Arsenal readying bid to sign “world-class” £100m Toffees star who’s better than Onana

Though they both have greater expertise in the former position, it appears likely that the Brazilian and Belgian would be entering to play the latter. Nevertheless, both players are at ease playing as sixes and eights.

This is due to Declan Rice’s outstanding play last season, where he started the majority of games at the base of midfield and finished with seven goals and 10 assists in 51 games.

The Everton player could only muster three goals and one assist in 37 games, but the Newcastle dynamo impressively produced the same amount of goals and assists in one less game.

So, based on their underlying metrics, who stands out as being more of a goal threat—the former Lyon player, obviously?

Unfortunately for the former LOSC Lille gem, it’s the “world class” Brazilian, as dubbed by journalist Andy Sixsmith, who emerges victorious, and by quite some margin.

For example, he produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, more progressive passes and carries, takes more shots and shots on target, produces more shot and goal-creating actions, makes more blocks and interceptions, and completes more successful take-ons, all per 90.