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GOAL sat down with the legendary American star to talk about her career and what it's meant to those that followed

There's a scene in the second act of Hamilton where George Washington decides to give it all up, to step away. Power is there for the taking, or the retaking in this case, but Washington decides to pass it on. He reveals that his legacy will be defined not by what he did when he was in charge, but by how he empowered those who came after him.

"If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on," Washington says in the song 'One Last Time'. "It outlives me when I’m gone."

Mia Hamm remembers when she first saw that scene. A theater buff, Hamm has seen plenty of plays and projects over the years, but she points to that one specific scene as the one that really hit home. Two decades since she retired, there's still so much talk about her legacy, but,if she can boil all of her thoughts on it down to one moment, it's one featuring a fictional conversation between two founding fathers.

"In Hamilton," she begins, "there's the whole part where George Washington steps aside. He's like, 'democracy has to be able to live without me for it to be true'. That's the way I feel about the game."

Hamm is no American president, but she is an American hero. She's the player that's credited with taking women's soccer to a new stratosphere, introducing an entire generation of boys and girls to the game she loves most. Hamm and the 99ers began a revolution, too, one that has outlasted all of them and continues on to this very day.

It's now been 20 years since Hamm's active part in that revolution ended. It's been two decades since she last kicked a ball with the U.S. women's national team. When her playing career came to a close, Hamm took her step back and handed the baton off to future generations, who have continued to run faster and further than even she could have imagined.

And that's why that Hamilton scene really stuck with her. She built something, led something, revolutionized something, but that specific moment in that play really put the 'why' into perspective. When Hamm thinks about her own legacy, she doesn't necessarily sit and think about the on-field accolades, the World Cups, the goals, the advertisements, the moments. Instead, she thinks about all that has grown because of those things, of everything that this sport was able to do without her since she stepped off the field for that last time.

"I was never the game," Hamm says. "Michelle Akers was never the game. We were a part of it and we wanted to make it so much better while we were there, not for each other, but for future generations. The game is always bigger than any one player and it always will be. You just try to enhance the experience and the love for the people that play and the people that get to watch and, hopefully, inspire the next generation to be better and have more opportunities."

GOAL sat down with Hamm to discuss her legacy, the growth of the game and how she goes about watching the USWNT…

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  Growing the sport

  For generations of fans, Hamm is women's soccer. For many, she's soccer in general. An entire generation of supporters was raised on tales of Hamm's greatness, of her place among the greatest, male or female, to ever play the game.

  The legendary USWNT star needs no introduction, but we'll give her a brief one anyway. Four national titles, two World Cups and two Olympic Gold medals headline her trophy cabinet. The legendary Pele named her to the FIFA 100, one of just two women's players to make his list. Nike even named a building after her, showing just how influential she was not just in soccer, but in sports in general.

  Hamm, though, is quick to stress that she never did it alone. It was a herculean task, lifting women's soccer, and Hamm surely did heavy lifting, but she was never the one with all of the weight on her shoulders. Her generation of players knew what they were up against: the lack of funding, the sexism, the status quo that prevented women's sports from getting their due. But they fought anyway, hoping that someday their fight would make things just a little bit easier for those who came after.

  "We felt a responsibility to grow not just our game, but for all the young girls to listen to our stories about how we felt empowered stepping onto the field, and how it gave us a voice and a greater sense of confidence," Hamm says. "For a lot of us, the game put us through school where maybe we would not have had that opportunity if it wasn't for our sport. I think it was a very conscious decision to think about others in growing the game and growing women's sports."

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  The modern game

  When looking at the sport that Hamm played compared to the sport that's played now, it's night and day. Hamm and her teammates saw the rise and fall of several professional leagues. They dealt with a lack of funding, harsh travel conditions and playing on high school fields. Just this past weekend, Kansas City opened up a brand-new soccer-specific stadium designed specifically for the Current. For Hamm and her generation, it would have been unfathomable.

  You'd think that Hamm would look at the current state of the women's game and wonder 'what if?' What if she and her teammates played on proper fields? What if the international game was as deep as it is now, with competition from all over the world? What if the players in the 90s had the funding and the resources that they always dreamed of? If prime Mia Hamm was dropped into the NWSL or the USWNT in 2024, how much damage she can do?

  That's not necessarily how she sees it, though. There's no jealousy or envy from her end; only pride.

  "I never played thinking about like, 'What's in it for me?'," she said. "I played because I loved it. I loved what it asked of me every single day: to be accountable, not just to myself but to others. That's where we want our sport to be. We want it to be so much better than when we were there. That's part of growth. That's part of evolution.

  "Would have it have been much more enjoyable to fly to Europe or to China in business class as opposed to in the very back of the plane, middle seats, in the smoking section? Absolutely! But if us doing that makes it better for the next generation, sure. That was part of our journey. I love that the sport has evolved where the resources and the facilities are so much better for so many more female players. But there's still a lot of work that we need to do in terms of creating that equal playing field."

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  From player to fan (and excecutive)

  Hamm, of course, has never strayed too far away from the game. In the years since her playing career ended, she's always been involved and always been active. Hamm is a global ambassador for Barcelona and remains on the board of directors of Roma. Stateside, she's the co-owner of two clubs: Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. Both LA-based clubs are loaded with superstar owners, but Hamm may just be the most recognizable of the bunch.

  Through those clubs, Hamm is never too far from a soccer game and, in some ways, her mind still works in the same way it used to back in the day. She still views the game in a similar way, even if her place is now in a luxury box, not leading the line.

  "I went to Angel City [for their opening game], and I'm sitting there obviously as part of the ownership team," she begins, "but I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I want to help them out!' The game moves so fast, but, when you're sitting up there, it seems so much slower. These players are making decisions and I'm just like 'Oh, did she see this? Did she recognize what the defense was doing?' I would love just to tell them, like scream something sometimes!

  "When I'm watching the current USWNT play, there's a lot of nerves because I just want them, so badly, to do well. You know what they put into it. You know what they've invested for, not just that tournament, but for the years leading up to it. It's all this sisterhood. Representing the U.S., there's so much pride. When I'm watching them, I'm a bit nervous. I just want them to be successful."

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  Assessing the USWNT

  Hamm, obviously, still keeps tabs on the international game as well. She's seen the rise, particularly in Europe. And, after watching the U.S. falter at the 2023 World Cup, she was left wondering the same thing as just about everyone else: what does the USWNT need to do to get back to where they belong?

  "I want us to figure out what we need to do as a team and as a federation and as a country to now take the steps needed to get to where Spain is," Hamm says. "They're the benchmark with regards to how they play technically and tactically, how they've had just a seamless transition with their youth players coming into the national team, what they are doing at the development level, at the youth level, at their youth national-team levels in terms of their connection and seamless transition with the national team. If you look at Spain or France or even England now and their style of play, and you don't go 'Yeah, that's really the style I want', you're crazy! It's attractive, attacking. organized, passionate, entertaining soccer to watch."

  Hamm, though, sees building blocks in this new-look USWNT. It's a young group, for sure, one that is expected to take things to new heights under new coach Emma Hayes. The rest of the world has caught up, though; the road to glory for this current USWNT is tougher than ever.

  The one thing I feel that the U.S. has always had is their mentality," she says. "I think you saw it in the last couple of games that the U.S. competed in [at the Gold Cup]. When you have a team that's committed to winning, you always have a chance. I know that people at U.S. Soccer want to keep developing our game, but that's also where we want our sport: to be where more and more national teams have a greater influx of talent. We want it to be that we're talking about how every game is difficult and brings challenges because the level of play has just improved so much."

  Hamm and her legendary teammates remain a resource to the current USWNT. Hamm understands that the generations after her very much grew up idolizing her, even if they are now the ones steering the ship. And, when they come calling, she's always willing to answer and help in whatever way she can.

  "I think it's important to stay connected. I know, for me and some of the older players, the players that played after us used us as resources, whether it be on the field or off the field. I think you're seeing that with the current group.

  "There are times when you experience doubt or uncertainty, dealing with injury or disappointment. All those things, no matter which decade you competed in, are all part of that process. And I think we've done a good job at staying connected through the years and making sure players feel that the line of communication is always open for advice or support or insight."

Aston Villa could be set for a surprise departure in January after one player's agent started work behind-the-scenes on trying to find a new club for his client, as per reports.

Aston Villa news: Watkins exit, injury updates, Bailey contract

According to an transfer update on Ollie Watkins from Spain, Arsenal are believed to have the England international in their sights as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his forward line in the January transfer window.

Nevertheless, any deal involving Watkins departing Villa Park to head to north London would be a difficult one for Arsenal to complete – the report states that the Gunners may need to make a considerable sale to be in a position to pursue the 27-year-old further, after he signed a new contract in the Midlands.

Cited by Birmingham Live, Unai Emery could welcome back Tim Iroegbunam soon enough as an injury update from the outlet details that the youngster came through 60 minutes of the Villans second-string's EFL Trophy loss unscathed.

Robin Olsen meanwhile has missed some of Sweden's training sessions on international duty and wasn't included in their matchday squad for the victory over Moldova last week.

An Aston Villa contract news piece from Football Insider claims that Leon Bailey is set to be offered fresh terms at Villa Park, which would bring some clarity surrounding his future given that his current deal expires in the summer of 2025. Protecting Bailey's value is of paramount importance to Aston Villa and the Jamaica international now looks set to be rewarded for his bright start across the 2023/24 campaign.

Leon Bailey's statistics per season at Aston Villa

2023/24 – Appearances: 11

Goals: 4

Assists: 2

2022/23 – Appearances: 36

Goals: 5

Assists: 4

2021/22 – Appearances: 18

Goals: 1

Assists: 2

All statistics from Transfermarkt

Aston Villa transfer update – Youri Tielemans latest

According to a Youri Tielemans transfer update from Turkey, via Sport Witness, the Belgium international's agent has again been in contact with Galatasaray regarding his client's availability after originally meeting with the Turkish giants in the summer to discuss a potential move.

In the end, Tielemans opted to join Aston Villa from Leicester City on a free transfer; however, his time in the West Midlands has been frustrating, to say the least. He is still yet to start in a Premier League fixture for the Villans; meanwhile, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk is very keen to bring Tielemans to Istanbul and has repeatedly urged his club's hierarchy to sign the midfielder.

In total, the 26-year-old has managed 13 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa, though has yet to set the heather alight with his level of performance (Tielemans statistics). This is evidenced by the fact that he has achieved a WhoScored average match rating of just 6.10/10 for his displays in the English top-flight, demonstrating that Tielemans has plenty of room for improvement at Villa Park.

ScorecardEssex are still in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup after they chased a target of 282 to beat Sussex by four wickets at Eastbourne.Victory over Kent on Wednesday in a day-night game at Chelmsford could be enough, although they may need other results to go their way.The architect of their victory was Tom Westley who continued his impressive form with his fourth half-century in this season’s competition.He had some luck along the way. Chris Jordan put down a difficult chance at slip when he had scored one and he was also dropped on 68 at long off by David Wiese, also off Danny Briggs.The 29-year-old made the most of those reprieves with 88 from 89 balls including five fours and two sixes, adding 84 with Dan Lawrence to take Essex to within 35 runs of victory.There was a wobble when Westley was unnecessarily run out after being sent back by Lawrence when he was halfway down the pitch and Jofra Archer bowled Lawrence for 36 later in the same over. Ravi Bopara was pinned by David Wiese but by then Essex were only six runs short of their target which they reached with 12 balls to spare.Earlier, Laurie Evans had held Sussex’s innings together with an unbeaten 107 – his second List A hundred. The Sharks were in trouble on 46 for 3 in the 11th over when he joined Harry Finch to put on 113 in 22.5 overs.Against generally accurate Essex bowling it was never easy for the pair to accelerate on a slow wicket and they were forced to rebuild again when three wickets fell for six runs, including Finch for 56 who was stumped by Wheater off a wide, the first of two wickets in successive balls for Zaidi who then deceived Michael Burgess with an arm ball.Sussex were 174 for 6 with ten overs to go, but Evans found excellent support from Jordan and Archer as 107 were plundered off the last ten overs.Jordan made 35 at a run a ball before Archer hit out spectacularly with 33 from 15 balls including three sixes and two fours to the delight of a crowd of more than 4,000.Evans reached his century in the final over when he belted Sam Cole to the mid-off boundary for his eighth four. He also hit two sixes and faced 117 balls.Wheater and Varun Chopra gave Essex’s reply a good foundation with 86 in 14 overs before Jordan pinned Chopra for 33. Wheater looked in good touch, hitting eight boundaries in his 60 off 62 balls and it was a surprise when he missed a reverse sweep at Briggs.Archer had Zaidi caught behind in the 38th over but Essex were well ahead of the required rate by then and on their way to an important victory.

ScorecardMichael Neser in his follow through•Getty Images

Fast bowler Michael Neser tore through South Australia’s middle order to put Queensland in a strong position on day two at Adelaide Oval.The Bulls added just 16 runs on the second morning before being bowled out for 342 in their first innings. Redbacks quick Daniel Worrall picked up the last two wickets to finish with four for the innings.South Australia moved to 29 for 0 loss before losing three wickets for nine runs, with Brendan Doggett claiming both Jake Weatherald and Travis Head.Callum Ferguson and Jake Lehmann battled briefly before Neser took 4 for 1 in 3.1 overs to leave the Redbacks reeling at 7 for 89. Adam Zampa made a quick-fire 57 to try and salvage something from the wreck but Mitch Swepson put an end to that to hand Queensland a 180-run first innings lead.Left-arm seamer Nick Winter removed both Bulls openers in the second innings but the Redbacks have a huge mountain to climb to get back into the game.

The brilliance of Newcastle United's exploits on the pitch has become synonymous with the diligence and precision of technical director Dan Ashworth on the transfer front.

Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento have all joined the first-team fold this summer after the Magpies secured an extraordinary fourth-place finish in the Premier League last term.

With Eddie Howe at the helm, the Toon will feel that they can continue the feat, and indeed started the season off with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Aston Villa.

Howe has recently claimed that he would "love" one more signing, and the central defence is likely to be bolstered.

Who do Newcastle United want to sign?

According to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope, the Tyneside club have compiled a list of possible defensive options this month, with Torino defender Perr Schuurs currently being considered.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Crystal Palace and Liverpool have registered an interest of late, with the 23-year-old commanding a valuation of €40m (£34m).

How good is Perr Schuurs?

While Fabian Schar has been fantastic since Howe's arrival in 2021, said to have 'gone under the radar' by Harry Redknapp, the 31-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and the club might be looking to introduce a long-term option to partner the imperious Sven Botman in central defence.

Botman arrived last summer from French side Lille for £35m and has truly been exemplary, having been praised for having made a "huge difference" for the Magpies, who complemented their top-four finish with the league's joint-best defence last term, alongside Manchester City.

A no-nonsense, unflinching defender, the Dutchman recorded an average Sofascore rating of 6.99 last season, keeping 11 clean sheets from 36 games, completing 87% of his passes, averaging 3.3 clearances per game and winning a remarkable 67% of his duels.

The 23-year-old has cemented an untouchable starring role at St. James' Park and it is unlikely that will change over the coming years, and he will need a partner; as such, Schuurs could fit the bill.

Schuurs, also 23, is an imposing defender – hailed as a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting – and boasts a similar profile to his Dutch compatriot Botman.

The Torino ace recorded an average rating of 6.88 last year in Serie A, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 3.2 clearances per game; very similar numbers to that of Botman.

He also ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs for assists and the top 19% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, indicating that he could contribute effectively to the ball-playing transitions on Tyneside, assuming Schar's role superlatively, with the Swiss titan ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Therefore, signing Schuurs could prove to enhance the cohesion on Tyneside and provide Botman with a defensive confrere to solidify a rock-solid partnership for years to come.

The compatriots' variegated skills would also increase the multi-dimensional feel of the Newcastle team, ensuring that the ascent to the very top of European football continues.

قرر خالد بيبو مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، السفر إلى تونس خلال الساعات القادمة، رفقة سمير عدلي المدير الإداري، وذلك للترتيب لاستقبال بعثة الفريق قبل مواجهة الترجي التونسي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع الترجي مساء السبت المقبل في إطار ذهاب الدور النهائي لدوري أبطال إفريقيا، وذلك على أرضية ملعب حمادي العقربي “رادس”.

ويأتي سفر خالد بيبو إلى تونس من أجل إنهاء جميع الترتيبات الخاصة بوصول البعثة والإجراءات المتعلقة بالإقامة ‏والانتقالات وملعب التدريب.

طالع أيضاً.. الخطيب يترأس بعثة الأهلي في تونس لمواجهة الترجي بـ نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وتتوجه بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالأهلي برئاسة محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي، إلى تونس مساء غد الأربعاء.

ونجح الأهلي في التأهل إلى المباراة النهائية من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا بعد الفوز على مازيمبي الكونغولي، فيما تأهل فريق الترجي على حساب منافسه فريق ماميلودي صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي.

Tottenham Hotspur could move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer window, which may come as a surprise for Spurs supporters given his eight-month ban.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

The north Londoners and manager Ange Postecoglou could lose star striker Harry Kane soon as chairman Daniel Levy is given the almighty task of deciding whether to keep or sell before September 1.

Kane has entered the final year of his contract, meaning he could leave for free next summer. Spurs have offered their talisman a huge new deal, but it is believed he won't sign it this window as German champions Bayern Munich continue to pursue an agreement for him.

The prospect of him leaving is a very real one as Tottenham will not want to see their prized asset sign elsewhere for nothing next year.

Postecoglou, speaking to the media earlier this summer, told reporters that the Kane saga is an unwelcome distraction for all involved.

“Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," said the Spurs head coach.

“It’s not something you go: ‘Ah, well, you know if it does or doesn’t happen!’ I mean it’s a very important part of this football club, not just the team, but the football club.

“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club, because as laser focused as we want to be, you end up sort of repeating yourself along the way."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Tottenham, in case Kane does depart, have been looking at striker alternatives – perhaps most notably Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt and Gent's Gift Orban.

Toney, who has been linked with a move to Spurs before, could also be subject to an approach from Postecoglou's side this window – despite his eight-month ban in May for breaching gambling laws.

That's according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, who told GiveMeSport that the Bees striker could tempt Spurs.

“I just wonder if they might risk Richarlison for the first part of the season and obviously Son can play up top as well.

"And then Spurs may look at doing something with Ivan Toney for when he's back from his betting ban in January, but they might even try and sign him now thinking the price might be lower, because he's not available for the first half of the season.”

How good is Ivan Toney?

Scoring 20 goals and assisting four others for Brentford over the 22/23 league season, there is no question that Toney is an elite striker on his day.

Bees boss Thomas Frank even placed a £100 million price tag on his head earlier this year, showing how highly-rated he is.

"He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion," said Frank in 2021.

"I think for every person or player the sky’s the limit, then we will see in the future where they go.

"First I just want to enjoy Ivan here in my team, and see him grow and be as good as possible, and then we’ll see what happens in the future."

David Payne took three wickets•Getty Images

Gloucestershire gained derby bragging rights over their local rivals with an seven-wicket NatWest T20 Blast victory over Somerset in front of an 8,000 sell-out crowd at BristolSomerset could muster only 146 all out after arriving at the ground late due to traffic congestion. Johann Myburgh and Craig Overton were the main contributors, while David Payne and Benny Howell were the pick of the Gloucestershire attack.In reply, the home side never looked in trouble as Ian Cockbain, Michael Klinger, and man-of-the-match Kieran Noema-Barnett (33 off 12 balls) took them to their target with ten balls to spare.The match began 45 minutes late after Somerset’s team coach had only just arrived at the scheduled start time of 6.30pm.Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard said: “Some of our batsmen didn’t give themselves a chance to assess the pitch and there was some dull thinking at times. Johann Myburgh showed what was possible when taking a few balls to play yourself in.”We are not always going to play on perfect wickets and sometimes it is necessary to take stock of the situation. It was probably the poorest we have batted in the competition and we need to bounce back quickly against Surrey on Sunday.”As if their late arrival was not bad enough, Somerset lost the toss and their innings was something of a roller-coaster, openers Steve Davies and Lewis Gregory departing with only 13 balls bowled and 12 runs on the board. Payne was the successful bowler in both cases.Myburgh then looked to transform the match with a brilliant 18-ball cameo that featured 5 fours and 2 sixes. The South African took 24 off an over from left-arm spinner Tom SmithSkipper Jim Allenby offered solid support and at the end of the six-over power-play his team were well placed on 66 for two.From there some kamikaze cricket saw Somerset plunge to 90 for seven, James Hildreth perishing to a reverse sweep off only his second ball and Tom Abell running himself out attempting a suicidal single.Gloucestershire skipper Michael Klinger kept faith with Smith and was rewarded when the bowler conceded only 12 off his final three overs.Howell produced his customary changes of pace to flummox the batsman and did not concede a single boundary in his four overs.Overton gave Somerset some hope with some big hits at the end, but the total still looked well below par on a decent batting strip.So it proved as Klinger and Phil Mustard gave Gloucestershire a fast start, Klinger hitting Lewis Gregory over mid-wicket for six and Mustard clearing the ropes off Tim Groenewald.Klinger was struck a painful blow in the ribs by a quick delivery from Paul van Meekeren, in the sixth over, but continued after treatment. The opening stand was worth 48 when Mustard (29) drove a catch to long-on off Roelof van der Merwe.Ian Cockbain lofted Max Waller over long-on for six as Gloucestershire eased towards the required run rate and repeated the treatment off Overton. He and Klinger brought the 100 up in the 14th over and by then the outcome was all but settled. Klinger fell for 35, but with only 45 needed off six overs, the hosts were well in control.Noema-Barnett eased any suggestion of late nerves with successive straight sixes of the previously impressive van Meekeren and followed up with two more maximums off van der Merwe to the delight of home fans before holing out with the job virtually done.Jack Taylor finished the match with a six to complete a miserable night for Somerset, who were well beaten.

Everton will hope to sign a new striker before the 2023/24 Premier League season kicks off in two weeks' time, and Salernitana's Boulaye Dia is being pursued.

Arnaut Danjuma has already been signed on a season-long loan deal from Villarreal, but the clinical Senegalese striker could complete the frontline as Sean Dyche looks to navigate away from the pit of the English top flight this season.

Everton have spent the past two campaigns battling against relegation and only survived the drop on the final game of the term this year, with Abdoulaye Doucoure's thumping finish enough to beat AFC Bournemouth and send Leicester City sinking into the second tier.

The lack of goal threat was the crux of the problem; Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury issues were compounded by Neal Maupay's inept efforts – as the pair scored just three goals between them across all fronts – and the Toffees' manager is looking to address the issue and ensure the forthcoming campaign offers brighter fortunes.

Are Everton signing Boulaye Dia?

According to Tutto Salernitana – via Sport Witness – Everton have scheduled a fresh round of talks with the Serie A outfit to discuss the possibility of Dia's transfer to Merseyside.

The Blues are reluctant to pay the player's €25m (£21m) release clause and have instead opted to offer Maupay in the negotiations, with the Frenchman admired by the Salernitana hierarchy.

Should Everton sign Boulaye Dia?

Dia scored 16 goals and supplied six assists from 33 appearances in the league last year, integral for his team and praised as "absolutely fantastic" by pundit Marlon Harewood.

The 25-cap international ranks among the top 16% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 14% for assists per 90, also ranking among the top 17% for pass completion, as per FBref and boasts the dynamic skill set and fluidity that was missing at Goodison Park last season.

Salernitana only tied up a permanent deal for the 26-year-old Villarreal striker last month, completing the deal for a reported €12m (£10m) after he excelled on loan, with journalist Josh Bunting claiming that the sharpshooter is a real "handful".

Dia would link up with his international teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye at Everton, and could prove to be an astute addition and another move on the money when targetting Senegalese players, with Gueye having now racked up 142 appearances across two spells with the side.

Dubbed a "machine" by Thomas Tuchel when plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, Gueye still retains that intensity and industrious nature to this day, ranking among the top 4% of midfielders for tackles, the top 2% for interceptions and the top 10% for blocks per 90.

Dia could emulate the energy of his compatriot and pump life back into the Everton attack, with his tag as a 'handful' reference to his work rate and tenacity.

He would certainly bring something different to Dyche's team, and given that Salernitana are ostensibly interested in Maupay in a cash-plus-player transaction, it could be a move to suit all parties and ensure that the woes of the past few seasons at Goodison Park fall into distant memory.

Arsenal have already enjoyed a proactive start to the transfer market, and despite faltering announcements for Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice to supplement their acquisition of Kai Havertz, reports are assuring that no issues have arisen with those deals.

Mikel Arteta will still get his men, and the Gunners will continue their pre-season preparation in the hopes they can go one step further in the Premier League next season.

However, it is unlikely that this will note the end of their summer spending, given just how big the gulf turned out to be between themselves and Manchester City.

The five points that separated them in the league do not even begin to outline the disparity, as Pep Guardiola's side would add an FA Cup and Champions League to become just the second English team to complete this infamous treble.

With a bolstered backline and a meliorated midfield, out wide is arguably the place that has been pushed to the back burner.

That's not to suggest that they have completely neglected the pursuit though, with links to both Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus remaining throughout the window.

The latter in particular came only at the start of this month, and prefaces Paris Saint-Germain's movement into the driving seat to re-sign the former. Therefore, Arteta might have his hand forced to opt for the Ghana international, who still remains a fine alternative to the 20-year-old maestro.

What is the current market value of Mohammed Kudus?

Having both shone in the Eredivisie from the flank, it seems that last campaign marked a true step up for both of these budding young stars.

Featuring for two of the heavyweights within that division, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax were blessed to have such creativity and goalscoring prowess from the left and right wing respectively.

In fact, the differences between the two are hardly lofty enough to outline a significant gulf, suggesting that Simons' edging move back to Paris could make Arteta's transfer selection even easier.

After all, the 22-year-old recorded 18 goals and seven assists last term across all competitions, not to mention his two goals and 7.70 average rating during his country's group stage exit of the World Cup.

This excellence on the biggest stage in football was extended to the Champions League too, where he earned praise from journalist Karl Matchett for one strike against Rangers back in September:

"He is sensational. What a magical player. Channels, one-touch passing, strength in dribble, really smart positions dropping deep, aggressive winning it back and an absolute arrow of a shot."

To compare this with Simons, who has started to work his way into the Netherlands senior squad, there remains a slight lack of experience that has prevented him from lighting up a similar level.

Despite that, his 34 goal contributions across all competitions last term in his homeland suggest he is deservedly close to being handed such an opportunity.

With the Parisian giants exercising their buy-back clause and thus moving way ahead in the race for the youngster, Kudus stands alone as the outstanding alternative that remains.

Although his reported £40m price tag might come across as steep, given it far outweighs his €12.8m (£11m) FootballTransfers market valuation, it would still mark a coup for a player who at such a young age already boasts immense quality and experience on the top stage.