All posts by z3u9t.icu

With the Premier League entering the closing stages of the season, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce must surely now consider unleashing Elliot Anderson.The 18-year-old has been one of the shining lights of the club’s U23s this season, scoring five goals and providing a further assist in just nine games at Premier League 2 level.The Athletic’s Chris Waugh delivered a key update on where things currently stand with Anderson following the Magpies’ 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup earlier this week, saying: “Anderson continues to train with the NUFC first team and there have been suggestions that, with Steve Bruce’s side edging towards safety, the 18-year-old may get a few cameo appearances between now and the end of the season.”The attacking midfielder’s knack for breaking into the box and grabbing a goal is something Newcastle have only really seen from Joe Willock in recent weeks, with The Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder suggesting earlier in the season that Anderson is “knocking on Steve Bruce’s door now” thanks to his performance.

His former youth coach John Forrest, meanwhile, told The Athletic: “He knew how to dominate a game, which is a natural skill that’s hard to coach. He really was an outstanding footballer. He stood out, even then.”

Several of Anderson’s former Newcastle academy team-mates meanwhile have told The Athletic that, not only was he the “most talented player” in the team, he was also “supremely driven”.

Given the fact the Magpies appear to be safe from the drop, and that they have nothing really to play for, bringing in an academy talent like Anderson into the fold can just raise the energy and excitement levels at St James’ Park and also give him some valuable experience. Furthermore, it will allow Bruce to assess whether he thinks the youngster could be a viable option for him next season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle could sign their new Demba Ba in this star…

With Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips out for an extended spell, Marcelo Bielsa will be desperately searching for ways to ensure his side doesn’t miss their midfield talisman too much.

While it may be a bit of a leap for the Whites boss to chuck in a wholly unproven 19-year-old, Lewis Bate could well be the surprise answer to Leeds’ problem.

In fact, according to Ram Srinivas, co-founder of football analytics consultancy MRKT Insights, Bate has all the hallmarks of being someone to take over from Phillips in years to come.

He said: “Bate is a well-rounded deep-lying midfielder; he’s well capable of helping a team control possession, acting as a metronome to keep things ticking over as well as being very productive in build-up. He’s very positive in his passing and shows good awareness of the spaces opening up around him and team shape, which helps his team play out of a press and also attack the opposition in transition.

“All in all he’s just a multi-faceted midfielder whose biggest weakness is probably just his size but he more than makes up for it with his other qualities. He’s very well-suited to Bielsa-ball and probably capable of serving as an understudy to Kalvin Phillips.”

Dubbed as “very gifted” by The Athletic’s Phil Hay and as a “lovely passer” too, the 5 foot 8 Bate has predominantly spent the most of his time this season with the club’s U23s side in the Premier League 2 – out of the 14 games the Whites have played, the midfielder has completed the full 90 minutes in all but one.

The 19-year-old has featured mainly as either a central midfielder for the U23s and in a more holding role, and with a busy festive schedule for the first-team, may well fancy his chances of making the step-up.

While the January transfer window gives Bielsa the perfect opportunity to bring in players from the outside to strengthen his options in the middle of the park, giving Bate the chance to shine could turn out to be a masterstroke.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign a Rodrigo upgrade in this star…

As per reliable reporter Alasdair Gold, writing for football.london, there has been an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of yet another Juventus player in USA international Weston McKennie.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s Serie A shopping spree?

Over these final days of what has been a dramatic January transfer window at Spurs, it appears transfer chief Fabio Paratici has set his sights on raiding former club Juve.

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The Lilywhites are apparently in advanced talks over moves for both Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, meanwhile the Old Lady’s on loan striker Alvaro Morata has also been linked with a north London move.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is running out of time to improve his squad and make necessary adjustments as he aims to propel his new side back into the Champions League.

As such, Gold has now shared news on another Juve man who Paratici has made contact for.

The Latest: Tottenham talks held for McKennie…

According to the football.london journalist, the Spurs managing director has ‘also held talks’ in January with the entourage of their midfield maestro McKennie.

However, as explained by Gold, this potential move is deemed ‘unlikely’ despite Paratici being a ‘huge admirer’.

Turin boss Massimiliano Allegri is believed to be resistant over losing McKennie, who has starred for the Old Lady this season.

The Verdict: Blow for Spurs?

McKennie would have undoubtedly been a shrewd addition with the versatile 23-year-old possessing an abundance of desirable traits.

The Texas-born ace can play in a variety of roles across midfield including defensive, box-to-box, on either flank and even at centre-half – killing many birds with one stone.

It’s little wonder Juve reportedly value McKennie at around £35m, and if his plaudits are anything to go by, you could argue they’re within their rights to demand a greater fee.

Called an ‘outstanding talent’ by former Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner, who managed the player at Schalke, McKennie also lifted the lid on how his old coach in the States branded him a ‘little tank’.

Perhaps he is one for Spurs to revisit in future, but with the window nearing it’s closure, it appears the starlet is out of bounds for now.

In other news: Romano shares late Saturday night development as Spurs table ‘official’ bid for another player, find out more here.

Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, met on Monday and decided against a circuit breaker over the festive period.

Villa shared the Premier League’s statement on their official Twitter channel, with a number of supporters reacting to the update.

Villa have been hit with a rapid rise of virus cases and had to cancel their match against Burnley on Saturday. The club had requested for the game to be called off at 10:30am on Saturday morning, but the fixture wasn’t officially postponed until 12:40pm, with little more than two hours to the scheduled kick-off time.

It was the sixth and final top-flight match to be postponed over the weekend (and the 10th in the space of a week) due to the pandemic, but the Premier League confirmed that it is ‘collective intention to continue the current fixture schedule where safely possible’.

That means Villa’s Boxing Day meeting with Chelsea is still on at this moment in time despite the outbreak at Bodymoor Heath.

Villa fans react

Here is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with many not happy regarding the statement, which one supporter described as a “joke” in the increasingly worrying circumstances.

“Looks like I’ll be ready to go and then end up in the pub again lol, feel sorry for people that travel a far distance for them to call it off last minute, the Premier league are a joke”

Credit: @SamBrogan3

“’The health and wellbeing of all concerned remains our priority…’ Complete lies”

Credit: @Sayers8

“Gonna spread like wildfire. But money must come first”

Credit: @ajsfounded71

“So half a squad for Boxing Day’s game… Isolation is 10 days”

Credit: @VillaCannock

“If that’s case we probs have to field half the team with youth players, guarantee if it was other way around with Chelsea the game would’ve already been postponed”

Credit: @Hellyer7

“Looking after the so called big six again!”

Credit: @austinw1957

In other news: ‘On my knees’ – Many Aston Villa fans erupt as Lange makes ‘bold’ January transfer bid

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has shared some information from his sources regarding promising Tottenham youngster Dane Scarlett – with the talkSPORT regular hearing that he is ‘amazing’ and ‘definitely’ going to be a star. 

Scarlett, who manager Jose Mourinho himself lauded as a ‘diamond’, has built up quite a reputation according to Agbonlahor – who says that Scarlett is known as an ‘amazing player’ by his ‘sources’.

Agonlahor lifts lid on Scarlett

Mourinho has tipped the 16-year-old to have a bright future after giving him his league debut against West Bromwich Albion last month (Evening Standard).

He broke a Tottenham record by becoming their youngest ever Premier League player, and just a few weeks later, he shone in a brief cameo against Wolfsberger – going on to assist a strike for summer signing Carlos Vinicius.

Now, Agbonlahor has lifted the lid on Scarlett from one of his sources – who say he is ‘going to be a star’ in what is ‘good news for Spurs’.

“I’ve heard about him. I’ve heard from my sources that he’s an amazing player and he’s definitely going to be a star,” explained Agbonlahor to Football Insider.

“Having confidence from Jose Mourinho, he knows. He’s been around the game long enough to know a special player. If he sees somebody at 16 being so good he’s going to improve so much over the next few years.

“It’s good news for Spurs because Spurs don’t create too many homegrown players from their academy as much as other clubs.”

Transfer Tavern take

Time will tell whether Scarlett does live up to his potential, but it will certainly be interesting to see given how highly he is rated by those at the club and Mourinho himself.

Perhaps his emergence could prevent the Lilywhites from splashing out a big fee to make Vinicius a permanent signing this summer.

In other news: Tottenham have been touted to make a ‘big signing’, find out more here.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has refused to rule out defender Willy Boly ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester City.

Boly has missed the past four Premier League matches with a minor injury.

But on Monday afternoon, he was pictured limbering up at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, raising hopes that he may be involved at the Etihad (via @WolvesFC_latest).

Nuno coy on Boly fitness

Nuno had this to say as he addressed the press earlier in the day about his injured players (via @alexedicken):

“You can assume (they are out)… but you cannot be sure,” five words that Dicken felt were ‘a little teaser’.

Three other injury concerns for Wolves

Wolves will very likely remain without two key players, though. Daniel Podence will be sidelined until the middle of March, while Raul Jimenez is still being gradually reintegrated after fracturing his skull in the autumn.

Boly and Jimenez were both part of a Wolves side that claimed a smash-and-grab victory at the Etihad early last season.

Defender Marcal is the final notable absentee after undergoing surgery on an adductor injury (via Premier Injuries).

Transfer Tavern verdict

Ultimately, it makes little sense to rush Boly back for this one, if that is what Wolves are considering.

They have coped well without the Frenchman during his most recent lay-off, with two wins and two draws over the four games.

And while they will be eyeing a repeat of the last season’s heroics, this isn’t exactly a crucial fixture in Wolves’ season – Manchester City away will not define the campaign.

The weekend trip to Villa Park, on the other hand, means a great deal more. Caution should be exercised with one eye on that Saturday evening clash.

In other news, Andre Silva reacts to reported Wolves interest.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to sign Mexican forward Hirving Lozano from Napoli this summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to Napoli Today, who claim that Wolves have been ‘following’ the 26-year-old for some time.

The winger joined the Italian club from PSV Eindhoven for a reported £36m in the summer of 2019 and hasn’t really lived up to the price tag with 25 goals and 12 assists in 110 appearances for the Serie A outfit.

However, Lozano could be reunited with current-Wolves striker and Mexico teammate Raul Jimenez at club level, with the latter making his desire to play alongside the forward, nicknamed ‘Chucky’, in Bruno Lage’s side.

Imagine him & Jimenez

Despite still being able to qualify for European football next season with Wolves sat in eighth, Lage’s men have struggled in the final third this term.

Only Brighton, Burnley, Watford and Norwich have scored fewer than the West Midlands outfit’s 33 Premier League goals this term in 32 matches.

Therefore, adding reinforcements to the attack would certainly be shrewd going into the new season as relying on the defence to be as colossal as it has been this campaign next is unsustainable.

Granted, the 26-year-old’s spell at Napoli has been incredibly inconsistent with his first season seeing the Mexican score five goals in 39 matches before a much-improved 15 in 43 matches last term before scoring just five all season this term.

However, having linked up with Jimenez on numerous occasions for the national team, Wolves could reap the rewards of reuniting the Mexico internationals at club level.

The £31.5m-rated 30-year-old has also endured a mixed season this term, scoring just six goals upon a miraculous return from a skull fracture.

Lozano has been subject to praise from his coach Luciano Spalleti, who called the winger “unique”, as well as midfield legend and Barcelona manager Xavi, who said he’s a footballer who is “capable of making a difference.”

There is certainly a risk by signing the 26-year-old, however, with the Mexican at a great age to still improve whilst also having plenty of experience and Wolves needing extra quality in the final third, it would certainly be a gamble worth making.

AND in other news: Forget Raul: Wolves must sign “special” 139-goal star who has the “mindset of a lion”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer has delivered his verdict on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future at Manchester United amid links to Mauricio Pochettino.

It’s safe to say that the Red Devils have endured a difficult start to the season after they were dumped out of the Champions League by RB Leipzig.

However, United have begun to turn their poor run of form around, as they shared the spoils with bitter rivals Manchester City before edging past Premier League strugglers Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last time out.

But Solskjaer has come under immense scrutiny in recent weeks, and Ed Woodward has failed to dampen the speculation, although recent reports emerged in the media that the board will continue to back the under-fire boss.

Yet this has done very little to halt the rumours and questions over his future at Old Trafford, with Pochettino waiting in the wings.

When asked if he thought United would target the former Tottenahm Hotspur manager, Palmer told Football FanCast’s Tom Ward:

“Well, the way they’re talking is that Solskjaer is safe until the summer. Don’t get me wrong, even with Ole being there, they’ll still be there or thereabouts finishing in the top four, because they’ve got talented individuals.

“But that’s not good enough for Manchester United. They should be challenging for the league and they’re going to be a long way off from that.

“Finishing in the top four doesn’t mean anything now. I mean, if you finish behind Liverpool, you’re going to be 20 points behind in second or third place.”

United play host to newly-promoted Leeds United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon as they look to resume their Pennines derby rivalry before they face Everton and Leicester City in quick succession in what could be a defining moment for Solskjaer’s managerial career.

He will be well aware that his side cannot afford to slip up, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Ed Woodward must sanction Manchester United swoop for Bayern Munich defender David Alaba…

Former Manchester United winger Keith Gillespie believes that the resignation of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is no surprise and has told The Transfer Tavern that he deserves immense criticism for his pursuit of Jadon Sancho.

The Borussia Dortmund winger was the club’s first-choice target in the summer transfer window, per The Athletic.

Sancho would have cost around €120m (£103.7m) but United, per the report, did not expect the Bundesliga club to stand firm on that price.

They did, and Sancho remained with Dortmund, where he has gone on to score six goals and lay on 11 assists in 23 league games.

Reports suggest United could go back in with another bid this summer and Gillespie believes that Woodward’s dithering has characterised the club’s transfer policy across the past few years.

He will stay in his role until the summer but he is not likely to be anywhere near the club’s recruitment plans in that transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to TT, he said: “Yeah it doesn’t surprise me at all, I think Man United fans have wanted him out for a long time.

“The transfer policy hasn’t been great over the last few years, the Sancho thing was just an absolute joke.

“If you know you’re not going to get him, or you know it’s going to take 10 million more, pay that, just don’t let it drag out and keep dragging all the way through.”

Dean Windass has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that he’d put money on Watford signing Ashley Young this summer.

The 35-year-old, who added another trophy to his collection by winning Serie A title Inter Milan last weekend, is out of contract at the San Siro at the end of the season, and will be available on a free.

And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Hornets have already opened talks about the possibility of bringing Young back to Vicarage Road.

Romano believes that should Inter decide against offering Young fresh terms, there is a “huge chance” that the former England international will return to Watford next season.

Young came through the Academy at Watford having joined as an eight-year-old and ended up spending four years there before joining Aston Villa.

His impressive form at Villa Park led to a dream move to Manchester United, where he ended up winning the FA Cup, Europa League and Premier League.

But Windass believes that it’s the right time for Young to return his old stomping ground.

He told The Transfer Tavern:

“He’s had a wonderful career. I’ll put a bet on at the bookies that he’ll end up at Watford. He’s still a relatively young man, probably wants to get back to London, where he started.

“That would be a great signing for Watford and a great signing for Ash. If the manager sees an interest in Ashley Young, I think he’d jump at the chance, especially now they’re back in the Premier League.”