All posts by z3u9t.icu

After almost three weeks away, in which they crashed out of the FA Cup, Arsenal finally made their return to Premier League football with a storming 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta must've been delighted at full-time as to a man, his side put in the sort of performance fans were hoping for, including those players who were getting a hard time, such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, who GOAL gave a 4/10 for his performance against West Ham United last month.

The Ukrainian has been at fault for a number of goals this season – like in the game against the Hammers – and has seen his place be called into question in the media, so it should come as no surprise that the latest player touted for a move to N5 could be gunning for his spot in the team.

Rome holds the answer to Arsenal's full-back dilemma

Earlier this month, Italian media outlet La Roma 24 reported that Arsenal and Aston Villa were set to battle it out for Roma full-back and Italian international Leonardo Spinazzola.

However, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano later confirmed that Villa had not placed the Italian on their transfer shortlist, leaving the Gunners in a fantastic position to strike.

Transfers insider Dean Jones seems to believe this is a deal that could happen, as over the weekend, he told GIVEMESPORT: "The thing with Spinazzola is that he is actually available in this window. If this is the route that Arsenal want to go down, in terms of signing somebody, this has real potential."

One of the main reasons that this deal seems relatively straightforward from the Gunners is that the 30-year-old's contract expires in the summer, and with his desire to leave the Italian capital clear, it is unlikely that the north Londoners would have to pay more than the £4m he is valued at by the CIES football observatory.

How Spinazzola compares to Zinchenko

The former Manchester City man's talent on the ball is evident for all to see when he inverts into the middle of the park and has the freedom to ping it about for his fantastic attackers to get on the end of.

Still, when the Gunners are under intense pressure – fairly or not – he always looks on the verge of making a costly mistake.

Whether that be against Liverpool last season when he was nutmegged by Trent Alexander Arnold for Roberto Firmino's equaliser, this season against Liverpool when Mohamed Salah ran him ragged to score his goal, or even against West Ham last month when he ran into Gabriel to allow Thomas Soucek an open shot on goal – the Ukrainian international just isn't giving fans a sense of security.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright said as much on his podcast Wrighty's House (via Dynamo.Kiev): "Zinchenko worries me a lot. I want Arsenal to sign a new left-back in January."

This is where the "unbelievable" Spinazzola, as described by Fiorentina left-back Fabiano Parisi, could come in and provide respite for Zinchenko and potentially even replace him, should he deliver the sort of performances fans saw during his Euro 2020 campaign – when he made it into the team of the tournament – that was cut tragically short through injury.

The "outrageously good" full-back, as he was described by journalist Matteo Bonetti, has a wealth of experience playing as a left-back and left-sided midfielder that he would be able to call upon at the Emirates, and while Zinchenko is better at some aspects of the game, the discrepancy is not massive – something that is borne out in their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.24

0.15

Progressive Carries

7.30

2.08

Progresisve Passes

3.13

12.0

Crosses

5.83

1.74

Shots on Target

0.26

0.21

Pasing Accuracy

76.8%

87.6%

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.96

2.43

Goal-Creating Actions

0.35

0.35

Tackles + Interceptions

1.22

3.96

Errors Leading to goal

0.00

0.14

Dipossessed

0.17

0.76

For example, while the Arsenal man has better progressive passing numbers and more impressive passing accuracy, he makes fewer passes into the penalty area, fewer progressive passes and has a lower non-penalty expected goal and assists figure per 90.

However, most importantly, Spinazzola has not made a single error leading to a goal this season, which is the primary concern around the former City ace.

Ultimately, with the experienced Italian set to cost so little, there seems to be no downside were Arsenal to sign him this month, especially as he could provide the competition required to get the best back out of Zinchenko or outright replace him if that does not happen.

A fresh update has emerged regarding the future of an "unbelievable" Newcastle United player, with a new contract not out of the question.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are now running out of time to bring in new faces in the January transfer window, with deadline day arriving next Thursday. Nobody has come in yet this month, and supporters will no doubt be desperate to see that change in the coming days.

Newcastle have been linked with plenty of players, although Kalvin Phillips has now completed a loan switch to West Ham, having been seen as a strong contender to head to St James' Park for some time. Meanwhile, Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has also emerged as an alternative to the Englishman in the middle of the park.

Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White is another name who has been thrown into the mix, being seen as a possible replacement for Miguel Almiron if he moves on.

In terms of other potential outgoings, Callum Wilson is reportedly wanted by Chelsea in January, while Bayern Munich are believed to have ended their interest in Kieran Trippier.

Jamaal Lascelles' Newcastle future

According to a new report from Fotospor [via Sport Witness], Newcastle centre-back Jamaal Lascelles is "trying to force" Eddie Howe to give him a new deal at the club.

He is said to be "using" Besiktas' interest in him as a bargaining tool, hoping that he can end up extending his stay at St James' instead of moving elsewhere.

There is no doubt that Lascelles is no longer seen as a guaranteed starter for Newcastle, filling in when others are injured and not being the key man he used to be. Sven Botman and Fabian Schar have become the first-choice centre-back pairing, and the latter may even be replaced for an upgrade soon, considering he is now in his 30s.

That being said, keeping hold of Lascelles as a strong squad player could still make sense given the wealth of experience he possesses, not to mention his leadership skills. Howe has lauded him in that respect, saying back in the summer:

"He's been an unbelievable captain for us. Captaincy doesn't just exist on the pitch, it has to exist off the pitch. The two things are so intrinsically linked. A lot of our success last year wasn't just down to the team, it came down to a group of players giving everything on and off the pitch. There was a group off the pitch that were absolutely magnificent, and Jamaal was one of them. He will want to play but it's how you react that is the key. We move forward together."

Reporter reveals there's "strange" transfer noises coming from Newcastle

The Magpies are yet to make their first January move.

ByTom Cunningham Jan 26, 2024

Lascelles is out of contract at Newcastle at the end of the season, so a big decision has to be made very soon in terms of whether they cash in on him this month, let him leave for free in the summer, or hand him a new deal. The latter arguably makes the most sense, with losing him now potentially leading to an immediate negative impact on Howe's squad depth.

It's been over seven months since West Ham United triumphed in the Europa Conference League and the club have probably exceeded expectations in returning to the European fight in the Premier League.

David Moyes has brought new levels of success to east London across his second tenure at the club and finished sixth in 2020/21 and seventh in 2021/22, languishing to a 14th place crescendo last year but compensating for the domestic travails by gleaning gold on the continent.

This current campaign felt like a step into the murky unknown, with the decline in the top-flight unable to be ignored and compounded by the £105m summer sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, the midfield general crowned the Irons' Player of the Year in successive terms.

And while recent results have left much to be desired, West Ham are seventh in the Premier League after 23 matches and topped their Europa League group back in December, now awaiting the last 16.

The funds recouped through Rice's sale have been spent well, with deals struck last summer for the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus.

These acquisitions have been vital but the fact that Jarrod Bowen still plies his trade in east London has been Moyes' biggest success story since getting his mitts on silverware last June.

The fee that West Ham paid for Jarrod Bowen

It's rather telling that one of Moyes' first moves after being re-appointed in late December 2019 was to sign Bowen from Championship side Hull City in a deal worth £20m.

The young winger had been in fine fettle in the second tier during the first half of the 2019/20 campaign and posted 16 goals and nine assists across 29 Championship outings before making the move to east London, West Ham warding off interest from Crystal Palace to tie the transfer up.

It was quite a big figure for the Hammers to have paid for an untested commodity on the major stage but Moyes got bang for his buck and then some, Bowen shooting to the forefront of the Premier League scene and embracing the role of talisman.

Jarrod Bowen's valuation in 2024

Across 187 appearances, Bowen, aged 27, has posted 54 goals and 36 assists, with his attacking ability highlighted through pundit Simon Jordan's remarks that he had entered the "Salah club" after one "unbelievable" strike against Bournemouth in the early phase of the 2023/24 season.

Of course, no goal will have felt quite so momentous as his final effort of last season, racing through on goal following Lucas Paqueta's delightful threaded pass in the dying embers against Fiorentina, expertly slotted home to send the travelling Irons into rapture: European gold was coming back to east London.

The £60k-per-week ace is undoubtedly one of the Premier League's finest offensive forces and even attracted transfer attention from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool last summer following Saudi Arabian interest in Mohamed Salah.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT during that saga, transfer insider Dean Jones revealed that given West Ham's sale of Rice was so staggeringly high, any notion of a deal for Bowen would have to fall into that ballpark, saying: "If you consider that they've lost Declan Rice, who was their most valuable player, for over £100m, then if anyone was to come asking for Jarrod Bowen, they’re going to say ‘Well, we want the same as what we've got for Declan Rice then.'

The £105m figure is possibly something that West Ham would have touted to the likes of Liverpool when discussing Bowen's possible sale, in what marks an incredible 400% rise since the day of his £20m arrival from the Tigers.

Clubs might not actually be inclined to part with such an exorbitant outlay but there's no question that Bowen has shot up to the upper echelon of Premier League forwards.

Jarrod Bowen's importance to West Ham

Numerical figures do much to illustrate Bowen's importance to West Ham but his actual product on the pitch and fluency within Moyes' system is something that simply cannot be replaced.

West Ham reject move for "underrated" star after Sullivan intervention

The Hammers received an under-the-radar proposal.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 8, 2024

Praised for his "electric" offensive ability by journalist Rahman Osman, Bowen has been in sensational showing this season to charge his side's pursuit of further success; certain things might be said about Moyes' pragmatic style of football, but his prolificness has kept the ball rolling on many an occasion so far.

#

Player

Goals scored

1.

Erling Haaland

14

1.

Mohamed Salah

14

3.

Dominic Solanke

13

4.

Heung-min Son

12

5.

Jarrod Bowen

11

5.

Ollie Watkins

11

Source: Premier League

As per Sofascore, the 5 foot 9 whiz has complemented his goal tally in England's top flight this term with 1.2 tackles, 3.5 ball recoveries and 4.6 successful duels per game, highlighting his tenacity in defensive moments.

This application speaks of his style on the pitch and given that he also ranks among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 18% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, his all-encompassing approach is underscored.

Brimming with energy and effectiveness, Bowen is a high-class forward and arguably West Ham's main man, certainly in an attacking sense.

He might not have the flair and elegance of Lucas Paqueta or the breakneck speed and fear factor that Kudus strikes into the hearts of opposition, but Bowen is calculated and cultured in his work and it's hard to think of a better, more influential signing across Moyes' tenure at the London Stadium.

Good teams grind out wins when they are not at their best and that is exactly what Celtic did at Easter Road with a 2-1 win against Hibernian on Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership.

It took two penalties, one of which came in stoppage time, to secure all three points for the Hoops as they struggled at times against Nick Montgomery's side.

The Hoops ended the match with only three shots on target for their efforts – to Hibernian's four – and two of those came from the penalties that were converted by Adam Idah.

Celtic's deadline day addition on loan from Norwich City will take the headlines with both of the goals on the night but Brendan Rodgers' true hero was Liam Scales at the heart of the defence.

Adam Idah's penalty heroics for Celtic

The Ireland international was handed a full debut by the manager and repaid the faith shown in him by burying both of his penalties with conviction, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way both times.

It took serious bottle for the 22-year-old to step up and convert as the first came after a lengthy stoppage due to a head injury sustained by Alistair Johnston and then with the game on the line in stoppage time.

However, it was not a perfect display from the young dynamo and there will be lessons to learn for him ahead of the rest of the 2023/24 campaign.

Idah missed one 'big chance' and only completed six of his 11 attempted passes throughout the match. He also lost four of his five ground duels and Rodgers may look to work with him to get more involved in matches, in possession and in battles off the ball, over the coming weeks and months.

Liam Scales' dominance at Easter Road

One player who was better than the Irish marksman was his international teammate Scales, who dominated at Easter Road and produced a complete performance.

The former Aberdeen loanee has established himself as a regular starter, with 23 league starts, and showcased his quality once again against Hibs on Wednesday night.

Minutes played

90

Duels contested

Ten

Duels won

Nine

Clearances

Four

Blocks

Two

As you can see in the table above, Scales was a rock at the back for Celtic as he won 90% of his duels, which included all three of his battles on the deck and six of his seven aerial contests.

He dominated the opposition at almost every opportunity to prevent them from causing more issues for Joe Hart between the sticks on the night, and could do little to stop Dylan Levitt's superb strike from the edge of the box to make it 1-1 on the hour.

One crucial intervention came towards the end of the match as Hibs looked set to counter with pace down the right but Scales adjusted brilliantly to intercept and control the ball, which allowed the Hoops to build an attack of their own.

The Irish colossus was also composed in possession of the ball with a whopping 126 passes completed (88% success rate) from 157 touches of the ball.

Scales only gave the ball away 17 times from those 157 touches. Whereas, Idah lost possession nine times from his 21 touches at the top end of the pitch.

Overall, the central defender produced a complete performance with his reliability on the ball and in his exceptional defensive work, whereas his compatriot left a lot to be desired away from his crucial penalties, which is why the former Shamrock Rovers star was the best player on the park for the Hoops.

Leeds made it seven wins in a row in the Championship and also kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet as they thumped Swansea 4-0 in South Wales on Tuesday. Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe put the Whites command with a quickfire double inside the first 10 minutes, and Wilfried Gnonto effectively settled the game before the break. The Italian would add another in the second half to round out the victory.

Elsewhere, Southampton suffered a first defeat in 23 league matches away to Bristol City, which means that Leeds now climb into the automatic promotion places. They have played a game more than the Saints, but all the momentum is with Daniel Farke's side right now. In fact, the only concern to arise from Tuesday night was an injury to Patrick Bamford.

Bamford had been due to start the game, but he picked up an issue in the warm-up, and Farke had to draft in Joel Piroe late on instead. Leeds are now anxiously waiting for more information on the issue.

Bamford injures knee before Swansea game

Reporting from Farke's post-match press conference, The Athletic's Phil Hay offered a Bamford update. The striker has apparently hurt his knee, but Leeds aren't yet sure whether any ligaments have been damaged.

The player himself was optimistic that the issue isn't "too bad", but Leeds will of course need him to undergo specialist examination to determine whether he requires a spell on the sidelines.

"Teacher" Bamford had been flying

Bamford didn't make his first league appearance of the current season until the end of September after suffering a hamstring injury during pre-season. Since his return, he's started six Championship games and appeared in 16 more off the bench.

He wouldn't score his first goal of the season until the 3-0 win over Birmingham City on New Year's Day, but had been in great form since then. Before Tuesday's game, he'd scored five goals and provided two assists in his last nine appearances in all competitions.

Leeds titan who won 100% duels was as good as Gnonto & Summerville v Swans

The former Swans star enjoyed a wonderful visit to his former club on Tuesday.

ByDan Emery Feb 14, 2024

That stretch earned him Leeds' Player of the Month award for January, and also saw him nominated for the PFA Fans' Player of the Month prize for the whole division.

Farke made his admiration for Bamford clear in January when he said: "I'm really happy and delighted for Patrick because he had such a difficult time. We don't have to speak about two difficult years in total, but also this season. I think he had a really good pre-season, was more or less on the edge to start the first game, first home game of the season, then the long term injury, eight weeks out."

Rank

Player

G+A/90

1

Crysencio Summerville

0.90

2

Dan James

0.75

3

Patrick Bamford

0.62

4

Wilfried Gnonto

0.56

5

Joel Piroe

0.55

The Englishman also seems to be an important figure in the dressing room at Elland Road based on an observation from Graham Smyth before the FA Cup replay against Plymouth, when he played a "teacher" role by calling over young striker Mateo Joseph and imparting some advice during the warm-up. If this is a significant injury, then, Bamford will be a huge miss.

Nottingham Forest will be looking to make it into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup when they take on Manchester United at the City Ground tomorrow night.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side come into the encounter on the back of a 4-2 defeat away at Aston Villa, with the Reds looking to return to winning ways once more.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag's side will be looking to end a disappointing season with some silverware, with the FA Cup the club's only real chance of ending the 2023/24 campaign with a trophy.

The Red Devils come into the fixture having lost 2-1 at home to Fulham on Saturday afternoon after a late Alex Iwobi goal condemned United to their first league defeat in 2024.

The two sides last met at the end of December, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolas Dominguez on the scoresheet for the Reds as they claimed all three points in a 2-1 victory.

Since the encounter, both sides have had contrasting form, with Ten Hag's side finally starting to show consistency – however anything can happen with the magic of the FA Cup.

Striker Taiwo Awoniyi was substituted at half-time on Saturday, with Felipe also replaced at the break with both the Nigerian and the £80k-per-week centre-back set to miss out for the clash against United.

Nottingham Forest star who lost 100% duels let Nuno down vs Villa

He was replaced at half-time after a poor first half.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 25, 2024

With that in mind, here's a look at the potential Forest starting XI that will take on Manchester United…

1 Matz Sels

Goalkeeper Matz Sels has enjoyed a solid start to life in Nottingham, starting all the Reds' Premier League games since his arrival in the January transfer window.

He missed the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Bristol City, however, he is set to start between the sticks once more ahead of Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos.

2 Neco Williams

A player who has certainly benefitted from consistent game time in recent weeks is Neco Williams.

The right-back, who has made the most tackles of any Forest player this season, has started the last five Premier League games under Nuno with the Welshman impressing with his ability to motor down the right-hand side – a characteristic the Reds boss likes in his full-backs.

3 Murillo

The Brazilian produced one of the most disappointing displays of his Forest career away to Aston Villa last weekend, with the 21-year-old substituted at half-time by Nuno.

However, he's only young and bound to have an off day, with the former Corinthians more than capable of putting in an improved performance against United on Wednesday night.

4 Moussa Niakhate

Like Murillo, the Senegalese defender endured a tough opening 45 minutes at Villa Park, with Nuno opting to start the centre-back out of position at left-back.

He's well suited at the centre of the Reds' defence alongside Murillo, with the pair building a solid partnership earlier in the season. His long throw has caused other sides endless problems this campaign, with his ability to hurl the ball into the 18-yard box a danger for any team.

5 Harry Toffolo

With Nuno Tavares set to miss the next month through injury, Harry Toffolo should start at left-back for the Reds.

The former Huddersfield Town man came on at the break for Murillo against Unai Emery's men, with the left-hand side of Nuno's defence looking much better after the 28-year-old's introduction.

6 Nicolas Dominguez

Having scored against the Red Devils last time out, Nicolas Dominguez will be looking to inflict yet more pain against United.

The Argentinian has enjoyed a brilliant start to life in Nottingham, scoring three times in 20 appearances for the club, with the midfielder impressing with his pressing and ball-winning ability.

7 Danilo

With Ibrahim Sangare away at the African Cup of Nations and Orel Mangala leaving to join Lyon, Danilo has often been the partner alongside Dominguez at the base of Forest's midfield.

The Brazilian hasn't matched the levels he achieved last season, but his partnership against Dominguez has injected a new lease of life into the Reds' midfield.

8 Morgan Gibbs-White

The attacking midfielder has been a revelation under Nuno, with his all-round game seeming to have improved from the start of the season.

As previously mentioned, he scored during the last meeting at the City Ground, with the 24-year-old potentially holding the key to another famous FA Cup victory at the City Ground.

9 Callum Hudson-Odoi

In recent weeks, Callum Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed a purple patch of form which has seen him score three times in his last Premier League outings – including against Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

His pace and direct dribbling could cause the United defence endless trouble at the City Ground, with the former Chelsea winger starting to show glimpses of his former self.

10 Anthony Elanga

A player looking to get one over his former employers is Anthony Elanga. The Sweden international joined the Reds in a deal worth £15m during last summer's transfer window, with the 21-year-old currently enjoying the form of his life.

He's scored five and assisted seven so far for the Reds, with his pace and eye for goal developing each week, with Elanga starting to look like a potential bargain and a player United might regret selling.

Glasgow Rangers claimed a 2-0 win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup on Sunday in what was a bad-tempered affair which saw the Easter Road side finish the game with nine men.

Philippe Clement’s men put in a solid performance to reach the semi-finals of the competition, and it means the Light Blues are still on course for the treble.

Has the win come at a cost, however? A couple of players had to come off due to injury during the clash, while this could impact Clement’s starting XI for the Benfica tie on Thursday.

Latest Rangers injury news

Dujon Sterling was the first player to be substituted, being replaced in the 34th minute by Ross McCausland.

The Northern Irish winger was then himself subbed off with 25 minutes remaining and the double blow was yet more bad news for the Belgian coach.

“We will examine them in the next two days to see what is going on,” said the manager during his post-match press conference.

“It is dangerous for me to say it is serious or it is not serious if it is not the truth. I always want to say the truth.”

The club has been riddled with injury issues throughout the whole campaign and with the fixtures coming thick and fast, another two players on the sidelines could be detrimental.

Thankfully, Rabbi Matondo was the replacement for McCausland and the Welsh winger is coming back from his own problems, which means Clement could unleash him on the right flank against Benfica.

McCausland's perfect replacement at Rangers

£23k-per-week starlet Matondo has enjoyed a much more productive second season at Ibrox following his move from Schalke in the summer of 2022.

So far during 2023/24, the Welshman has scored four goals and chipped in with another four assists as he has been a threat every time he has stepped foot on the pitch.

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Goals

0

3

Assists

0

3

Key passes per game

0

0.7

Successful dribbles per game

0.7

1.3

Big chances created

0

4

Via Sofascore

The winger was even hailed as a “bright spark” by journalist Euan Robertson following his display against PSV Eindhoven at the start of the season, and while injury problems have disrupted his consistency, he has improved since 2022/23.

Typically deployed on the left during his spell at Ibrox, Matondo has played on the right wing 53 times during his career so far, scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists, proving that he can be a reliable threat there. That being said, he's only featured off the right once in the whole of the current campaign.

Matondo also ranks fifth among the squad for goals and assists in the Premiership (six), while ranking third for successful dribbles per game (1.3) and seventh for big chances created (four), indicating that he could be someone who takes the game to Benfica on Thursday evening.

Clement does not have many choices for either wing and this could certainly see the former Manchester City gem come back into the starting XI following his own injury layoff.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Between now and the end of the season, every player will have to give everything if the club are to win more trophies, but it represents a wonderful opportunity for a club that was on its knees just six short months ago.

Leeds United are interested in signing a "quality" player who Frank Lampard has previously hailed, according to a new report.

Leeds looking for Premier League return

Daniel Farke and new owners the 49ers Enterprises have steadied the ship at Elland Road over the last eight months following relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites have been in unbelievable form in the Championship in 2024, winning all but one of their 12 second-tier games to put them in a good position to earn automatic promotion back to the top flight.

Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City

1st January

Cardiff City 0-3 Leeds United

13th January

Leeds United 2-1 Preston North End

21st January

Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

24th January

Bristol City 0-1 Leeds United

2nd February

Leeds United 3-0 Rotherham United

10th February

Swansea City 0-4 Leeds United

13th February

Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Leeds United

17th February

Leeds United 3-1 Leicester City

23rd February

Huddersfield Town 1-1 Leeds United

2nd March

Leeds United 1-0 Stoke City

5th March

Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Leeds United

8th March

Should Farke take Leeds back up at the first time of asking, then the German looks set to be backed in the transfer market by the current Leeds owners. Reports have even suggested that Leeds could spend up to £100m in the summer, and targets have already emerged.

Former Queens Park Rangers winger Bright Osayi-Samuel, now with Fenerbahce, is thought to be of interest, with a £7m offer already made. However, he’s not the only player from Fenerbahce who Leeds have their eyes on.

Leeds want to sign Michy Batshuayi

According to reports from Turkey in the last 48 hours, Leeds are ‘expected to knock on Fenerbahce's door at the end of the season’ for striker Michy Batshuayi.

In fact, the Belgian, currently on £82,000-a-week, is out of contract at the end of the season and is set to be available on a free transfer.

The 30-year-old has plenty of experience in the Premier League, winning the title with Chelsea and spending time with Crystal Palace. He’s also been in fine form since moving to Turkey, initially with Besiktas, scoring 54 goals in more than 100 appearances since the 2021/22 season.

Standard Liege

120

44

13

Marseille

78

33

10

Chelsea

77

25

6

Fenerbahce

67

40

5

Besiktas

42

14

5

Crystal Palace

33

8

2

Valencia

23

3

0

Borussia Dortmund

14

9

1

Belgium

53

27

6

Leeds may view someone like Batshuayi as a good option to have if they win promotion, especially with their attacking ranks currently boasting youngsters Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter.

Lampard, who worked with Batshuayi at Chelsea, praised the striker during their time at Stamford Bridge, previously saying: “It was interesting to see not just the player – I kind of knew the quality Michy had and it’s always good to see that up close – but also the personality.

“Since early season, how he’s trained, his demeanour, his positivity, and quality when he’s come on, which is obviously the most important thing, have been top class.

“When Tammy is scoring regular goals and getting a firm foot in the team, that’s not easy. It’s the same for Oli [Giroud]. Michy has shown all the right ways of handling that. He has been very good for us so far, and that positive spirit when you’re not playing regularly is not just important for him, cause that’s tough sometimes, but it’s important for the group. He deserves extra praise for that. He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals.”

Well, that wasn't how Jurgen Klopp's farewell script was meant to go was it? Liverpool were supposed to coast to multiple trophies as the German bids farewell to Anfield but their plan has been stumped.

They may still win a couple more along the way with the Reds strongly positioned in the Premier League and in the latter stages of the Europa League but one last dart at the FA Cup has proven too much for Klopp who is denied a final encounter at Wembley.

How on earth Liverpool lost 4-3 to bitter rivals Manchester United is anyone's guess, though.

Why Liverpool lost to Man United

Liverpool went a goal behind early in the game courtesy of a Scott McTominay strike but in typical fashion rallied as the opening half went on.

Strikes from Alexis Mac Allister and star man Mo Salah put the Reds in front but what ensued in the second half and the extra time that followed was truly chaotic.

None other than Antony scored a last-gasp goal with three minutes of normal time remaining, just his second of the campaign. That was after a barrage of Liverpool pressure. At one moment the Reds even had a five-on-two situation only to spurn what could have been a game-clinching moment.

Klopp's frustrations were clear and it was indeed a period in the game they came to rue. Harvey Elliott may have fired the Merseysiders back in front during extra time but Marcus Rashford and then Amad Diallo rescued proceedings for Erik ten Hag's men.

How did they concede such goals, however? Well, two cheap giveaways of possession. First, Darwin Nunez was guilty of giving the ball away. McTominay was only too happy to pick it up and then slide in Marcus Rashford. With the last kick of normal time the England forward had missed a remarkably one-on-one chance but he was not missing on this occasion.

Then, in the final few seconds of extra time, Liverpool flooded players forward for a corner. Not intent on penalties, the ball was cleared and then Elliott was dispossessed. Alejandro Garnacho raced forward with just one defender back and then picked out an unlikely hero in Amad who was able to slide the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher.

So, Nunez and Elliott will have to take some of the blame but they weren't the only players in Liverpool colours who deserve some slack.

Joe Gomez's performance in numbers

Joe Gomez has enjoyed quite the resurgence in both form and importance this season, largely due to injuries.

The former Charlton Athletic star has been given a chance at left-back with Andy Robertson out injured and has also been fielded at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the sidelines.

With Ibrahima Konate nursing his own injury, Gomez even played at centre-back against Sparta Prague in the midweek European rout.

Reverting back to the right side this time around, it wasn't a performance that encapsulated why he's just been recognised with a call-up to the England national team.

Indeed, Gomez was arguably at fault for McTominay's opener, sucked out of position and allowing space for Garnacho to get in behind.

To his credit, the 26-year-old did improve with his positioning and overall performance levels in the second period but he never really got going in the opening 45 minutes. Duly handed a 6/10 match rating by GOAL, writer Peter McVitie noted: 'Terrible start with bad positioning to give away space for the first goal but then helped them keep the pressure on United once they settled in.'

Overall, Gomez ceded possession a rather remarkable 24 times at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, while also winning just four of the 11 duels contested at the back.

It was a performance that failed to inspire much confidence and for that reason, it would not be a surprise if we see Conor Bradley back in the right-back slot next time around.

West Ham have been told they could hire a "phenomenal" David Moyes replacement in a manager who's done fantastically in the dugout this season.

Moyes yet to sign new West Ham deal

Following a memorable few seasons at West Ham, where he led the Hammers to their first major trophy since the 1980s, Moyes is ever closer to bidding farewell with no extension signed as things stand.

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Moyes himself claimed an offer was on the table for him to remain at West Ham beyond 23/24, but this has since been refuted by reliable club insiders like ExWHUemployee.

“There have been provisional talks over a new deal for David Moyes,” stated Ex. “However, I’ve been advised that at no point it’s been put forward for signing. The manager possibly was referring to an agreement but that’s provisional, but not in front of him to sign.

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“It’s understood that any decision by the board as to whether to offer him an extension will be made at the end of the season, following a review on how the season pans out.”

West Ham are making contingency plans behind-the-scenes in case they decide to part company. A range of top coaches from across Europe have been linked with the post.

Indeed, technical director Tim Steidten is believed to be an admirer of Feyenoord boss Arne Slot among others, while the likes of Graham Potter and Julen Lopetegui remain readily-available for hire after leaving their last jobs.

Whoever comes in to replace Moyes will have a tough act to follow, with the Scotsman guiding West Ham through successive European qualification campaigns. Moyes also helped West Ham on their way to an historic Conference League triumph in Prague last year, but there have been some concerns over both the club's style of play and lack of imposing league form since 2022.

Darren Bent thinks West Ham could go for Kieran McKenna

Speaking on Ben Foster's YouTube channel this week, talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has endorsed a West Ham move for Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.

The 37-year-old could see his side secure a climb to the Premier League after an impressive campaign, with Ipswich just a point behind Leeds United as they chase an automatic promotion place.

"He’s been phenomenal, and if Ipswich don’t go up… There’s so many people that would take him I think," said Bent. "West Ham potentially with David Moyes. There’s so many options.”

A young and promising tactician, there is reason to believe he could do well at West Ham, with former Leeds boss Simon Grayson saying he should be a contender for Championship manager of the year.

“The Manager of the Year award shouldn't always go to whoever wins the league. There are managers with limited resources that do so well, and for that reason, Kieran McKenna would be my choice."