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Watford signing this 23-year-old left-footed enforcer would freshen up things in a key area of the pitch

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Why Watford should reignite their interest in James Lea-Siliki

Back in June, during the summer transfer window, French outlet Foot Mercato claimed that Watford were interested in signing midfielder James Lea Siliki from French club Rennes. However, a move to the Premier League failed to materialize and Lea Siliki stayed put in his homeland.

Watford went on to complete a club-record deal for Lea Siliki’s Rennes teammate and Senegalese international winger Ismaila Sarr, while Danny Welbeck was another high-profile signing on a free transfer from Arsenal

Having narrowly missed out on a top-ten finish in the Premier League last season and enjoyed a wonderful run to the FA Cup final, the Hornets were expected to push on under Javi Gracia and challenge the big boys in the division for a Europa League qualification spot.

Image result for james lea siliki

With that in mind, however, the fans at Vicarage Road have every reason to be bitterly disappointed with how Watford have gone about things in the ongoing campaign so far. 

Still looking for their first league win after seven games, Watford are currently languishing bottom of the table in the Premier League and things have hardly taken a positive turnaround since the dismissal of Gracia and the subsequent appointment of former manager Quique Sanchez Flores. 

Of course, susceptibility at the back has been one of the key takeaways from their nightmarish start to the season and, while the defenders have been quite shocking, it is worth noting that the midfielders and the attackers haven’t done a lot to help the team either. 

Image result for james lea siliki

While the likes of Welbeck, Deulofeu, Deeney, Gray and Sarr have all struggled to make an impact up top with goals, the central midfield pairing of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue has also left much to desire with their coverall contribution, both in terms of attack and defence.

Doucoure and Capoue were amongst the standout performers in what was a wonderful campaign for the Hornets on all fronts under Gracia last time around but they have been well below-par this term.

Sanchez Flores hasn’t shown much trust in 19-year-old Domingos Quina, while Nathaniel Chalobah continues to be a marginalised figure at Vicarage Road.

In fairness to Doucoure and Capoue, they still have time to recover from a slow start but it won’t be a bad idea for Watford to look at a few alternatives in the market.

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Doucoure has been linked with moves to several top clubs in the recent past (h/t Express) and the manager would have a massive void to fill should be head for the exit door in the near future.

On paper, Watford have a pretty strong midfield cavalry but bringing in fresh faces is the need of the hour after a calamitous start to the season and with that in mind, the Hornets should look to revisit their interest in James Lea Siliki when the transfer window reopens in January. 

Born in France to parents of Cameroonian descent, Lea Siliki hasn’t really been an undisputed starter for Rennes in Ligue 1 since his senior breakthrough in the 2016-17 campaign but the 23-year-old left-footed enforcer has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to add that much-needed spark and the X-Factor to a Watford midfield that has looked quite pedestrian and ineffective this term.

Image result for james lea siliki

The former French U-19 international has the right blend of pace and power in his game to make an impact in the Premier League, while his high work rate, ability to create space, pick the right pass and get into the channels should provide another dimension to Watford’s overall gameplay in the middle of the park.

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Sanchez Flores needs to try out a few tactical tweaks and play some gambles to find a way of overturning a poor start to the campaign and Watford reigniting interest in the summer target could go on to pay rich dividends.

Having said that, the Hornets should go back in the market for the Ligue 1 star in January to freshen up things in the middle of the park.

Arsenal Dragon

Andriani Michael: Jack Wilshere Wife, net worth, career, kids, and family

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English footballer Jack Wilshere and his wife Andriani Michael

Andriani Michael is a housekeeper known for being the wife of one of the most underrated mid-fielders, Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere. In this article, we will discuss everything about this beautiful couple.

Michael comes from England, and she is known for being the partner of the youngest-ever debutant in the premier league Jack Wilshere. She has achieved many things at a young age. She is the proud wife of Jack Wilshere. There is no information when the duo started dating, but their engagement was done in 2016 and it was revealed to the media as well.

Andriani Michael and Jack Wilshere Families 

Andriani was born on May 22, 1991, in England, and she is the daughter of Michael, a barber who owns a barbershop in Cockfosters. Nothing much has been disclosed about the rest of her family. She doesn’t share about her family members and we don’t know if she has a brother or sister.

Andriani Michael with her husband Jack Wilshere. (Credits: Instagram)
Andriani Michael with her husband Jack Wilshere. (Credits: Instagram)

Jack Wilshere was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, on January 1, 1992, to father Andrew Wilshere and mother, Kerry Wilshere. He captained The Priory School football team to Country Cup and District Cup glory from Year 7 to Year 10.

Andriani Michael’s husband, Jack Wilshere

Jack joined the Arsenal academy in October 2001 at the age of nine and rose through the ranks at the age of 15. He was then named captain of the U-16s and made a few appearances for the Under-18s. He has been a successful footballer over the years. Jack Wilshere is now a part of the team Luton Town as a manager.

Jack Wilshere of England during Soccer Aid for Unicef 2023 at Old Trafford on June 11, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Jack Wilshere of England during Soccer Aid for Unicef 2023 at Old Trafford on June 11, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Wilshere made his first-team debut in 2008 by becoming the youngest ever league debutant at 16 years, 256 days. He is without a club currently and is training with Arsenal’s first team to keep himself fit while looking for a new club. Wilshere has earned many accolades, including the PFA Young Player of the Year and Arsenal’s Player of the Season award.

Jack has played International football for England and has represented the country under-16, under-17, and under-18. And under-21 levels. He is also the 12th youngest debutant in England’s history at just the age of 18.

Andriani Michael and Jack Wilshere Kids

Jack was first in a relationship with Lauren Neal and has two kids with her, Archie and Delilah Wilshere, born in 2011 and 2013. He met Andriani in her father’s barbershop after breaking up with his former girlfriend, Lauren. 

Jack Wilshere with his family (Instagram)

Jack and Andriani fell in love with each other, and the couple tied the knot in 2017 in a three-day bash in Italy. They gave birth to their first baby Siena Wilshere, the second daughter of Jack, and In February 2020, they welcomed another boy, who has the same name as his father, Jack Wilshere.

Andriani Michael Profession, Career, Net Worth 

Andriani is a housekeeper and maintains a shallow profile on the internet, especially on social media. She does have an Instagram, but it is private. 

Jack Wilshire of England is seen prior to the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between England and Wales at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on June 16, 2016 in Lens, France.  (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Jack Wilshire of England is seen prior to the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between England and Wales at Stade Bollaert-Delelis on June 16, 2016 in Lens, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Nothing is disclosed about her professional life, but She and Jack have an estimated net worth of $60 million. Most of their net worth are from Jack Wilshere’s football earnings.

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Report: Celtic dealt blow in pursuit of 19-year-old Serie A ace

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Aaron Hickey of Hearts holds off Karamoko Dembele of Celtic during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on May 19, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Getty Images)

Celtic dealt major blow in pursuit of Bologna star Aaron Hickey

According to La Nazione (h/t Daily Record), Fiorentina have intensified negotiations with fellow Serie A club Bologna for the signing of Celtic target Aaron Hickey, dealing a blow to the Hoops.

Hickey started out at the academy of Scottish club Heart of Midlothian FC and briefly spent time at Celtic as well before returning to Hearts, where he graduated to the first-team and went on to make 34 senior appearances.

The young left-back, who scored and assisted one goal apiece for his boyhood club, was snapped up by Serie A side Bologna in the summer of last year. Hickey did not feature regularly for the Serie A outfit due to injury problems. Indeed, the 19-year-old featured in just 12 games throughout the 2020/21 season.

Greg Stewart of Rangers vies with Aaron Hickey of Heart of Midlothian during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Rangers and Hearts at Ibrox Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Getty Images)
Aaron Hickey (L) during his time at Hearts

But his stock remains high as ever, as Celtic are intent on bringing him back to Scotland this summer. The Hoops, embarking on a new journey under new manager Ange Postecoglou, are looking to bolster their defensive department.

Having decided not to sign Diego Laxalt permanently, Celtic have just Boli Bolingoli and Greg Taylor as options at left-back, with the former unsure of a future after returning from loan. So, signing someone like Hickey, who can make the spot his own for the coming years, would have been a good move.

However, Fiorentina seem to have thrown a spanner in the works for Celtic as the Serie A side have upped their efforts to land the youngster from Bologna. Indeed, it is reported that La Viola have intensified negotiations over a move, although they will have to offer at least €5m to stand a chance of signing the teenager.

Ange Postecoglou is the new Celtic manager (GETTY Images)
Ange Postecoglou is the new Celtic manager (GETTY Images)

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Bologna are in no hurry to sell Hickey and will wait for the highest bid as they look to maximise their profits. It is now up to Celtic to step up in their pursuit of the 19-year-old or risk missing out on him.

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Transfer News: PL side enter race to sign 25-year-old Rangers star

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Glen Kamara in action for Rangers. (Getty Images)

Transfer News: Rangers star Glen Kamara wanted by Everton

According to transfer news from Eurosport (h/t Glasgow Live), Premier League club Everton have entered the race to sign Glen Kamara from Scottish champions Rangers this summer.

Kamara started out his youth football in his homeland, Finland, before switching to England in 2011 when he signed for the Southend United academy. A year later, he was snapped up by Premier League giants Arsenal, where he rose through the youth ranks but couldn’t break into the first-team.

Glen Kamara during his time at Dundee. (Getty Images)
Glen Kamara during his time at Dundee. (Getty Images)

After loan spells away at Southend United and Colchester United, Kamara left Arsenal permanently in the summer of 2017, signing for Scottish club Dundee FC. The 25-year-old Finnish midfielder rose to prominence with the club and was picked up by Steven Gerrard’s Rangers in the winter transfer window of 2019.

During his two-and-a-half-year stay at the Ibrox Stadium, Kamara has developed into one of the best midfielders on show in the Scottish Premiership. The Finland star played an integral role in the Gers’ title victory last season as he racked up over 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring and assisting a couple of goals apiece. (h/t Transfermarkt)

However, Kamara’s time at the Ibrox Stadium could be drawing towards a close, with Everton joining a number of other clubs in pursuit of the ex-Arsenal youngster. Indeed, the likes of Watford and Brentford have already shown an interest in the 25-year-old while an unnamed Russian club is also keen, with the Toffees also joining the bandwagon. (h/t Glasgow Live)

Glen Kamara in action for Rangers. (Getty Images)
Glen Kamara in action for Rangers. (Getty Images)

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Given how important Kamara has been for Rangers in his time at the club, his potential departure would come as a blow. However, with his contract expiring in two years and with so many teams interested, this also represents the Gers best chance of making good money from his sale, which they can reinvest in the squad.

With a transfer fee of £15m being mentioned, the Light Blues could stand to make a massive profit, having signed him for a measly £50k in 2019.

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