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Leeds United have had a torrid January away from the pitch and will want to put the past four weeks or so quickly behind them.

The Whites were infuriated when they could not land their main transfer target on Deadline Day and were in the news for ‘Spygate’ earlier in the month when they were found to be watching a Derby County training session ahead of their match.

That incident does not appear to have gone away though, as the club are believed to find out their punishment from the EFL next week, according to Jim White.

The journalist, who works on a number of platforms, was speaking on his talkSPORT show (The Jim White Show, Friday 1 February, 10am), claimed that he had just heard of the latest developments.

“Just before I came on air I heard this about spygate and Leeds,” he said.

“It hasn’t gone away. Very briefly, for those of you who don’t know, Derby County were very annoyed that Leeds United had sent an employee to watch Derby County training. He was watching or spying on the training.

“It’s not over yet. 11 other Championship clubs complained about it formally to the EFL.

“Next week, I understand, it’s high on the agenda of the EFL board meeting. What they do will depend on their appetite. If there was one complaint that would be one thing, but there’s been 11 complaints. We’ll find out what they’re going to do next week.”

The Verdict:

The whole incident has opened up a can of worms, leading to a press conference being held by Marcelo Bielsa to explain his methods for over an hour.

As this is the first time a case of ‘spying’ has come to the forefront of the public eye, it remains to be seen what reprimands Leeds United receive over the incident.

However, if White is correct, it does not appear that the club will need to wait too long to finally put this mess behind them and concentrate their efforts back on the pitch.

Leeds fans – thoughts?

According to the Independent, Chelsea are monitoring Philippe Coutinho, with the Blues interested in the prospect of bringing him in as a potential replacement for Eden Hazard.

Certainly, if Hazard were to leave, Chelsea would need a top replacement – but would Coutinho be the best option? It’s hard to suggest that he would.

After all, Coutinho isn’t best suited to a role on the flanks. In fact, he’s the very definition of a central attacking midfielder, and that’s not a role that Chelsea tend to utilise at present. He doesn’t have the work ethic or the drive to play as a winger, and in truth, his talents would simply be wasted in the role.

Sure, he’s a great player, and he may be able to play in place of someone like Mateo Kovacic in the middle, but would he be an upgrade? It’s hard to say so.

Of course, he’s currently in the midst of a really poor season with Barcelona. He’s picked up just 4 league goals and 2 league assists this term, and for a player of his quality, that’s just not good enough. In truth, he looks out of his depth in Spain, and he’s really struggling to hit the heights that his transfer fee demanded. It might be a case of the system not quite fitting him, but as mentioned, that would be something that he’d have to deal with at Stamford Bridge, too.

He’s also rated at a whopping £126 million, and so he wouldn’t be a cheap signing for the Blues at all, despite his recent form.

That’s all without considering the Chelsea fans and their feelings towards Coutinho, too. Owing to his Liverpool history, the Brazilian isn’t a popular man at Stamford Bridge – and so this isn’t a move that would quell the inevitable fan fury if Hazard were to leave.

In truth, this move doesn’t tick any boxes for Chelsea – and it’s one to be avoided.

Thoughts?

After almost eleven years at Crystal Palace, fame has finally caught up to Aaron Wan-Bisaaka.

Touted as one of the emerging young talents in England, the right-back is now hot properly for the Eagles following his meteoric rise in South London. Indeed, many clubs are reportedly – according to the Sun – eying to sign him up and Wan-Bissaka has a personal decision to make.

Clearly, when linked to teams such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, there’s always going to be a temptation to depart. However, we think he should stay, and here’s why.

He’s a Crystal Palace man through and through having being handed all his success by the side he’s playing since age 11. A Londoner by birth, it could be difficult for him to blend in somewhere else and get the same reception he gets from his fans. The right-back still has much to learn and patience is not something a big side will give him.

Wan-Bissaka’s been a relentless hard worker on the right flank and gave a fantastic account of himself in difficult situations. Not only has he helped Palace keep almost eight clean-sheets this season while averaging 3.8 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game (stats from WhoScored), he’s also been an asset moving forward.

The right-back doesn’t shy away from attacking, with his electric pace and impressive dribbling ability causing trouble. While he’s only had one assist so far, Wan-Bissaka averages almost 33 passes per game(stats from Premier League) while creating quite a few glaring chances now and then.

After a decade with the Eagles, Wan-Bissaka is in a crossroads of his career. Leaving the side which handed him opportunities would be unwise, as he still has much to repay Crystal Palace for allowing him to fly high.

Arsenal had a massively disappointing January window, as the Gunners failed to add to the squad under Unai Emery.

The Gunners will be looking to put that right come the summer though, and there are bound to be players in the squad fearing for their future under the new manager.

One such player is midfielder Mesut Ozil, who has remarkably dropped down the pecking order under the new regime and doesn’t appear to be getting a look in any time soon.

We here in the Tavern think that Ozil’s time in London could well be up, and therefore we think the club need to be acting now to find a replacement.

And one man we here in the Tavern would be a ideal signing for Arsenal is Lyon midfielder, Nabil Fekir.

The Frenchman has once again been putting in some fine displays in Ligue 1, and a move into the Premier League is not something which would surprise us at all.

His speed down either wing, trickery and control make him a dangerous player for any defence to deal with, and he’d certainly add another dimension to the Arsenal attack.

Ozil has been great for Arsenal, but in Fekir the club would be getting someone who can get fans out of their seats and breathe new life into attacking play.

Emery will no doubt be aware of Fekir from his time in France previously, and the winger is certainly someone who should be right at the top of the Gunners’ list of potential targets.

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Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday evening.

The hosts go into the fixture with plenty to prove after being thumped by Manchester City in the Premier League last time out, while it will be interesting to see how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s players react after suffering their first defeat under his tutelage against Paris Saint Germain.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Monday evening clash…

What History Tells Us

It’s of little surprise that the two sides have been so evenly matched in their 10 previous FA Cup ties. Both clubs have been fighting for honours at the top of the English game for the majority of the 21st century, and clashes between them are typically intense and decided by fine margins.

That United have scored five more goals and kept two less clean sheets than the hosts suggests they are the side who are most likely to open up and attack, and that particular outcome would be true to the ethos which Solskjaer has installed thus far.

Ultimately, though, there is very little splitting the teams and it’s a difficult result to call, especially given the tempestuous nature of both clubs during the current campaign.

Key Battle

Gonzalo Higuain is the player who arrived during the January window but it’s fair to say that Marcus Rashford feels like a new signing for United. Freed from the manacles which restricted him under Jose Mourinho, the England international has thrived under Solsjkaer.

Starting at the centre of a fluid front-three, oscillating from left to right and interchanging with Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, Rashford has proven to be a menace for Premier League defenders. The vast majority of his nine goals and six assists have arrived under the new manager and in the absence of Martial his performance could hold the key to victory.

Higuain, on the other hand, sits on the other end of the footballing spectrum. Unlike Rashford, he is older, more experienced and proven at the top level of European football. The goal scoring veteran will be looking to announce himself to English football with a clinical performance on Monday, and the fact he has averaged at 3.5 shots per league game this season suggests David De Gea’s expertise will be required to keep him at bay.

Ref in Focus

Could Kevin Friend become the pantomime villain at Stamford Bridge? Out of the 18 officials who have refereed a Premier League game this season, Friend has dished out the highest average of penalties per game.

Some might argue that he is too trigger-happy but perhaps Friend is simply bold and brave enough to make the game-changing decisions which others may shy away from.

With the likes of Eden Hazard, Rashford and Higuain all in line to start the game, Friend may be given no choice other than to cement his position as chief penalty-giver.

Team news

Chelsea go into the fixture with almost a clean bill of health. Marco van Ginkel is the only major absentee but he’d be lucky to take a seat on the substitutes bench even if he was deemed fit to make an appearance. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, will be hoping to take his place on the substitutes bench at the very least as he continues to recover from a back injury.

The major variable in Sarri’s predictable system this season has been in central midfield, where the Italian seems unable to decide whether he prefers Mateo Kovacic or Ross Barkley. But with Barkley’s glowing performance against Malmo fresh in mind, Sarri should be inclined to stick with the England international – for now at least.

From that game, Chelsea’s last encounter, we’re anticipating three changes.

United’s injury list has presented Solskjaer with a huge selection dilemma ahead of the trip to west London. The double injury blow in the build up to the fixture which has ruled out both Martial and Lingard has given the Norwegian plenty to ponder over.

Both have been pivotal in the recent post-Mourinho revolution, with their attacking prowess supplementing the flair provided Rashford in a devastating front three.

We’re tipping Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to step into the first-team in their absence.

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Manchester United held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the Reds’ front three unable to find a way through a rejuvenated United backline and Alisson kept far busier than his Red Devils counterpart.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign has yielded plenty of high-scoring wins, including 5-1 and 4-1 victories over Cardiff and Bournemouth, but the weekend’s stalemate may be one of the most impressive yet, even with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba failing to produce the calibre of performances that they have put in regularly since Jose Mourinho’s departure.

While the aforementioned duo have become United’s two key men since Solskjaer took the helm, they were both treated very differently while Mourinho was in charge.

World Cup winner Pogba’s strained relationship with the Portuguese was subject to plenty of media attention, while England star Rashford rarely featured ahead of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez – the 21-year-old made just nine starts before Mourinho was sacked, however he hasn’t been benched in the league since the ‘baby-faced assassin’ took over.

Both clearly benefitted from an arm around the shoulder and a smiley demeanour, both of which Solskjaer offers at Old Trafford, rather than Mourinho’s tough love – if you can call it that.

They weren’t the only players to suffer under the former Chelsea boss’ reign, though; Luke Shaw was regularly criticised by the 56-year-old, even after putting in a brilliant performance.

Following United’s 1-1 draw with Everton in April 2017, Mourinho declined to take the opportunity to praise the player for a quality showing, instead saying of Shaw:

Ironically, the case turned out to be that Manchester United could not wait for Mourinho and now Shaw looks set to become a fixture in the first team, particularly if he continues to produce the kind of performance he did on Sunday.

Tasked with nullifying Mohamed Salah, the 6 foot 1 defender completely took the Egyptian international out of the match, completing 3 tackles and 5 clearances, with the only thing perhaps missing from his game being a willingness to get forward and help the attack more often. This, though, may just be the 8-cap international struggling to shake habits he picked up under Mourinho.

Despite his former manager’s perceived bullying, the £27m man was one of very few United players to offer their gratitude for Mourinho’s services to the club in his two-and-a-half year tenure, saying:

“People might be quick to forget what Jose did for United – the three trophies he won – he did a lot. One of the trophies [Europa League] was one we had not won before, and he took us to three trophies in one season.

“So those people need to respect him and remember what he did, not only us as a team to win those trophies but the fans as well.”

Pogba, meanwhile, did the complete opposite and reportedly celebrated the Portuguese’s December dismissal at the club’s Carrington training ground, while saying that Mourinho had messed with the wrong player (paraphrased).

The Frenchman’s celebrations have not stopped there though, it would seem – he has been in sensational form under Solskjaer, chalking up nine goals and six assists in all competitions. Make of that what you will, but the fact remains that Shaw is much more the type of player United should be looking to sign, rather than Pogba.

While Pogba used that frustration in a negative way, allowing it to affect the amount of effort he put into games, Shaw seems to have bottled it up and it has turned him into the fighter he showed himself to be versus bitter rivals Liverpool.

Check out the video below for fan reaction to Man Utd 0-0 Liverpool…

Perhaps this is the one claim to success in player management that Mourinho has at Old Trafford, even if the thinking behind his actions seemed totally convoluted. He’s turned Shaw into a far more physically and mentally resilient player than the one he inherited from Louis van Gaal, and it really showed against Liverpool.

Still on the youthful side, though, Shaw has an extremely high ceiling and, if he can remain fit, will surely fight his way back into England considerations while becoming a vital cog in the United machine.

Mourinho has helped instil the mindset of a seasoned professional and a maturity way beyond his years – hopefully this means he can only get better.

Liverpool have made Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez a prime summer target according to the Sun, and adding him to the squad would give them a bigger chance of collecting trophies.

After nearly four seasons at the club, Jurgen Klopp is still yet to win a trophy and so far this season they’ve already failed to win the FA Cup and League Cup. They knocked themselves out of those competitions by fielding weakened sides so they can concentrate on the Premier League, but ideally, a club as big as Liverpool should be competing on all fronts.

They simply haven’t had the squad size to do this in recent years, and despite their front three of Roberto Firminho, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah being one of the deadliest in Europe, they need depth up there for when they get tired or lose form.

With that in mind, Maxi Gomez could fill this spot perfectly.

The Uruguayan has scored nine goals and made five assists in 22 appearances for Celta Vigo this season despite the club being 17thin La Liga, four places from bottom. According to the report, he’s been given the seal of approval by ex-Liverpool ace and fellow countryman Luis Suarez, so the Anfield faithful will be interested to see what he can offer.

He’s just 22-years-old and isn’t as experienced as Liverpool’s first choice frontman Firmino, so he wouldn’t demand to play every minute of every big game from the off and instead would work his way into the first team by playing a lead role in cup games.

This immediately increases the quality Liverpool have in these less important games where they’d usually play the rather average Divock Origi.

The addition of the forward would add much-needed depth to the Liverpool squad to compete for trophies domestically, while also providing fresh competition for Firminho who he could replace as he hits his prime.

Who do you think Liverpool should sign in summer?

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League One promotion-chasers Barnsley face a potentially season-defining clash against Sunderland at Oakwell on Tuesday night.

The third-placed Black Cats are currently breathing down the Tykes’ necks, and a win for the visitors would take them to within a point of the hosts with a game in hand, giving them the initiative in the race for automatic promotion.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Daniel Stendel’s side, though, could give themselves breathing space with a win. Barnsley’s assistant manager Dale Tonge certainly believes that the outcome of Tuesday’s match could have significant ramifications for the remainder of the club’s campaign.

What he said

Speaking to the press on Monday, as quoted by Barnsley’s official website, Tonge said: “We look at it as a must-win for us – that’s all we’re looking at. Let’s win the game and the rest will take care of itself…But I don’t think this game is the be all and end all between now and the end of the season. We’re under no illusions; it’s a massive game.”

A vital clash

With plenty of football still to be played after this match, it isn’t ‘the be all and end all’ exactly. However, a win would give the victor a major confidence boost, extra momentum and a psychological edge heading into the League One season’s run-in. 

Stendel and Tonge will both recognise the importance of this game, but to even mutter the words “must-win” certainly puts some neccesary presure on the Yorkshire outfit’s players.

The duo should also be prepared to have to lift their side should Tuesday end in disappointment. A negative result against Sunderland could derail Barnsley’s season if the management team allow it to. 

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The rise of player power is spiralling out of control. A rasping tornado of arrogance, self-indulgence and greed has effectively made the virtue of loyalty redundant during the Premier League era. Players seldom feel strongly about the badge and the colours they represent; instead the nearest and most lucrative pay cheque reigns supreme.

Marko Arnautovic’s January transfer saga served as an acute reminder of how public displays of loyalty, however regular they manifest themselves, are often futile acts of deceit in the modern economic climate. The Austria international was, up until the turn of the year, adored by the Hammers faithful and a talismanic figure at the club.

Arnautovic ritually celebrated goals with stout loyalism. First he would wheel away and hit the badge on his chest with passion rippling through his eyes, as if his devotion to the club was worth the years he was knocking off his ticker’s shelf-life with every vigorous slap. Once he was finished putting his heart through its paces, he crossed his arms to an x shape to bring West Ham’s iconic badge to life, transmitting his personal affection for the club, the supporters and its values with every passing goal.

This was, as the fans later came to find out, a facade. West Ham rejected a £35 million offer from Shanghai SIPG for the bulldozing powerhouse in January, but Arnautovic then attempted to force through a move away from the London Stadium.

Speculation was temporarily brought to an end with his decision to sign a new contract, but a hazy lack of detail regarding the terms of the deal hinted that January merely hosted the first instalment of a saga which is bound to resurface in the summer. The 29-year-old hadn’t found the net in the Premier League since January 2nd heading into this weekend. He has resembled a disenchanted and sulky schoolboy on the pitch, merely counting down the minutes until he is finally released of the manacles which are keeping him in east London until the end of the season.

This cliff dive from West Ham poster boy to bit-part underachiever symbolises a growing trend in football in which there is a direct correlation between professionalism and the prospect of moving to a more coveted club – regardless of whether the attraction is financial, footballing or a combination of the two.

Dimitri Payet simply refused to train when Marseille came calling in 2016, Alexis Sanchez went off the boil when Manchester beckoned, Philippe Countinho was sidelined with a back injury in the summer of 2017 amid interest from Barcelona before making a mysterious return when the window closed, and Ousmane Dembele was suspended by Borussia Dortmund when he skipped training after learning of Barcelona’s interest in his services.

However, there is an anomaly to the rule: Idrissa Gueye. Everton’s midfield anchor has been one of the most outstanding performers in the past two seasons, and he attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain in January. The Senegal international, like Arnautovic, submitted a transfer request to complete the transfer his heart desired, but his efforts were made in vain.

Yet, since news of PSG’s interest first began to emerge, he has conducted himself with a level of professionalism which puts the likes of Arnautovic and Dembele to shame. Gueye has continued to thrive at the base of Marco Silva’s midfield unit, breaking up play and playing percentage passes to keep Everton ticking over.

There has been no public fiasco, unexplained absence from training, dramatic dip in form or shift in body language. It’s been business as usual for Gueye. After the transfer market slammed shut at the end of January, Silva described the 29-year-0ld as a “good professional and a fantastic boy”, and the weight of substance behind that claim has been evident in the standard of his performances in the last five games.

The humble defensive midfielder often goes under the radar. Fundamentally speaking, the role is designed for a no-thrills, incredibly-reliable and steady footballer. It’s a selfless job which requires the player to sacrifice personal glory and recognition for the overall benefit of the team.

Those prerequisites for the role translate into a level of professionalism which Gueye has maintained amidst the lure of playing for one of Europe’s top clubs and living in one of the continent’s most desirable cities.

Message for Arnautovic: be more like Gueye.

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Oliver Burke has heaped praise on Celtic after receiving his Scotland call-up, and the Bhoys must now do everything possible to make his loan move permanent this summer.

What’s the story?

Celtic signed Burke in January on a loan deal until the end of the season, and the youngster has gone from strength to strength since the switch.

After appearing just three times in the Championship for West Brom, the young Scotsman has been a huge hit at Parkhead, and has spoken of his affection for the club that has put him back on the international scene.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I was delighted to get the call-up and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been a long time coming,” he said, as reported by STV Sport.

“I’m really happy with the way things have gone here at Celtic. It’s put me in a great position and that’s got me the call-up.

“This move is something I really needed to kick-start my career. I’d been starved of football but I’m so happy to be back playing now.

“Now I have to make the most of the opportunity with Scotland and I’ll do my very best.”

Match made in heaven

Burke is about as close as he could possibly get to outright saying he wants to join Celtic permanently, as it’s clear the club are in a much better position to offer him playing time and a path to silverware.

The 21 year-old barely got a kick at the Hawthorns this season, and the recent sacking of Darren Moore exemplifies the sheer amount of pressure on sides chasing promotion from the Championship, meaning young players are often overlooked.

Celtic however can offer Burke stability, trophies, playing time and European football, all things he simply will not get at West Brom.

He has scored four times and registered three assists in 14 Celtic appearances so far, and his ability to play practically anywhere across the attack makes life so much easier for Neil Lennon and his staff.

Burke is clearly loving life with his loan side, and Peter Lawwell and the rest of the transfer team would be foolish not to attempt a permanent deal this summer, especially if the Baggies do not secure promotion.