vital for the Gers in their run to the Europa League final last season, notching one goal and five assists, which earned him a spot in the team of the tournament, perhaps emphasising why he could be such a good pickup on a free transfer this summer.

Even in a campaign that has been widely perceived as a difficult one for Rangers, Kent has contributed three goals and eight assists in the league with a strong 7.31 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Success in the Premier League will come for Burnley if they can add some quality in the final third, especially with the likes of Ashley Barnes and potentially Nathan Tella not being at Turf Moor next season.

Kompany may well be looking to spread out the goals in his squad once again as they did in the second tier this year and Kent's ability to find the back of the net, as well as his obvious eye for a pass, make him an ideal target.

Steven Gerrard was full of praise for the former Liverpool man during his time at Ibrox, saying:

"Ryan Kent has been top-class and hasn't let any noise affect him, he is scoring goals and looking very dangerous. He is really taking it to opposition teams."

If he were to arrive at Turf Moor, his dribbling ability and impressive record in the final third could see him emulate Maxwel Cornet, who impressed in his one-year stay at Burnley having joined from Lyon.

The Ivorian winger registered nine goals and one assist in 26 Premier League appearances and won over the fans with his performances before a relegation release clause saw him join West Ham United last summer.

He would average 1.8 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game, compared to Kent's return of 2.1 shots, 2.2 key passes, and 1.9 dribbles per game at Rangers, which suggests that the Englishman could even be an upgrade on Cornet at Turf Moor.

Therefore, Kompany and Burnley should act quickly to bring Kent to the Premier League on a free transfer, as the speedster could be a superb addition to the squad.