Villarreal, read in full

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Chapter one · read the club

Villarreal,read in full.

Iñigo Pérez's side line up in a and sit in the table.

Chapter two · find the gap

The gaps are at and .

Biggest need · defensive midfield · too few players
Counted by where they start, its options add up to only players, veterans aside, where a squad carries .
Second need · winger · too few players, ageing
Counted by where they start, its options add up to only players, veterans aside, where a squad carries . of the options are veterans, so the position needs renewing soon.

Every position is compared with the six squads in its league closest in strength: depth, the best option's value, ageing. Players count where they actually start, not where they are listed.

Chapter three · scout the fix

Three ways to fix it.

Biggest need: defensive midfield

Dream targets · whatever the cost

Ethan Ampadu
Club
Leeds United
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
A regular: minutes for Leeds United in the past year's matches on record, and international caps. He would compete with Pape Gueye () for a starting place. The most valuable regular starter we found at defensive midfield. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .
Máximo Perrone
Club
Como 1907
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays defensive midfield · left-footed · cm · caps
Why him
A regular: minutes for Como 1907 in the past year's matches on record, and international caps. He would compete with Pape Gueye () for a starting place. The second most valuable regular starter we found at defensive midfield. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .
Archie Gray
Club
Tottenham Hotspur
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays centre-back · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
In style he is in the top of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for passes ( league season). He would compete with Pape Gueye, the last of Villarreal's regular starters there, for a starting place; Pape Gueye is ahead of only of midfielders in Europe's biggest leagues for chances created. The third most valuable regular starter we found at defensive midfield. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .

Hidden gems · young, rising

Marc Bernal
Club
FC Barcelona
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays defensive midfield · left-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He would compete with Pape Gueye () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of FC Barcelona's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Jack Hinshelwood
Club
Brighton & Hove Albion
Age
Price
(likely –)
right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
That is more than Pape Gueye, the last of Villarreal's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of Brighton & Hove Albion's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Leon Avdullahu
Club
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays defensive midfield · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He would compete with Pape Gueye () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.

Second need: winger

Dream targets · whatever the cost

Igor Paixão
Club
Olympique Marseille
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays left winger · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match, more goal involvement than of players at his position in Ligue 1. That is more than Tajon Buchanan, the last of Villarreal's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. The most valuable regular starter we found at winger. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .
Dango Ouattara
Club
Brentford FC
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays right winger · left-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
An inside forward: in the top of wingers in Europe's biggest leagues for shots, the top for duels contested and the top for goals ( league season). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. Closest in style: A. Semenyo and N. Madueke. The second most valuable regular starter we found at winger. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .
Harvey Barnes
Club
Newcastle United
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays left winger · right-footed · cm · caps · injury risk
Why him
An inside forward: in the top of wingers in Europe's biggest leagues for goals and the top for shots ( league season). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. Closest in style: Mohamed Salah and C. Gakpo. The third most valuable regular starter we found at winger. We expect him to play of Villarreal's minutes. Market value .

Realistic targets · gettable

Carlos Álvarez
Club
Levante UD
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays attacking midfield, right winger · left-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in La Liga (ahead of ). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. A move that can happen: Levante UD sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Villarreal. The likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot). Only months are left on his contract, which brings the price down.
Williot Swedberg
Club
Celta de Vigo
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays left winger · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
An inside forward: in the top of wingers in Europe's biggest leagues for fouls won ( league season). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. Closest in style: Sandro Ramírez. A move that can happen: Celta de Vigo sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Villarreal. The second likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot).
Takefusa Kubo
Club
Real Sociedad
Age
Contract
months left
Price
(likely –)
Plays right winger · left-footed · cm · caps
Why him
A direct dribbler: in the top of wingers in Europe's biggest leagues for dribbles completed, the top for fouls won and the top for duels contested ( league season). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. A move that can happen: Real Sociedad sell players like him more often than most ( chance in a window), and players tend to move up to richer clubs like Villarreal. The third likeliest move of those we checked ( in a window; any one move is a long shot).

Hidden gems · young, rising

Sascha Britschgi
Club
Parma Calcio 1913
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays right midfield, right-back · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Serie A (ahead of ). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of Parma Calcio 1913's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Oumar Camara
Club
Vitória Guimarães SC
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays left winger · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match, more goal involvement than of players at his position in Liga Portugal. That is more than Tajon Buchanan, the last of Villarreal's regular starters there ( goals and assists per full match), so he would add end product. Aged and already a regular ( of Vitória Guimarães SC's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons.
Oscar Schwartau
Club
Norwich City
Age
Price
(likely –)
Plays right winger, second striker · right-footed · cm · caps
Why him
He scores and sets up league goals per full match; for goals and assists he is behind most players at his position in Championship (ahead of ). He would compete with Tajon Buchanan () for a starting place. Aged and already a regular ( of Norwich City's minutes), projected to be worth in a few seasons. Transfermarkt lists league minutes for him last season.

Price is our fair fee for Villarreal today; the likely range is where most fees for players like him have landed. Wages are not shown: no free source publishes them.

Injury risk is rated for players in Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1; Eredivisie has too little injury data to rate; other leagues have none.

Chapter four · check every number

Every number has a receipt.

league position · Villarreal
league points · Villarreal
league goals scored · Villarreal
league goals conceded · Villarreal
recent league results, oldest first · Villarreal
appointed head coach of Villarreal · Iñigo Pérez

Verified ×2Every figure re-checked against its source · news needs an official source or two independent ones · hover any number

Chapter five · predict Saturday

Valencia v Villarreal

Valencia win

Draw

Villarreal win

Forecast from team ratings and chance quality, tested on two full seasons: better than a classic rating system, not yet as sharp as the bookmakers.

Chapter six · fork it

Open source. Free. Yours.

Free and open source, built only on free data and open AI. Point it at your club and check every number yourself.

github.com/delta96040/dugout Read the full dossier