On a night that saw Newcastle United’s attack take lift off against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, former Magpie Shay Given hit back at Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s bizarre recent dig.
Howe: USG win a "big step" for Newcastle
Following a difficult start to their Premier League season, which was summed up by a last-gasp defeat against Arsenal last time out, Newcastle needed a good night in the Champions League. The pressure was certainly on, too. The Magpies entered their game against USG as the clear favourites and simply needed to deliver.
Goals from Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon quickly eased any fears about a potential upset, however, and the latter then scored his second penalty of the evening before Harvey Barnes rounded off a fine evening in which all of Eddie Howe’s attacking players shone.
Pleased with his side, the Newcastle boss spoke after the match: “Hopefully, it helps us when we return to the Premier League because we’ve been waiting for a performance like that where, really, we looked like we could score at any moment.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance, there’s things we can improve, but it was a big step in the right direction. It was an important stage as well in the Champions League because, as I said before, we have to start well.
“These competitions are so high, and the demands are so big on us that if we’re slow starters, we could leave ourselves too much to do. So, I certainly leave here in a lot healthier, positive frame of mind, and I’m looking forward to the next game.”
Up next for the Magpies is the visit of Nottingham Forest and Ange Postecoglou in a game that may see Woltemade score his fourth goal for the club to continue an impressive start.
Shay Given hits back at "idiot" Woltemade claim
It’s fair to say that some in Bavaria have been left with a sour taste after Newcastle signed Woltemade ahead of Bayern Munich in the summer. Ex-Bayern chief and current board supervisor Rummenigge even went as far as to say: “We shouldn’t fulfil every demand to make someone happy, especially the financiers at VfB Stuttgart.
Better than Gordon: Newcastle star is now one of the best in the world
Newcastle romped to a big win in the Champions League this week, with Anthony Gordon starring.
1 ByKelan Sarson
“I can only congratulate those in Stuttgart for finding – I’ll use quotation marks here – an idiot who paid that much money. Because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich!”
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Of course, that “idiot” has now seen the towering forward score three times in six games in all competitions to make £69m look like a “cheap” deal as far as former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is concerned.
With Forest up next, Woltemade has the chance to continue the form that earned him a move to St James’ Park in the first place and the type that will continue to prove any doubters wrong.
Liverpool will sign Jeremie Frimpong in the coming weeks (perhaps even sooner). The Bayer Leverkusen star was swiftly identified by FSG as the perfect player to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will join Real Madrid when his contract expires next month.
Though some fans will point toward Frimpong’s advanced role in Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side and reserve judgment until a personal gauge on his defensive ability can be delivered, there’s no question he’s an exciting profile, different to Trent but still a “monster in the final third,” as said by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker.
Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong
With the balanced Conor Bradley already making headway in Arne Slot’s team, this contrast of profiles on the right could work a treat for the Merseysiders as they look to defend their Premier League title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.
But it stings that Liverpool have been forced into replacing Alexander-Arnold all the same, with the atmosphere around the vice-captain souring since he intimated his decision to the world earlier this month.
Trent and Carragher
Especially when Los Blancos constantly prove to be the scourge of the Anfield side, with their success in signing Dean Huijsen proving a double whammy.
Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen
Liverpool have two of the finest defenders kicking about today in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, but the skipper is nearing the twilight of his Premier League career and the latter has just one year remaining on his current deal.
And you can bet your bottom dollar Real Madrid have a vested interest in bringing him to the Spanish capital.
Huijsen was one of Liverpool’s top targets for the summer, but the Bournemouth centre-back has indeed agreed to join Alonso’s new crew, so will partner with Trent in the Madrid backline.
Slot’s side were thought to have had the lead in the young Spaniard, whose breakout campaign in England has drawn plenty of praise, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing his “extraordinary rise.”
Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen.
The prototypical modern centre-half, Huijsen’s technical control, rangy physique and natural intelligence make him the perfect player to slot right into the Liverpool project – and he’s left-footed besides.
However, this one’s done, and FSG need to turn their attention elsewhere. Luckily, sporting director Richard Hughes is on the case.
Liverpool make new CB a top target
Liverpool need to sign a centre-back, to be sure. Konate’s actually the last senior signing in that area, arriving from RB Leipzig for £36m four years ago.
Slot needs a rising star, and he might just find one in Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, with the 23-year-old understood by Spanish sources to be the Premier League champions’ favourite now that Huijsen’s out of reach.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
The defender still has four years left on his current deal and is a player of significant potential, with Chelsea quoted at £59m when asking about the Ecuadorian’s availability back in January.
What Piero Hincapie would bring to Liverpool
Hincapie has made 164 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring seven goals, assisting five more, winning an invincible domestic double last season.
Described as a “prodigy” by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz two years ago, Hincapie has made incremental progress in Germany, signing from Argentine club CA Talleres as a 19-year-old in 2021.
Piero Hincapie’s Leverkusen Stats by Season (all comps)
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
Titles
24/25
45
3
2
1x
23/24
43
1
1
2x
22/23
43
1
1
0x
21/22
33
2
1
0x
Data via Transfermarkt
With Van Dijk set to stay for the next couple of seasons, Hincapie could make a shrewd career move by moving to Merseyside and serving as the defensive great’s understudy before ascending to superstardom himself.
He certainly has the attributes to make his mark. As per FBref, the 6 footer ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal involvements, the top 16% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90.
Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen
As you can see, he’s got the skill and gifted approach to make a real difference in Slot’s squad, capable even of becoming an even better player than Huijsen.
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Also hailed as an “absolute beast” who “can become one of the world’s best centre-backs” by journalist Antonio Mango, Hincapie might have even outperformed Bournemouth’s star defender this term.
League Stats 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Piero Hincapie
Stats (* per game)
Huijsen
Hincapie
Matches (starts)
30 (25)
32 (28)
Goals
3
2
Assists
1
2
Touches*
64.4
78.5
Pass completion
84%
89%
Key passes*
0.5
0.5
Ball recoveries*
3.4
3.1
Tackles + interceptions*
2.9
2.6
Clearances*
6.0
3.3
Duels (won)*
3.8 (57%)
5.2 (62%)
Stats via Sofascore
Left-footed, he’d also be a suitable successor for skipper Van Dijk, who has renewed his Liverpool contract by two years but turns 34 this summer.
There’s indeed a case to be made that Hincapie is playing at a superior level to Huijsen right now. That’s not to discredit Los Blancos’ new recruit, who already coats himself with the trappings of something special, world-class, but rather, highlights the quality of Leverkusen’s rising star, whose dynamism and athleticism have even permitted him to play on the left flank 11 times this term.
Hincapie is more active in the duel and more accurate too, with several years more experience that have tuned his completeness to a degree that would see him thrive alongside Van Dijk before finally taking his place.
If Liverpool are able to engineer a deal for a figure not too far north of Huijsen’s £50m release clause, something they were willing to meet, this could prove to be an exceptional deal for the Reds.
Having proven himself and then some as one of the best young defenders in the game, Hincapie could veritably explode under Slot’s wing in the Premier League.
He'd be incredible with Kerkez: FSG want to sign £50m "tank" for Liverpool
Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the summer transfer market.
Well, that wasn’t quite as straightforward as many would’ve been hoping, but then again, it never really is with Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou’s side did their chances of automatically making it through to the next round of the Europa League a world of good with their unnecessarily nervous 3-2 win over Hoffenheim tonight.
However, in terms of individual performances, it was something of a mixed bag for the visitors.
Hoffenheim Vs Tottenham
Hoffenheim
Statistics
Tottenham
56%
Possession
44%
2.13
Expected Goals
2.12
2
Goals
3
6
Big Chances
3
22
Total Shots
8
6
Corners
4
541
Passes
452
26
Tackles
16
All Stats via Sofascore
That said, there were two starters who stood out for all the right reasons and now can not be dropped for the weekend, including Son Heung-min.
Son's performance vs Hoffenheim
So, after a few weeks in which he signed a contract extension and received plenty of criticism for some rather lacklustre displays, Son really stepped up tonight.
The South Korean superstar wound back the clock and was a constant threat throughout his time on the pitch, although his most significant contributions to the victory were, of course, his two goals.
Now, while there was an element of good fortune with his first goal, in the way it bounced off of a Hoffenheim player, his second was all down to his sensational finishing.
Moreover, that second strike saved the team from what could have been a disastrous result and yet another game in which they managed to find a way to drop points.
Unsurprisingly, football.london’s Alasdair Gold was suitably impressed by the captain’s performance, giving him an 8/10 match rating and writing that he ‘worked hard’ throughout and was there when his team needed him.
In all, it was a superb showing from the 32-year-old, although he wasn’t the only one to make a real difference, as James Maddison also impressed.
James Maddison's performance vs Hoffenheim
Yes, the other standout starter for Spurs tonight was undoubtedly Maddison, who hasn’t been given too many chances to show what he can do from the start in recent weeks.
Like his captain, the former Leicester City star was everywhere in the first half and was practically running the game at points.
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The “world-class” creator, as dubbed by former professional Dean Saunders, got things underway with the opening goal just three minutes into the game, and 19 minutes after that, he provided the assist for Son’s first goal.
Unsurprisingly, Gold was also pleased with what he saw from the Englishman, awarding him an 8/10 match rating as well and simply writing that it was a ‘really good performance from the midfielder.’
Fortunately, the high praise is more than backed up by the 28-year-old’s statistics, as in 89 minutes of action, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of 1.23, took 61 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 92%, played three key passes, created one big chance, completed 100% of his long balls, won six ground duels, made two clearances, won three fouls and made one tackle.
Maddison’s game in numbers
Minutes
89′
Expected Goals
0.54
Goals
1
Expected Assists
0.69
Assists
1
Touches
61
Passing Accuracy
36/39 (92%)
Key Passes
3
Long Balls (Accurate)
3 (3)
Big Chances Created
1
Shots on Target
1
Ground Duels (Won)
12 (6)
Fouls Won
3
Clearances
2
Tackles
1
All Stats via Sofascore
Ultimately, Maddison put in a seriously impressive performance for Postecoglou tonight, as did Son, and with another must-win game coming up on the weekend, neither player should be taken out of the starting lineup, as without them, tonight would have ended in a draw at best.
Kulusevski's dream teammate: Spurs ramp up bid to sign England international
Spurs are looking at signing an England international in 2025.
After an incredibly tough month of fixtures that saw Arsenal take on Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Atalanta and Manchester City, all away from home, the Gunners are now faced with what should be an altogether more straightforward task: a League Cup home tie against Bolton Wanderers.
Now, Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly approach the match with the same level of respect he does for every game, but due to the opposition’s level, he must use it as an opportunity to rest a number of his players who ran themselves into the ground on Sunday evening.
Fortunately, it looks like he will, as 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter, who became the youngest keeper in Champions League history when he made the bench against Atalanta on Thursday, is set to start. The team should also include the sensational Ethan Nwaneri and another of the Gunners’ most promising youngsters, who made quite an entrance on Sunday.
Why Nwaneri should start
So, there are a couple of reasons why Arteta should look to hand Nwaneri his first competitive start for Arsenal this evening, and the first is simply down to necessity.
Martin Odegaard is still out with the ankle injury he picked up on international duty, Leandro Trossard is suspended due to his second yellow card against City on the weekend, and the player who probably would have stepped in last season, Fabio Vieira, is currently on loan with previous club Porto.
Moreover, Kai Havertz will either start up top or, more likely, be rested, meaning the manager has only one option: hand the sensationally gifted 17-year-old his full debut for the club.
That said, the second reason is that, regardless of the squad situation, the Enfield-born gem would be deserving of a start purely off the back of his form for the youth sides, his cameo against Spurs and the displays he put in during preseason.
For example, the “true goalscorer”, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has racked up a seriously impressive haul of 27 goals and ten assists in just 52 appearances for the club’s various youth sides, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.40 games, primarily from attacking midfield.
Nwaneri’s youth record
Appearances
52
Goals
27
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, when he came off the bench towards the end of the North London Derby, he looked utterly unfazed by the magnitude of the game and the intensity of the rivalry, which suggests that he’d be completely fine starting a home game against third-tier opposition, even alongside another Hale End graduate.
Why Myles Lewis-Skelly should start
Yes, while Arsenal are blessed with an abundance of talented youth players, as the fans saw during the preseason tour, the one who should be guaranteed a place in the starting lineup tonight is 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.
If the Islington-born gem is in the XI this evening, then it’ll come as no surprise to the fans that watched Sunday’s clash with City, as when Jurrien Timber went down with cramp in the 92nd minute, instead of moving Declan Rice into the backline and throwing on Jorginho for some more big game experience, he turned to the Hale End graduate and threw him into the deep end.
Moreover, the Spaniard did so despite the exciting prospect already picking up a yellow card on the sideline for giving instructions to David Raya and then getting into an argument with Erling Haaland, which just shows that even at his age, the “unbelievable” gem as dubbed by podcaster Will Balsam, isn’t phased by anything.
However, it’s not just his incredible mentality and willingness to throw himself into intense situations that warrant his inclusion from the start tonight; it’s also his technical ability and positional versatility.
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For example, while he played in central and defensive midfield roles in the academy, driving forward with the ball with purpose (video below), Arteta has primarily used him as cover for left-back, which is likely where he will start tonight with both Timber and Riccardo Calafiori coming off on Sunday.
Ultimately, while it’s a big step-up for the pair of them, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly should be handed their full Arsenal debut this evening alongside Porter, and if they can keep up the form they have shown in their cameos, the fans will be in for a treat.
Arteta must axe Martinelli and start "unbelievable" Arsenal ace instead
After a debut season that looks destined to end in top four failure, Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur have turned their attention towards the summer transfer window, in which they could get one over on North London rivals Arsenal.
Tottenham transfer news
The Lilywhites haven't been afraid to back Postecoglou, with the likes of Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison among the players to have arrived last summer, whilst Harry Kane headed out the exit door in North London. But that backing, although resulting in some impressive glimpses, is yet to result in a Champions League return barring a late turnaround.
Tottenham now in talks to sign “remarkable player” for Ange
He could cost £30m.
ByBen Browning
Their lack of depth has come at a cost in the current campaign, arguably making the summer transfer window a vital one in Postecoglou's reign, which has seen the rumour mill already get underway. The likes of Ivan Toney and Eberechi Eze have already been linked with moves from across London in deals that would go a long way in bridging the gap on the Premier League's top four, but it's outside of England where Spurs could land a key improvement.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney
According to Caught Offside via TeamTalk, Tottenham are eyeing a move to sign Javi Guerra ahead of Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid this summer. The Valencia midfielder is a man in-demand and could leave the La Liga side for around €50-60m (£42-51m), despite his release clause sitting at a hefty €100million (£85m) this summer.
As Spurs look to bridge the gap on the Champions League places, splashing the cash to welcome a player of Guerra's calibre and potential would be the perfect way for Postecoglou and the Lilywhites to start their summer business. What's more, the 20-year-old would only help unlock Maddison even further to hand those in North London a boost elsewhere on the pitch.
"Intelligent" Guerra would unleash Maddison
As impressive as Maddison has been in his debut season at Spurs, he has lacked a midfield partner to truly unlock his best talents. It's a job that Yves Bissouma and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have struggled to consistently perform, but one that Guerra could step into for years to come, improving along the way.
Without the lure of Champions League football, however, Spurs will be left in a difficult position to negotiate ahead of the likes of Arsenal this summer. Instead, Postecoglou must pitch the project that he is currently building – a project which we've seen promising glimpses of this season.
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At just over £50m though, Guerra is a player that Spurs should do everything to chase this summer in a move that would replace the likely outgoing Hojbjerg, unlock Maddison and hand Postecogou a player who is expected to only get even better. The Valencia man is certainly one to watch in the coming months.
Celtic suffered their first defeat of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign on Sunday as they were beaten 2-1 by Kilmarnock away from Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers opted to leave forward Kyogo Furuhashi on the bench once again and they did not miss him in the first half as Matt O'Riley handed the away side the lead with a close-range finish.
However, an own goal from Nat Phillips, who was sliding in across his own six yard box, and a composed finish from Matthew Kennedy secured all three points for the hosts as they claimed a famous victory.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic's lead at the top of the Premiership table could be cut to just two if their rivals win their game in-hand and Rodgers could look to the January transfer window to provide his squad with a much-needed boost.
The Hoops have already been knocked out of the League Cup and European football and, therefore, need to ensure they do not let their lead slip in the top-flight if they want to come away from this season with silverware.
One area of the squad they are reportedly looking to strengthen is the centre-forward position amid links to multiple number nine options.
Celtic transfer news – Bojan Miovski and Mathias Kvistgaarden
Earlier this month, The Scottish Sun reported that the Hoops are considering a move to sign Aberdeen star Bojan Miovski during the January transfer window.
The outlet claimed that the club are eyeing up the North Macedonia international, alongside rivals Rangers, and Rodgers has sent scouts to watch him in every domestic game so far this season.
It was stated that the Dons are reluctant to let him leave next month and are set to demand a Scottish record transfer fee from any interested parties.
This means that Miovski would cost more than the £4.4m that Hibernian earned from Celtic for the sale of Scott Brown back in 2007.
Bojan Miovski for North Macedonia.
However, Rodgers could land a dream alternative to the 24-year-old whiz as the Hoops are also said to be interested in Brondby star Mathias Kvistgaarden.
Danish outlet Tipsbladet reported that the Scottish giants are keen on a swoop for the talented young marksman as the Northern Irish manager wants to bolster his squad with more firepower ahead of the second half of the season.
The report added that it could cost Celtic a fee of €10m (£8.6m) to secure his services and it remains to be seen whether or not they would be willing to meet Brondby's demands.
It was also claimed that clubs from the Bundesliga, Premier League, and Championship, albeit all unnamed, are also looking at the 21-year-old prospect.
If Rodgers can win the race to secure the impressive talent's signature in January then he could be a fantastic addition to the squad and a dream alternative to Miovski, despite the Dons star being an attractive option for the club.
Miovski's goal record for Aberdeen
The North Macedonia international has the potential to be an excellent signing for the Hoops, without a doubt, as he is a proven Premiership performer.
Miovski has already showcased his ability to find the back of the net with regularity in Scottish football since his move to the country at the start of last season.
The left-footed finisher caught the eye with 16 goals and two assists across 37 Premiership appearances during his debut campaign with Aberdeen.
So far this season, the Celtic target has contributed with a solid six goals and one assist in 15 top-flight matches for Barry Robson's side.
23/24 Europa Conference League
Bojan Miovski (via Sofascore)
Appearances
Five
Starts
Three
Sofascore rating
7.02
Goals
Two
Assists
One
As you can see in the table above, Miovski has also made his mark on the European stage this season with impressive performances at Europa Conference League level.
In total, the clinical ace has plundered 30 goals and six assists in 67 appearances for the Dons in all competitions, which includes 22 goals and three assists in 52 Premiership games.
Celtic leading chase to sign "great" target in January
The Scottish Premiership champions could get one over on their rivals off the pitch…
ByTom Cunningham
This means that the Aberdeen star has contributed with a goal or an assist every 1.86 matches on average since the start of last season in all competitions.
These statistics show that the 6 foot 2 dynamo has the quality to chip in with goals and assists on a regular basis in Scottish football, which is why he could be a good signing for Celtic.
However, Kvistgaarden is a younger centre-forward who could have the potential to provide more quality and longevity for Rodgers in the number nine position
The statistics that show why Celtic should sign Kvistgaarden
Firstly, the Danish talent is three years younger than Miovski and, therefore, has greater long-term value and more room and time to develop and improve under the manager's coaching.
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His sensational form for Brondby since the start of the 2022/23 Superligaen Championship Round also suggests that the Hoops target could offer more at the top end of the pitch.
Kvistgaarden scored six goals and provided four assists in nine appearances at the tail end of last season as he finally hit his stride at senior level.
Kvistgaarden's academy form (via Transfermarkt)
Statistic
Brondby U19s
Brondby Reserves
Appearances
45
13
Goals
31
Three
Assists
11
One
As you can see from the table above, the Denmark U21 international caught the eye with his prolific performances, as a scorer and a creator of goals, at youth level before his first-team breakthrough with Brondby.
This season, the £8.6m-rated marksman has plundered seven goals and seven assists in 21 appearances in all competitions, including five goals and seven assists in 17 league outings.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Danish starlet was "on fire" earlier this year and the statistics show that it has consistently been the case since last season's Championship Round.
Kvistgaarden has contributed with 11 goals and 11 assists in 30 matches for Brondby during that period, which is a fantastic return of one goal involvement every 1.36 games on average.
This shows that the 5 foot 8 prodigy has chipped in with goals and assists with greater regularity than Miovski, which suggests that the Brondby star could offer Celtic more quality in the final third.
Therefore, Kvistgaarden could be a dream alternative to the Aberdeen ace due to his age and ability to score and assist goals more frequently.
Leeds United have registered their interest over a possible move to sign Millwall’s Jake Cooper, and a new report has shared the other clubs who are keen on the defender.
What’s the latest Leeds transfer news?
The Whites, and by extension owners the 49ers Enterprises, could be in for an extremely busy final few weeks with just four new players brought in so far for Daniel Farke in Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow, Sam Byram and Joe Rodon.
There have been more outgoings than incomings at Elland Road, and there could be time for further departures, including Wilfried Gnonto, who has been refusing to play.
One area where the club look keen to strengthen even further is at the back despite signing Rodon on a season-long loan from Tottenham. Liam Cooper suffered a serious injury on the opening weekend, which leaves Farke with Rodon, Charlie Cresswell and Pascal Struijk as his senior options.
Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…
Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been linked with a move to Elland Road, but it looks as if contact has been made over a deal for Cooper.
According to Football Insider, Leeds have registered their interest in Cooper ahead of a potential transfer. The report adds that Championship rivals and Friday’s opponents, West Brom, have done the same, with Scottish giants Rangers also keen on the player.
Cooper is into the final 12 months of his contract at the Den, and those interested are hoping to secure a cut-price deal.
Jake Cooper
Who is Jake Cooper?
Cooper is 28 years of age and is an out-and-out left-footed centre-back. The Englishman came through the academy at Reading and made 54 senior appearances for the Royals.
He spent the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Millwall before making a move permanent. Since then, the 6ft 5 defender has made over 300 appearances for the club, scoring 22 times and registering 17 assists.
Cooper has been hailed by manager Gary Rowett earlier this year, who called the player “absolutely outstanding” as Millwall narrowly missed out on the playoffs.
“Coops has been immense for us. With Hutchy being out, and taking the captain’s armband, it shows leadership within the group.
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“He’s a player that you undervalue some of those clearances, blocks and the way he heads it out of the box. He is so dominant in those situations that you sometimes take it for granted, because he has done it for so long.
“In the last period of games he has been absolutely outstanding. He’s been a big factor behind our defensive solidity along with Longy and the other defenders. He has been so consistent.
“It’s only sometimes when you reflect on a period that you realise how important and consistent he has been. He’s been brilliant so far and he’s going to be really important if we want to stay in and around where we are.”
He has bundles of experience in the second tier and has even registered two assists against Leeds over the years, and by the looks of things, a move could be one to keep an eye on as the deadline nears.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.
The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.
Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.
The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).
How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?
Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.
In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.
The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.
Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia.
Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.
Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.
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Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.
There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is unlikely to leave the club this summer and would be priced out even if he wanted to, transfer expert Dean Jones has claimed.
The Lowdown: Salah back in the goals
The 30-year-old has been short of his best by his incredibly high standards this season, with his dropoff playing a part in the Reds’ campaign of woes.
That being said, Salah returned to scoring ways during Monday’s 2-0 win at home to Everton in the Merseyside derby, in what was still his 18th goal of 2022/23 to date.
The Egyptian superstar is contracted at Anfield until the summer of 2025 and now a key update has emerged regarding his future.
The Latest: Summer exit unlikely
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that he doesn’t expect Salah to be going anywhere this summer:
“Even if somebody like Salah wanted to leave Liverpool, I think he’d probably be priced out of a move because I don’t see who would be buying Mo Salah at this moment in time.”
The Verdict: Surely he stays put?
It would be an enormous surprise if Salah suddenly looked for a move away from Liverpool at the end of the season, having only signed an extension last July.
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The Reds legend remains one of the most important players at the club, being hailed as a ‘world-class’ footballer by Arsene Wenger earlier in the week and comfortably topping the scoring charts in all competitions this season.
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Salah may be 30 now but he should be in and around the peak of his powers for several years to come, especially given the shape he keeps himself in and his lack of injuries.
Granted, he has looked off the pace at times this season but the midfield struggles certainly haven’t helped him, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold not being at his best behind him. Once that area is improved this summer, the Liverpool ace should find his top form again.
Newcastle United notably strengthened key areas over the summer – bringing in the likes of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak – to help strengthen the spine of the team, although one area that perhaps still needs addressing is in the centre of the park.
Journalist Craig Hope has suggested that despite the Magpies having signed Bruno Guimaraes in January earlier this year, a new midfield addition seemingly remains a “priority” for manager Eddie Howe, as the Englishman looks to guide his side towards Champions League qualification.
As the winter window approaches, the Tynesiders could well be best served reviving their interest in previous target, Adrien Rabiot, with the silky Frenchman having been in sparkling form since being linked with a move to St James’ Park in the summer.
That recent window saw the 27-year-old also come close to a move to Manchester United amid his ongoing contract uncertainty at the Allianz Stadium, with the former Paris Saint-Germain machine having just a matter of months left on his existing deal.
With an extension still yet to be reached despite the playmaker’s hot streak – having scored five goals and laid on two assists for the Serie A side this season – the northeast side could well capitalise on that fact and try and make a move in January, with the potential to secure a pre-contract agreement or seal a cut-price move.
Having been “having a good season in a bad Juve team” – in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst – the 6 foot 3 ace has carried that form onto the international stage, having made a fine start to life at the World Cup in Qatar to further showcase his quality to Howe and co.
Four years on from refusing to be named on the standby list for the tournament in Russia, the polarising asset somewhat completed his redemption after playing a vital role in Les Bleus’ victory over Australia in their opening group game, as Didier Deschamps’ men survived an early scare to run out comfortable 4-1 winners.
It was Rabiot who had dragged the holders back into the match after conceding early on, the £151k-per-week magician heading home in fine fashion to draw his side level, before teeing up Olivier Giroud to tap home soon after with a fine pullback, following a deft flick from the ever-impressive Kylian Mbappe.
As journalist Mark Jones stated, the towering midfielder was simply “everywhere” on the night, notably winning seven of his 12 duels and recording five tackles, while also illustrating his brilliance in possession after recording a 90% pass accuracy rate.
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That impactful showing saw the former Manchester City youth product record a stunning match rating of 8.5, as per SofaScore, with that figure only bettered by teammate Antoine Griezmann for the European giants.
With injuries to the likes of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba having seen Rabiot take on a more prominent role in the side, it looks as if he is taking that chance with both hands, with Newcastle now needing to act quickly to beat what one would expect to be a lengthy list of suitors to secure his signature.