MATT BARLOW:  Why the clamour is for a midfield all-rounder who evokes memories of Bryan Robson

The transfer market revolved around centre forwards last summer. Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez were incoming, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison moving south. Romelu Lukaku was searching for a way out.

What followed was something of a revival season in English football for the big man up front. Haaland led the way, of course, with Harry Kane behind him, setting a record for headers in a Premier League season.

Behind Kane, until their respective bans, were Ivan Toney and Aleksandr Mitrovic.

This summer’s Premier League market is already building around the midfield all-rounder, with moves shaping up for Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, and plenty of interest in Joao Palhinha after a fine debut season at Fulham, and Moses Caicedo at Brighton.

Liverpool have turned attention to Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich after accepting defeat in the race for Bellingham, and Chelsea kicked off the year by spending a British record £107million on Enzo Fernandez.

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are among midfielders linked with moves this summer

Premier League clubs appear to be looking for an all-round midfielder in the mold of Bryan Robson when he was in his prime

All of them midfielders with similar assets. Strong, physical, with energy and aggression and yet more. They are ‘progressive’ in modern parlance, able to break forward, carry the ball, find a pass, create and even score goals.

For those of a certain age, they will evoke memories of Bryan Robson at his peak, regularly both the defensive warrior, capable of stepping in as a centre-half, and the chief goal threat for Manchester United and England in the 1980s.

Specialist screeners — which became all the rage after Brazil won the World Cup in 2002 with their best defensive players holding in midfield and enabling the luxury flair of Ronaldinho and flamboyant attacking full backs — no longer feel essential.

Maybe that’s because clubs gave up in the search for another Claude Makelele, or maybe N’Golo Kante triggered the leap.

Kante is regularly miscast as a defensive midfielder when he isn’t and never really was.

He wins the ball all over the pitch but most importantly he has the ability to win it cleanly and move it forward at pace, enabling quick counter-attacks. Winning it in the opposition’s half is far more dangerous than on the edge of his own box. The shifting tactical fashions of recent years — towards teams pressing high and risking a high defensive line — have added value to those of Kante’s ilk, who can win the ball cleanly in the attacking half.

Ideally, as a form of insurance, they would also be quick enough to recover if the press is beaten or astute (or should that be cynical) enough to cut down a counter-attack with a foul.

Pep Guardiola might be playing John Stones in midfield at Manchester City at the moment, or moving a full back in and out of midfield, but it is not exactly the same as the specialist screener like Makelele or Gilberto Silva. There is more to Rodri’s role at City than shielding his central defenders.

There is plenty of interest in Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo (right) this summer

Fulham could face a battle to keep Joao Palhinha (right) amid Premier League interest

With Guardiola, and most managers these days, it’s all about the flex from one formation to another, whether in or out of possession. Those who flex fastest have the edge.

And the all-round qualities of those in the heart of the team are crucial.

The scarcity of this talent and demands from the wealthiest clubs will drive up the fees into Fernandez territory, towards £100m, particularly for those aged 25 or under and deemed to be Premier League-ready.

Selling clubs, meanwhile, will have been scouring their data for emerging, perhaps younger and more affordable players in the same mould.

Here’s three who caught the eye of our data partners at Delphlyx…

Dion Lopy (21) at Reims and already under scrutiny by several English clubs.

Ben Sheaf (25) at Coventry, impressive in the Championship since his move from Arsenal, might appeal after losing in the play-off final.

Yunus Musah (20) another once on the books at Arsenal, now at Valencia, who stumble from one crisis to another.

Play-off final is what FA Cup used to be 

On the way to Wembley on Saturday, it was hard to escape the feeling that the Championship play-off final has become what the FA Cup final used to be.

The ultimate day out for football fans in the end-of-season sunshine. Hope and anticipation crackling in the air. Novelty and excitement in a trip to the home of football. Still with something very real, transformational in fact, at stake for everyone, from the players and owners to the fans.

That doesn’t mean it’s always an amazing game and there won’t always be the fairytale ending guaranteed by Luton or Coventry, but everyone is thrilled to be part of it. Everyone goes in the belief they have a genuine chance of winning.

Nobody is bored by the prospect of Wembley. Nobody has bigger fish to fry. Nobody is dreading humiliation on the world stage because they’re unable to get the ball from Manchester City.

I adore the FA Cup final, a magnificent occasion, but if I could select one ticket to one game in the football calendar, I would not miss the Championship play-off final.

The Championship play-off final is becoming what the FA Cup final used to be

Chelsea kid on top of the world 

In timely fashion, on the subject of pouncing early for promising midfield all-rounders, Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei has made an explosive start for Italy in the Under 20 World Cup in Argentina, with four goals in his opening two games, including two in a win against Brazil. 

Casadei, 20, signed last summer from Inter Milan and spent the second half of last season on loan at Reading, relegated from the Championship.

Serious Coventy pressure  

IFAB’s double-toss rule before penalty shootouts could not have been more starkly in evidence than on Saturday at Wembley. Luton effectively won the coin toss twice.

First for the shootout at their end, then choosing to go first. What a test of nerve for those Coventry players, walking towards the sea of orange at Wembley’s east end, not a sky blue shirt in sight, and always needing to score, or else miss the £180million jackpot.

That’s pressure.

First English coach in Switzerland since Hodgson 

Alex Weaver is set to become the first Englishman to coach in the Swiss Super League since Roy Hodgson after clinching promotion as assistant manager at Yverdon-Sport.

Stoke-born Weaver, 46, coached in Singapore after a semi-pro playing career, and moved in 2016 to Switzerland. He worked in academies at various clubs, including Basle, where he met former international Marco Schallibaum, who became Yverdon boss last summer and appointed Weaver as his assistant.

They clinched the second-tier title by beating FC Wil on Saturday, drawing parallels to Luton’s story of success against the odds, albeit in the more picturesque surroundings of Yverdon-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Neuchatel

Teen ace looks a winner 

As Erling Haaland starts harvesting his vast crop of thoroughly deserved player-of-the-year prizes, another young Norwegian at Manchester City is attracting attention.

Oscar Bobb, 19, has enjoyed a splendid season on the left side of the attack for City’s Under 21s.

Oslo-born, Bobb signed from Valerenga in 2019. Expect EFL clubs to try to lure him out on loan next season.