Leicester boss Dean Smith believes Jamie Vardy can still flourish in the autumn of his career.
The 36-year-old has returned to form in recent weeks, scoring in the last two games to help the Foxes out of the Premier League relegation zone, having previously gone 19 outings without a goal.
The story of Vardy’s ascent to the top of the game is well known and Smith believes that him not coming through the system in a traditional way can help him now.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all – this is someone who’s scored 136 Premier League goals,” Smith said of Vardy’s resurgence ahead of Monday’s vital clash with Fulham.
“You don’t lose that. I expected that (pace) to still be there.
“What I’ve seen from him is the desire to still keep wanting it, from the runs he’s making. His running numbers are really good from Monday night.
“His story is synonymous with someone who came into the professional game a little bit later.
“So he’s probably not had all of those games before – at academy level for instance. So I don’t see why he can’t flourish in his later years.”
Much was made of whether former boss Brendan Rodgers played to Vardy’s strengths, something that Smith has seemed to do in the last few games.
“I didn’t watch too many of the games to see if he was playing to his strengths,” Smith added.
“He didn’t get as much pitch time as probably he would’ve liked, but I wasn’t here so I don’t really know.
“Shakey’s (assistant boss Craig Shakespeare) worked with him before and knows him as a person and a player.
“I know him as a player who’s been up against teams I’ve managed before.
“He’s always a threat on the shoulder – just talking to their coaches after the game, they just tell their centre-halves to keep an eye on their shoulders, because he’ll be on one of them, and he was.”
Europa League champions Atalanta sign Everton defender Godfrey
Europa League champions Atalanta have completed the signing of defender Ben Godfrey from Everton.
Godfrey has joined the Serie A club for a reported fee in excess of €10million.
The 26-year-old, who was capped twice by England in 2021, ends a four-year spell with the Toffees, having joined from Norwich City in 2020.
Godfrey, a versatile defender capable of playing at centre-back or full-back, impressed in his first season at Goodison Park under Carlo Ancelotti, though was unable to recapture that form in subsequent campaigns.
Godfrey, a versatile defender capable of playing at centre-back or full-back, impressed in his first season at Goodison Park under Carlo Ancelotti, though was unable to recapture that form in subsequent campaigns.
Posting on his official X account, Godfrey wrote: "I joined the club in 2020, everyone at the club, fans, staff and players made me feel welcome.
"I've made great memories at this football club and will always appreciate my time here, Now it's time to go onto my next challenge. Thanks for all your support. All the best."
Godfrey made 15 Premier League appearances last season for Everton, winning 66 of his 126 duels, making 16 interceptions and winning 20 of 30 attempted tackles.
Villa complete Maatsen signing as Netherlands international ends six-year stay at Chelsea
Aston Villa have completed the signing of Ian Maatsen from Premier League rivals Chelsea, the clubs confirmed on Friday.
Maatsen is preparing for the Netherlands' last-16 clash with Romania at Euro 2024 but will return to a new home at Villa Park for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The versatile full-back has reportedly signed a six-year contract with Villa after putting pen to paper on a move believed to be worth up to £37.5million.
Maatsen becomes Unai Emery's second signing of the transfer window after Villa brought in Lewis Dobbin from Everton earlier this month.
The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, reaching the Champions League final, which will provide useful experience as Villa prepare for a campaign in Europe.
Maatsen managed 16 appearances in the Bundesliga and seven in the Champions League for Dortmund, scoring in a quarter-final triumph over Atletico Madrid.
The left-back made 15 appearances for the Blues after a successful loan spell with Burnley in the 2022-23 campaign, but this move brings an end to his six-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
Everton re-sign Harrison on loan from Leeds United
Everton have confirmed the loan signing of Jack Harrison, who has re-joined the club from Leeds United.
Harrison spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan with the Toffees, featuring 29 times in the Premier League as Sean Dyche's team stayed up despite having a total of eight points deducted due to breaches of financial regulations.
The 27-year-old scored three goals, from an expected goals (xG) of 3.6, while also laying on three assists, creating 28 chances in total for his team-mates.
On Monday, Everton announced they had struck a deal with Leeds, who lost to Southampton in the Championship play-off final in May, for Harrison to return to Goodison Park for the upcoming campaign.
Dyche told Everton's official website: "We're pleased Jack will be returning to our squad and look forward to working with him again.
"He made an important contribution to the progress we made last term, both in terms of our attacking output and the defensive steel throughout the team, while his work ethic and willingness to put in the hard yards matches what we expect from our players."
Harrison marks Everton's second signing of the transfer window, following the arrival of Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa for a reported £9million fee.
In return, winger Lewis Dobbin joined Villa for £10m.
It has been reported that both Everton and Villa are in danger of breaching the Premier League's financial rules for the 2023-24 accounting period, though these deals will have helped ease those fears somewhat.
Everton are reportedly in talks to sign Marseille attacker liman Ndiaye, while Newcastle United are rumoured to have cooled their interest in Toffees' striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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