All posts by z3u9t.icu

Deadline Day has already been extremely hectic for Aston Villa, but they may not be done just yet.

Indeed, manager Unai Emery is keen to sign another attacker to support Ollie Watkins and provide a rotation option.

Nevertheless, let's take a look at who could be the latest face to arrive at Villa Park.

Aston Villa's search for an attacker

According to a report from journalist Alex Crook via GIVEMESPORT, Villa have shown an interest in Wilfried Zaha.

Speaking to the publication on deadline day, the talkSPORT journalist said: "I thought Villa might be busier in this window, to be fair. It was mentioned to me that Wilfried Zaha was on their radar, but I think that would be quite expensive because he is doing quite well in Turkey."

Although it is mentioned that a deal before the deadline is highly unlikely, it hasn't been completely ruled out.

That said, if Villa do qualify for the Champions League, then Villa Park could become a desired destination for the attacker next summer.

Emery is certainly a fan of the player, having previously targeted him over Nicolas Pepe when he was at Arsenal. Previously speaking about that, the Spanish boss said: "When we played against Crystal Palace, Zaha showed he was a very good player. I also think Nicolas Pepe is a very good player. When you make the decision you have to decide how easy the adaption will be of some players.

"I was thinking the adaption was easier for Zaha because he was playing in the Premier League and you didn't know exactly how fast Nicolas Pepe can adapt to the Premier League because I know you can need some time to adapt."

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Zaha could become Villa's best LW since Grealish

Aston Villa legend Jack Grealish left the club in the summer of 2021 for Man City in a deal worth £100m.

The boyhood Villan and then subsequent captain fantastic has been by far the club's most influential player over the years, and he boasted a goal contribution record of 65 in 213 games. However, Villa have still failed to replace their star boy since his departure, even if they have signed players like Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby.

Therefore, the potential signing of Zaha could just become Villa's most influential best left winger since the days of Grealish, with the former Man United player having the character and certainly the entertaining personality to fill the role.

The 31-year-old only left the Premier League in the summer to start life in Turkey for Galatasaray, and his performances have piqued the interest of some teams in England. The Ivory Coast international has started 12 games in the Super Lig, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in the process, which highlights his impact on the side.

Nonetheless, the table below shows Zaha's Super Lig statistics and where they rank in the Galatasaray squad.

Goals

9

=2nd

xG

3.42

4th

Scoring frequency

124 mins

=1st

Assists

3

4th

Successful dribbles

1.8

1st

As you can see by his goals and assists statistics, Zaha is among Galatasaray's most influential players in the final third, showing that he can take on attacking responsibility without feeling the pressure to succeed.

This is what Grealish thrived at while at Villa, as he would often put the team on his back to pick up points. That said, Zaha has also displayed that in the top flight, as highlighted by the fact he's Palace's all-time leading scorer in the Premier League.

Furthermore, Zaha's extreme overperformance of xG proves that he can produce a moment of magic and put the ball in the back of the net from nothing, which is what makes him so "dangerous," as per ex-teammate Yannick Bolasie. His goal-scoring frequency being the joint-best also suggests that he is a reliable finisher, while his dribbling and direct approach are reminiscent of Grealish.

Overall, the potential signing of Zaha could be a smart move by Villa, and Emery could have a lethal attacker to bolster his attack.

The transfer window is due to slam shut this evening and Tottenham Hotspur appear to still be active in their efforts to add to Ange Postecoglou's squad.

Latest Spurs transfer news

Whilst supporters may want to see signings that immediately bolster the first-team, such as Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin, the club are reportedly looking at a long-term project.

According to Football Insider, the Lilywhites are plotting a last-gasp hijack of Barcelona's deal to sign Lucas Bergvall from Swedish side Djurgardens IF.

The Spanish giants have rolled out the 'red carpet' to tempt the 17-year-old maestro to LaLiga, along with an offer of £8.5m to secure his services.

It states, however, that Spurs are now ready to invite the teenage whiz to their training ground to hold talks over a move to England, after the player visited Catalonia on Tuesday.

If Tottenham win this battle and convince him to join the North London side then they could find their dream long-term heir to Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield.

Bentancur's brilliance last season

The Uruguay international has struggled with injuries this term – starting three Premier League matches – but caught the eye with his impressive displays in midfield last season.

He started 17 top-flight games, and came off the bench once, for Spurs and showcased his quality defensively, in transition, and at the top end of the pitch for the club.

The former Juventus ace won 53% of his duels and made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match, which shows that the talented gem held his own in physical contests to cut out opposition attacks.

Bentancur also completed 66% of his attempted dribbles (1.2 per game) to help his team to beat opposition presses and burst past players in transition to push his side up the pitch.

Along with that, the 26-year-old dynamo chipped in with five goals and two assists as he showed off his ability to provide vital contrbutions in the final third to win points for Spurs.

The stats that show why Bergvall could be Bentancur 2.0

At the age of 17, Bergvall is unlikely to be signed as a player expected to make an instant impact in the Premier League and could, instead, be viewed as a future heir to Bentancur – who is nine years older.

The teenager, who turns 18 on Friday, played 25 league games for his club throughout 2023, despite his age, and caught the eye with his midfield displays.

Appearances

25

Starts

11

Goals

Two

Assists

One

Pass accuracy

88%

Like the Spurs maestro, the Swedish wizard is a fantastic dribbler who can evade challenges and beat players with relative ease for his team – with 1.1 dribbles per game at a success rate of 68%.

Bergvall was willing to put his foot in to win possession back for his team as the talented youngster made 2.20 tackles and interceptions combined per 90.

The Spurs target, who was once hailed as "superb" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a box-to-box midfielder, like Bentancur, who can make contributions in all three thirds.

Therefore, Postecoglou could land his long-term heir to the ex-Juventus gem by beating Barcelona to the signing of the 17-year-old whiz, who has plenty of time to develop and improve before taking over from the Uruguay international further down the line.

Chelsea supporters have been handed a "key" update on manager Mauricio Pochettino and his future at the club, as chairman Todd Boehly and senior Stamford Bridge chiefs could decide to part company on one condition.

Pressure on Pochettino after dismal Premier League defeats

The Argentine has failed to steer Chelsea's ship on course so far, with the two-time Champions League winners undergoing yet another disappointing Premier League campaign despite serious investment off the field.

Manager's agents now pushing hard for him to replace Pochettino at Chelsea

The west Londoners are enduring another disappointing campaign.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 7, 2024

Their 4-2 loss to Wolves last weekend has seen them drop below Gary O'Neil's side and into the bottom half of the table. Chelsea's dismal home defeat, their second in as many games after they were also bested by Liverpool at Anfield, highlights glaring issues in Pochettino's squad which he must attempt to resolve quickly.

“We are not good enough [today],” said Pochettino after Wolves.

“Myself, also. I’m responsible for this ­situation. What we showed today was not good enough. We didn’t manage the ­situa­tion properly and of course no one can be safe. I don’t want to come here and say I am the best. We’re all responsible.

“The players need to take responsibility like I take responsibility. At the moment we’re not matching the history of the club. That’s true. We need to accept it, be critical but we cannot give up. We’ll work hard to change. If it’s not working in this way, we need to move on and find a different solution."

Some reports have even suggested that high-ranking Chelsea official Behdad Eghbali wants to hire Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Pochettino, with the former Spurs boss running out of time to make a success of his reign.

Jose Mourinho is also said to be keeping a watchful eye on Pochettino's situation, as the big-name manager's agents lobby "hard" for him to be considered as a potential Pochettino successor (Simon Phillips).

Lesley Ugochukwu

6.20

Noni Madueke

6.47

Malo Gusto

6.50

Mykhailo Mudryk

6.55

Axel Disasi

6.63

The Blues face a season-defining next few games, starting with an FA Cup tie away to Aston Villa this evening. Perhaps the biggest of the lot, though, is their eagerly-anticipated EFL Cup final clash against Liverpool.

Journalist shares "key" detail in Pochettino sack update at Chelsea

Writing for Football Insider, journalist Pete O'Rourke says Chelsea could sack Pochettino if they lose to Liverpool at Wembley, saying that the 90 minutes will be "key" in determining the Argentine's future.

Boehly and co have invested over £1 billion since Clearlake Capital's takeover from Roman Abramovich in 2022, but their plethora of marquee signings are yet to produce a run of consistent results or eye-catching football.

Graham Potter was handed his P45 last season after failing to make the most of Chelsea's expensively assembled squad, and if Pochettino doesn't turn the tide soon, it appears the 51-year-old could suffer a similar fate.

Ange Postecoglou is a really, really good manager, and while narratives can change like the wind in football, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy will likely envisage a long-term future with the Australian at the helm.

Spurs are fifth in the Premier League after 25 matches, just two points behind Aston Villa in fourth place, and while the side's season has been marked by inconsistency once again, there is a vision, a purpose and synergy, that speaks of the possibilities down the line under Postecoglou's wing.

But a recent home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers – who have now completed the league double over Postecoglou's team – has yet again maintained the ebb and flow of Tottenham's fluency.

5/10 Spurs star who lost the ball 22x was as bad as Son in Wolves defeat

Tottenham fell out of the top four as Wolves did the double over Ange’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 17, 2024

Nonetheless, last year's troubles are a far cry from the current efforts, with chairman Daniel Levy forced into sacking Antonio Conte back in March as Spurs slumped to an eighth-placed finish in the top-flight, Harry Kane's decision to leave for Bayern Munich a by-product of the issues.

The tide is turning. Tottenham have a plan and incremental gains will hopefully be made over the coming months and years, ending the years of inaccuracy and inconsistency, both on the pitch and in the market.

Levy is nurturing a precocious youth crop that rivals any on English shores, but now Tottenham must ensure that talent is properly assessed and promising gems do not slip away, much like the exit of Noni Madueke several years back.

Noni Madueke's time at Spurs

Of course, Madueke has not quite nailed himself as a first-choice star in Chelsea's team but the 21-year-old winger is one of England's most talented up-and-comers and may yet become a starring figure at Stamford Bridge.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Many are unaware of the attacker's Lilywhites beginnings, but the starlet was indeed on Tottenham's books and even made an appearance in the U18 Premier League back in 2016/17, such was the strength of his prodigious roots.

Speaking of this fledgling phase in an interview with Sky Sports, Madueke said: "Tottenham was a great academy and they’ve got a great development plan. I’d been offered a scholarship agreement at Tottenham but I’d seen a lot of the boys – that were good as well – just kind of get lost in the system and I just didn’t want that for me.

“Going to PSV is not going to harm my development at all and if I’m good enough, I’m going to play quick in the first team, so that was really my mindset. I’m thinking ‘if I jump the queue, I’ll just be better than all my peers because whilst they’re playing Under-18’s and Under-21’s, I’ll be playing against men.”

Lost in the hubbub of youth football, Madueke moved to PSV at age 16, delving down an alternative route as he looked to sculpt himself into a top-class star down the line.

Now, he's back on English shores with Chelsea, and Spurs may yet rue the failure to keep him tethered to north London.

Noni Madueke's Chelsea career so far

Madueke has chalked up 31 displays for Chelsea so far since completing a £30m transfer from Dutch Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, where he had earned repute for his electric displays and led talent scout Jacek Kulig to gush over his "crazy good" ability on the ball.

#

Player

Club

1.

Dejan Kulusevski

Tottenham Hotspur

2.

Miguel Almiron

Newcastle United

3.

Felipe Anderson

Lazio

4.

Bernardo Silva

Manchester City

5.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Napoli

Source: FBref

Madueke was part of the unrelenting influx as Chelsea's new regime looked to make lucrative investments and build from the smouldering ashes of Roman Abramovich's machine-like success in west London, but it hasn't clicked together yet.

In fairness, while he has largely been on the fringe under Mauricio Pochettino, the 5 foot 9 ace has scored four goals and supplied one assist from only eight starting appearances across all competitions, so there's evidence enough that he has the making of a high-class winger.

As per FBref, Madueke ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 2% for clearances and the top 16% for blocks per 90.

His fleet-footedness is truly edging into the realm of the elite, and if he can tweak and fine-tune his end product and decision-making in decisive moments, Madueke could yet blossom into one of the Premier League's most fearsome forwards.

Principally a right-sided wideman, Madueke would be a valuable asset under Postecoglou's wing, with his power of progression and technical skill slotting right into the Australian's high-octane, fluid-moving set-up.

Perhaps, like at Stamford Bridge, he wouldn't start every week at this primitive stage of his career, but were his youth development handled with more tact then he could be pushing for a prominent role down the N17 right now, in what might have precluded the need for a large outlay in signing Brennan Johnson last summer.

How Noni Madueke compares to Brennan Johnson

Johnson signed for Tottenham from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5m move on summer deadline day, having played an instrumental role in the City Ground side's successful bid for survival last year, posting ten goals across all competitions.

The Wales international has produced some promising stuff across the past months, starting 13 Premier League matches and clinching three goals and four assists.

He's only averaging 0.6 dribbles per game though and for someone of such a high-paced profile, there's little doubt that Postecoglou would hope to see more energy and penetration in possession.

Madueke, in comparison, is averaging 1.1 dribble per fixture in the Premier League despite his scant action (his aforementioned FBref metrics also corroborate the claim that he is the superior dribbler), also completing 86% of his passes to underpin the technical crispness that Postecoglou cherishes within his ranks.

Madueke has not quite managed to slot himself to the forefront of Pochettino's plans but there is no question that the Englishman boasts frightening qualities that could yet establish him as one of Europe's standout wingers.

In fairness, Johnson is also young in his career and has offered flashes of the high-class potential that prompted Levy to part with such a sizeable sum for his services.

But had Tottenham been a touch more scrupulous in their transfer activity over recent years, Madueke could have been guided to the first-team, preventing Johnson's acquisition from ever taking place.

Ultimately, only time will tell which star will enjoy the richer career…

On Monday, Nuno Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest heard the news that Premier League relegation rivals Everton had seen their points deduction reduced from 10 points to six on appeal, shifting the landscape at the bottom of the table. With the Toffees' points tally increasing from 21 to 25, Forest (on 24) have now dropped to 17th place, making them the immediate target for Luton Town in 18th.

Nottingham Forest's big mistake cost them £3m-per-goal

He failed to make an impact during his time at the City Ground.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 26, 2024

More significantly, the league have charged Forest with breaching the Profit and Sustainability Rules in the period up to the end of last season. Everton have also been charged, and it remains to be seen whether they face a further penalty.

Forest deduction appears inevitable

Writing on X, The Times' chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler shared a bleak warning for Forest ahead of their disciplinary hearing at an independent commission early next month.

Ziegler says a "points deduction looks certain" for Nuno's side, pointing to a paragraph in the Everton appeal ruling that says "any breach of rule E.51 [excessive losses] warrants a points deduction, and nothing less".

Delay could hurt Forest

Let's say based on precedent that Forest also lose six points for their alleged breach, then they would fall into the relegation zone, two below Luton, who retain a game in hand after the abandonment of their clash with Bournemouth in December.

Rank

Club

P

GD

PTS

15

Everton

26

-6

25

16

Brentford

26

-11

25

17

Luton Town

25

-16

20

18

*Nottingham Forest

26

-14

18

19

Burnley

26

-33

13

20

Sheffield United

26

-44

13

However, the reality is that the table will look different by the time any such penalty is applied. Indeed, based on Ziegler's report, it could be another six weeks before a verdict is reached. There's a scenario where Forest only discover their fate with six league games to go, and then there's the possibility of a challenge from the 2022 Championship play-off winners, just like we saw from Everton.

If you're a Forest player or supporter, you just want clarity this point so you know where you stand – the delay feels like a punishment in itself. What's abundantly clear, though, is that the Tricky Trees have a series of vital games on the horizon, travelling to Luton just before the international break and then hosting Crystal Palace. They will head to Goodison Park to face Everton before the end of April too.

Even if Forest avoid a deduction, which looks extremely unlikely at this point, these are arguably must-win fixtures to ensure survival. The message from Nuno to his players should be to focus on what they can control, starting with Saturday's home game against Liverpool.

When James Maddison and Micky van de Ven both recovered from injuries in January, many expected Tottenham Hotspur to return to the fluency that had seen them dazzle throughout the opening phase of the campaign.

This form had resulted in a hat-trick of Premier League Manager of the Month awards to kick off Ange Postecoglou's tenure, appointed from Celtic last summer after Spurs' abject 2022/23 season culminated in an eighth-placed finish and Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich.

But a spate of injuries and suspensions several months into the season resulted in a torrid run of form throughout November and December, and while results have picked up more recently, Tottenham's 4-0 drubbing over Aston Villa at the weekend finally marked a return to that early-season style.

Last year, Antonio Conte's management at Tottenham bred only hostility and disconnect. Where was the identity? Had the squad's unity and cohesion got lost in the ether?

Contrarily, straight-talking Postecoglou has pumped an entertaining and attractive style of play back into the stadium but he's also revived the single most important part of a football team: belief.

At the heart of the success, Van de Ven has been a revelation in the backline and he might just be one of the most transformative additions in many years.

How Micky van de Ven has performed for Spurs

Arriving from German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for £43m – beating Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp's side opted not to splash such a sum on the rising star – Van de Ven has formed a rock-solid partnership with Cristian Romero and put last season's dismal defensive displays in distant memory.

Described as an "elite baller" by journalist Mitch Fretton, Van de Ven has certainly been an impressive figure in the Premier League, with FBref ranking him among the top 3% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 16% for progressive carries per 90.

Such metrics highlight the 6 foot 4 titan's athletic and singular ability in the central defence, endowed with blistering pace and formidable strength to close down and swat aside hopeful forwards.

The £50k-per-week Dutchman is also one of Tottenham's most composed and technically crisp players, completing 95% of his passes across 18 Premier League outings, winning 66% of his ground duels, succeeding with 61% of his dribbles and notably averaging 5.8 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

However, the 22-year-old has been unfortunate to have missed a large chunk of the season with injury and after falling against Aston Villa on Sunday, there is fresh fear that he is set for a spell on the sidelines once again.

Postecoglou did downplay concerns that his dynamic ace is facing an extended layoff, though until an official prognosis is confirmed any discourse is purely conjecture.

Radu Dragusin was signed from Genoa for £27m back in January to combat Spurs' thinness in defence – with both Van de Ven and Romero missing action concurrently this term and Eric Dier unfavoured, a makeshift back four had been cobbled together – but he had been limited to cameos of few minutes before he was called into play for the majority of the second half at Villa Park.

The Romania international, aged 22, is aggressive and tenacious but isn't the only centre-half with sights set on a starring role under Postecoglou in the months to come, with teenager Ashley Phillips possibly boasting qualities that make him the perfect fit for the Australian's tactical set-up.

Why Spurs signed Ashley Phillips

Phillips had caught the eye with Blackburn Rovers last season despite his youth and had chalked up eight league appearances, with Tottenham acting swiftly to beat any competition down the line and landing him for an astute £2m fee back in August.

Tony Mowbray, who managed Phillips at Blackburn, has waxed lyrical about his potential and offered some praise that springs a certain Netherlands international to mind.

He said: "He’s an amazing footballer and he is going to be a mega footballer I’m pretty sure, but he’s a very young boy. He’s a 6’3, 6’4 magnificent cut of a guy, fast as lightning, composed with the ball, aggressive."

Such traits paint quite the picture and given that Phillips is only 18 years old, it makes for exciting reading as he continues his development on loan in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle.

More importantly, perhaps, it suggests that Phillips could be a defender of a complete skill set, with pace to rival Van de Ven and a combative approach to mirror Romero – and Dragusin, on that note.

It will take a bit of time to shape Phillips into a player capable of performing at a high quality for Tottenham, but the innate ability is definitely there and the decision to ship him out on loan to the Championship was a prudent one.

Matches played

11

Matches started

9

Pass completion

83%

Tackles per game

1.2

Clearances per game

4.1

Ball recoveries per game

2.2

Duels won per game

3.5 (54%)

Spurs insider Jon Wenham has hailed Phillips as a "monster" and while he is young, he will have been told to bide his time and nurture his craft over the coming years – in other words, the talented teenager will enjoy some loan stints until he is deemed ready for a regular role in Postecoglou's first-team.

That said, he's proving himself a worthy starter in tough conditions at Plymouth, who are struggling in the second tier and face a daunting closing period of the campaign as they look to secure survival. Phillips really is the real deal and his signing highlights the new chapter at Tottenham that is found to breed success.

So many new heroes at Elland Road this campaign have been unearthed by Daniel Farke, with faces such as Georginio Rutter and Daniel James – who were once scapegoats when Leeds United were struggling – dazzling in the Championship this season.

It's resulted in Leeds looking like hot favourites to bounce straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking, fending off Ipswich Town and Southampton on their tails for the time being to keep their grip firmly on that coveted second automatic promotion spot.

Yet, although everything is currently rosey at an initial scan, Farke will have to soon embrace some awkward conversations with those whose contracts are running out in West Yorkshire.

Leeds could wave goodbye to this once highly regarded young gem in the process, allowing the midfielder in question – who was tipped to be a successor to Kalvin Phillips – to walk out of the door as a free agent.

What was first said when Lewis Bate signed for Leeds

Lewis Bate would join the Leeds ranks as a wide-eyed youngster from the illustrious Chelsea youth set-up, with Bate even going on to make the bench for the Blues a number of times before moving on.

Still, in 2021, the hot prospect would decide to leave the comforts of Stamford Bridge behind for a new challenge in Leeds.

It wasn't going to be a cheap deal to get over the line from a Whites perspective however, with the reported fee to win Bate's services coming in at a substantial £1.5m which looked hefty at the time considering his lack of real minutes in the senior game.

The media would instantly hype Bate up as being a potential natural long-term successor to Phillips' throne at Elland Road, an unrealistic tag for a young gem to live up to off the back of making 58 Chelsea youth appearances before relocating.

Reporting on the initial move, Leeds Live's Joe Donnohue described him as the "truest Kalvin Phillips successor" out there.

Making the jump up in quality would prove to be a difficult one for Bate, however. To date, he has only made five Leeds first-team appearances with many of his minutes reserved to featuring for the U21s.

For a player once described as being able to "thread it through the needle" with his passing range by ex-Leeds icon Marcelo Bielsa when the Argentine boss still occupied the dug-out, Bate has never been able to live up to the lofty expectations on his shoulders from the minute he entered the fray.

The now 21-year-old midfielder has been able to show glimpses of his quality at Leeds here and there, coming away from a 45-minute cameo against Arsenal in 2022 with 16 accurate passes managed, but the door now looks very much open for Bate to permanently exit Elland Road at the end of this current campaign.

He's not been helped by the electric form of Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara bossing proceedings in the Championship this season, filling the void left behind by Phillips in their stride more confidently than the forgotten 5 foot 8 man has ever managed.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Lewis Bate's time out on loan away from Leeds

Stating in a revealing interview recently that Farke's emergence as the new Leeds manager made things even more "tough" for his first-team minutes, Bate has had to drop down to League Two with Milton Keynes Dons this season on loan to try and excel away from the shackles of Elland Road.

Matches played

13

Minutes played per game

71

Assists

1

Successful passes per game

52.5 (90%)

Tackles per game

1.5

Balls recovered per game

5.2

Bate has shown his class for MK Dons as Mike Williamson's men aim to win promotion up to League One, coming away from a recent big 2-1 win against automatic promotion rivals Mansfield Town with three key passes notched up, but it just doesn't look as if it will be enough for the former £1.5m buy to be kept around at Leeds past the summer.

With Bate staggeringly revealing that the Whites boss doesn't "like him" in that same tell-all interview, it would not be a surprise to see Bate allowed to exit the Championship giants for nothing now this summer when his contract expires.

It would be a disappointing end to the former Chelsea wonderkid's time with the West Yorkshire titans after so much was expected of him on his arrival three years ago.

Lewis Bate's future at Leeds

Bate isn't the only presence on the fringes at Leeds who has their future hanging in the balance, with more experienced faces such as Sam Byram and Liam Cooper also fearing what will happen when their contracts come to an abrupt end this June alongside the 21-year-old.

Ian Poveda has already been revealed as one Whites man on the periphery who won't be kept on past this season, with Bate's fate of being homeless almost expected at this point alongside other forgotten faces in Brenden Aaronson, Diego Llorente and more.

Bate will take some comfort in the fact he has become a fan's favourite at Stadium MK, but there must be some bitterness on his end that he never was able to make the grade at Leeds.

Farke and Co will more than be able to cope when Bate is moved on, knowing that both Gruev and Kamara are dependable anchors in the Whites first team alongside Archie Gray and Ethan Ampadu being able to fill in here when necessary.

Whilst Gray has flourished beyond anyone's wildest expectations in Leeds quarters as another starlet tipped for big things, with Gareth Southgate even talking up his chances in the England senior ranks, it looks as if Bate will be chucked to the scrap heap when this season is up as a youngster who was never able to live up to his wild hype.

Farke could well live to rue getting rid of their fringe man who once cost them £1.5m for free if he goes on to prove those wrong, but it feels the kindest thing to do now to let him leave instead of drawing out the failed move for any longer.

Chelsea are said to have done a "tonne of leg work" to convince a star player to join them this summer, as they seek to fix a major problem.

Pochettino under pressure at Chelsea

It hasn't quite been the dream first season in charge for manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has overseen a disappointing debut campaign despite being backed with £400 million worth of signings in the summer.

Manager receives Chelsea offer as Stamford Bridge chiefs travel for meeting

Pochettino’s future is still uncertain.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 12, 2024

There have been some suggestions that Pochettino could even be replaced by Chelsea if results take a turn for the worst, with rumours surrounding his future emerging on a consistent basis as results remain inconsistent.

The Blues lost their Carabao Cup final to Liverpool and look very unlikely to be contending for a European spot come the end of 2023/2024. A lot appears to be riding on their FA Cup run and whether they can make a success of their bid to win one of football's oldest competitions.

Pochettino isn't exactly helped by Chelsea's lack of a consistent 20-plus goal per season striker, and a lot of reports are claiming that a new centre-forward is top priority for Stamford Bridge chiefs.

Chelsea's links with Osimhen

One of the major names linked in that regard is Napoli star Victor Osimhen. The Nigeria international, who's been one of Serie A's most prolific goalscorers for a few years now, is thought to be top of the agenda for Chelsea right now.

Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli

9.90

Frosinone 1-3 Napoli

8.46

Napoli 2-0 Sassuolo

7.62

Napoli 2-1 Cagliari

7.60

Napoli 4-1 Udinese

7.36

"I think they will sign Victor Osimhen in the summer," said former Arsenal defender William Gallas. "I don’t know Victor that well as a person but he’s similar to Drogba. Didier was so strong but with Osimhen, he is also very quick. I’m sure he’ll do a lot of damage in the Premier League.

"Chelsea have so many players and that is a problem. They need to sell players because it’s a mess at Chelsea at the moment. I don’t know a lot about their financial situation but they need to figure out which players should stay and which players should leave.

‘In the Premier League, some clubs loan in players to replace players they have sold for more money but when you look at the situation with Enzo [Fernandez] and [Moises] Caicedo, they bought them for £100m, how much can they sell them for? Not much!."

Chelsea have done a tonne of leg work to sign Osimhen

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have done a ton of leg work to sign Osimhen and convince him to join.

Sources have also been clear that the Blues have been at the front of the queue for him, but there are now real fears that Chelsea could miss out on the African, as both Arsenal and PSG could meet his wage demands of around £200,000-per-week.

Pochettino's may not be so keen to meet that, as they don't wish to break their wage structure, so it's believed to be offering their competitors a glimmer of hope.

The race for Osimhen appears to be intensifying as we slowly approach this summer, and it will be interesting to see where this goes.

After a flurry of injuries throughout the international break, Pep Guardiola has been handed several boosts ahead of Manchester City's crucial clash against Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.

Man City injury news

Gary Neville recently claimed that it would be no surprise if Arsenal and Manchester City pulled their players out of March's international break ahead of their game this weekend and the crucial title run-in. Lo and behold, out came Bukayo Saka and Kevin De Bruyne, whilst Kyle Walker also pulled out of England's second game of the break against Belgium with injury.

When Sunday's game arrives, it will be interesting to see whether those aforementioned stars manage to make an Easter comeback or whether Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are left worrying over the availability of their players.

So far, training footage has suggested that it's mixed news, with John Stones and Walker still seemingly missing after their injuries on international duty, but De Bruyne, Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish and Matheus Nunes are all back.

What's more, despite The Independent initially reporting that Ederson could miss the Arsenal game and be out for 3-4 weeks after his injury against Liverpool, the goalkeeper was also spotted in training ahead of the fixture. Sky Sports posted the news on X, saying:

In a major boost for Guardiola, the shot-stopper is now in line to make his return at the perfect time as City prepare to defend their Premier League crown up until the final day.

"Outstanding" Ederson is crucial for Man City

City's ruthless passing style starts with the goalkeeper, and there aren't many better at initiating that than Ederson, who is one of, if not the best shot-stoppers in the world with the ball at his feet. Whilst Stefan Ortega has stepped up well in the Brazilian's absence, having Ederson available for the Arsenal game and the rest of the run-in will undoubtedly play a part for City.

Guardiola is well aware of Ederson's quality, too, having previously sung his praises. The City boss said (via All Football): "With his feet, he is the best. The quality of the pass, I would say, is the best.

"Manuel and Víctor were incredible too, but the quality of the pass is the best. I would not say who is the best [overall] because I had success in the past with incredible keepers in Victor, Manuel and Eddie.

"He has credit from the manager, backroom staff and players. He's outstanding and he knows it. But the players know – if you want credit and to be recognised, win games, win titles and you will get it. If you don't win games and titles, you will not get it. It's not more difficult than this."

Liverpool's storming finish to the Jurgen Klopp era is in danger of fizzling out like a disappointing firework, and Crystal Palace have been known to spoil glinted aspirations on Merseyside in the past…

Atalanta left Anfield in bitter bewilderment after a comprehensive 3-0 victory in the Europa League quarter-final first leg last week; to say the Reds have a mountain to climb in Italy next week would be apt.

Still, such deficits are hardly insurmountable with Klopp at the helm, as has been evidenced in the past under the European lights, but while that anticipated showdown looms, Liverpool must bounce back against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles travel to Anfield in poor form, with just two wins from ten top-flight fixtures, but will be determined to capitalise on any complacency and discord in the hosts' ranks. Klopp will demand anything but.

Liverpool are third in the standings and are only behind Arsenal – who welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates Stadium a few hours after – on goal difference, with Manchester City claiming top spot, at least briefly, after winning at home against Luton Town on Saturday afternoon.

Klopp might be convinced to ring the changes after such a dour affair in midweek and could make a whopping five alterations for the visit of the 15th-placed Eagles.

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Caoimhin Kelleher has been a wonderful stand-in for the injured Alisson Becker over the past few months but was horribly at fault for two of Atalanta's goals on Thursday.

Alisson is on the brink of a return, but the Irishman will deputise once more tomorrow, determined to right his recent wrongs. He's still an excellent player between the sticks.

2 RB – Conor Bradley

Like Alisson, the influential Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the cusp of a comeback but will likely start from the bench, with Conor Bradley more than capable of performing to a high standard in his stead.

The 20-year-old has been one of the biggest success stories of the campaign and is truly wonderful, ranking among the top 15% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 1% for tackles and blocks per 90, as per FBref.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate was another at fault last time out, but he's a top-class defender and will be confident that he can also rectify his dismal display in Europe.

Fast-rising Jarell Quansah has been largely excellent this season but he might be benched once more for this one after his mistake at Old Trafford, with his French counterpart required to ensure that Liverpool have the best chance of success.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

There's a bit of a tiring theme here. Virgil van Dijk was uncharacteristically poor against Atalanta, but the club captain has been one of the finest players in the Premier League this season and will be vital in controlling and commanding from the back.

5 LB – Andy Robertson

Replacing the struggling Kostas Tsimikas at half-time on Thursday, Andy Robertson brought some pace and energy to the team, and it is crucial that he returns from the outset against Oliver Glasner's side.

The Scotland skipper has had a tough time this season, injured for a large portion and not quite at his barnstorming best, but he's still one of the finest left-backs around and averages 2.5 key passes and 4.2 ball recoveries per top-flight game this season, as per Sofascore.

6 DM – Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister is a strong contender for Liverpool's Player of the Year award and has been the catalyst behind his side's success in their title-chasing endeavours over the past few months.

Manchester United (A)

2-2 draw

90'

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

3-1 win

90'

1

0

Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

2-1 win

90'

0

1

Manchester City (H)

1-1 draw

90'

1

0

Nottingham Forest (A)

1-0 win

90'

0

1

Luton Town (H)

4-1 win

89'

0

2

Brentford (A)

4-1 win

83'

1

0

While it's not his preferred position, Wataru Endo seemed leggy in the previous fixture, and the Argentine must now deputise in the holding midfield role. He's definitely up for the task.

7 CM – Harvey Elliott

Klopp might be tempted to give Dominik Szoboszlai the nod at Anfield this weekend, but the Hungarian was shocking off the bench in midweek and Harvey Elliott is deserving of just his seventh Premier League start of the campaign.

Klopp must drop Liverpool’s 3/10 struggler who was worse than Nunez

The Reds suffered a chastening Anfield defeat in the Europa League vs Atalanta.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 12, 2024

The 21-year-old is creative and clever in his midfield play and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, as well as in the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90.

8 CM – Curtis Jones

Klopp was as surprised as anyone when Curtis Jones looked fatigued at half-time against Atalanta, but the dynamic midfielder has been languishing on the sidelines over the past few months.

Still, he's an immense technical outlet – hailed for his "phenomenal" ball-retention ability by analyst Raj Chohan – and will be vital in establishing early control and fluency in the engine room, facilitating the success of his forward-positioned peers.

9 RW – Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah will need to be at his prolific best against a Crystal Palace side that will employ disruptive defensive tactics, seeking to break down and frustrate Liverpool's sharp attack while threatening on the counter.

He's certainly got the tools in his locker, having posted 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season. Salah has also bagged 13 goal contributions in as many matches against the Eagles, winning ten.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

He's been one of Liverpool's most consistent performers over the past several months, and Luis Diaz will be needed to stretch and sap the Palace backline, electric-paced down the left wing.