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Former Leeds United star David Norris believes that the club are currently struggling to find a Plan B as their Premier League woes continue.

The club are currently in the bottom three and have yet to win a game this term ahead of the clashes with Watford, Wolves, and Southampton.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have been on the wrong end of two thrashings this term, too, as they were beaten 5-1 by Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season, and also beaten 3-0 by Liverpool.

Bielsa, of course, is something of a purist when it comes to the way he plays the game, and he continually instructs his players to push into the top end of the pitch, regardless of the scoreline.

Leeds attack throughout their games, even with the team being battered, but Norris does not believe that Plan A is currently working.

He admits that the club are beginning to worry him as they struggle to win matches in the top-flight.

He said: “They’re struggling for a Plan B.

“At this stage now, it is a little bit worrying. You’d like to think it’s not going to be one of those seasons where they’re going to be in the relegation zone or really struggle for it but they’re struggling and the longer it goes on, the more worrying it gets.”

The agent of Donny van de Beek has revealed that he was in talks with Everton in regards to a move during the transfer window, but a switch was vetoed by Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Business done on final day

On the final day of the transfer window, the Toffees completed the signing of Salomon Rondon from Dalian Professional.

However, it seems that they also were interested in capturing the services of the £27m-valued Netherlands international (Transfermarkt) from the Red Devils.

The Latest: Van de Beek speaks to Toffees

Speaking to Ziggo Sport (via The Daily Express), Van de Beek’s representative Guido Albers revealed talks with the Merseyside club. He said:

“We took the initiative to find a club and our search ended up at Everton. We opened talks with Marcel Brands and Farhad Moshiri.

“On Monday night [before deadline day] we received a call from Solskjær and the club who told us that a transfer was out of the question and that he had to report himself to training the next morning.

“The perspective now is that we stated that Donny is not a Carabao Cup player, or FA Cup player, or to play only in European games.”

The Verdict: Crying shame

Although he made the move to Old Trafford from Ajax in September 2020 for a fee of £35m (BBC), Van de Beek has had to make do with a bit-part role at the club. He managed just 36 appearances in all competitions last season, the majority of which came from the bench, and he has yet to feature for a single minute in the current campaign (Transfermarkt).

He has often impressed whenever he has featured, though, with Owen Hargreaves calling him “close to perfect” after a match in the Champions League against Istanbul Basaksehir last autumn.

At Everton, you would have thought he would be close to a guaranteed starter under Rafael Benitez. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may eventually be ready to incorporate the midfielder into his plans, it feels like a transfer would have been the 24-year-old’s best chances of playing regularly, and he would have brought plenty of quality to Goodison Park judging by Hargreaves’ glowing praise.

In other news, Everton also wanted to sign this England international during the transfer window.

If Bruno Lage admits that his options in the Wolves senior squad are slim this season then he can only have the powers above him to blame.

After all, the Old Gold have sent no fewer than 20 individuals out on loan during the 2021/22 season.

Of course, the vast majority of those players will have no chance of making it in the Wolves first-team this term but there are a few faces who could have made an impact.

Christian Marques has long been tipped to make a senior breakthrough while Morgan Gibbs-White would offer plenty from offensive areas if he wasn’t on loan at Sheffield United.

The latter has made a fantastic impact in the Championship so far and has two goals and an assist to show for his two outings so far.

However, another player making a huge splash in the second tier is Ryan Giles.

The left-sided winger has only been seen in the Wolves first team on one occasion but has been sent out on loan throughout the football league a number of times now.

Though, it now appears that Giles is making his biggest impact yet with Cardiff City.

The 21-year-old has recently sustained an injury that will rule him out for a few weeks but before picking up that problem, he was nothing short of exceptional on the flanks.

In just five appearances for the Bluebirds, the youngster has registered four assists and racked up a mightily impressive 3.2 key passes a game.

No player in the Championship has supplied more goals for their teammates than the Wolves loanee while only two players have amassed more key passes a match.

It’s been a particularly vibrant term so far for a player who could thrive in Lage’s team.

He needs players capable of providing goal-scoring opportunities and if you trust his chance creation this season, he could be phenomenal alongside Raul Jimenez.

You only need to assess words from Cardiff’s Aden Flint to understand why. The defender said a few weeks ago: “His delivery is unbelievable, it’s on the money nearly every time.

“When balls are coming in like that, it’s a dream for us big lads.”

Jimenez thrives off service like that and thus, Giles could be game-changing for Wolves further down the line. They certainly have a future gem on their hands here.

AND in other news, Get rid: Wolves owned player who lost the ball every 3.4 touches endures UCL nightmare…

Aston Villa begin their Premier League season on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Hertfordshire as they face Watford at Vicarage Road.

Dean Smith’s side enjoyed a fine campaign last term, finishing just outside of the top ten, and have made some significant improvements to their squad over the summer transfer window.

A few of their new signings will be in line to feature, whether from the start or off the bench, and the Villa manager will have some tough calls to make for his side’s curtain raiser.

Below is a look at how Villa might line up when they face Watford today.

In goal, Emi Martinez will be hoping to enjoy another fine campaign in between the sticks after finishing last season in the Premier League with an impressive 15 clean sheets, enough to rank him third in the entire division.

The preferred back four of 2020/21 should also remain the same, with Matt Targett and Matty Cash occupying the two full-back positions and Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa resuming their centre-back partnership.

The big call Smith will need to make surrounds Ollie Watkins, with the Villa manager revealing that there is a doubt over his striker’s fitness. He said: “Ollie Watkins had a bang on his knee. He’s got some bone bruising so we’ll see if he’s pain-free today. If he is he’ll train and be available for tomorrow.”

If Watkins does indeed pass his late fitness check, then Smith may opt to go for the 4-4-2 that we’ve seen during pre-season, with Danny Ings partnering him up top for his first appearance for the club.

That could see fellow Villa debutant Emi Buendia line up on the right-hand side, which is where he was exclusively used by Norwich during their promotion-winning campaign from the Championship.

Ashley Young could make his second debut for Villa after his summer move, with the veteran’s experience and presence something which might be very helpful in what is likely to be a raucous Vicarage Road.

In midfield, Marvelous Nakamba should partner John McGinn, with the £50k-a-week earning Douglas Luiz not available due to international duties with Brazil over the summer.

Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Buendia, Nakamba, McGinn, Young; Ings, Watkins.

Meanwhile, this Villa star could now leave…

Serie A side Venezia have had a bid accepted for reported Celtic transfer target Thomas Henry, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Henry links

Henry, who was hailed as a ‘complete striker’ by Lokeren boss Karel Fraeye, was first linked with a move to Parkhead earlier this month, with reports suggesting that the Hoops were on the brink of winning the race for the Frenchman.

Rumours then cooled, before resurfacing after a move to Gent stalled, with reports suggesting that a move to Glasgow could be back on.

However, Celtic – who have also been linked to Georgios Giakoumakis and Kevin Nisbet – may now miss out on the OH Leuven marksman following a weekend development.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider, who were informed by an industry source, claimed on Saturday that Henry was flying to Italy after Venezia had an offer accepted for his services.

Henry has also agreed on personal terms with the Serie A outfit, who look set to pip both Celtic and Rangers to a deal for the 26-year-old.

The Verdict: Giakoumakis or Nisbet now?

With Celtic now seemingly set to miss out on Henry, it could be a case of looking at Giakoumakis and Nisbet. Should they bring in either of the two on a permanent deal, it may then allow the club to look to cash in on Odsonne Edouard, who is into the final 12 months of his Parkhead contract.

Giakoumakis is valued at £3m, whereas Celtic are thought to be weighing up a player-plus-cash move for Nisbet, so the Hoops could be busy in the final days of the window. Either way, it’s time to move on from Henry now that he’s seemingly Venezia-bound.

In other news: Celtic set to sign another defender, find out who it is here. 

New Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira could return cap in hand to former club Arsenal this summer after being linked with a move for winger Reiss Nelson.

What’s the story?

According to The Sun, the Eagles want to sign the 21-year-old on loan over the coming months as they continue to overhaul their first team squad.

Nelson struggled for game-time last term and is not expected to be part of Mikel Arteta’s plans at the Emirates Stadium this time around, meaning that an imminent exit could be on the cards.

Heir to Andros Towsend

The England under-21 international burst onto the scene in 2018/19 when he contributed to nine goals in 31 appearances for Hoffenheim during a season-long loan spell with the Bundesliga outfit.

However, Nelson failed to reproduce his impressive performances upon his return to north London, finding himself behind the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Willian and Bukayo Saka in the Arsenal pecking order.

In 39 outings over the last two seasons, the £8.1m-rated wing wizard has found the back of the net on just six occasions, laying on a further four assists, not the sort of return which is going to force himself into the Gunners’ starting line-up.

Despite his struggles at his boyhood club, Nelson has shown glimpses of his lofty potential in an Arsenal shirt, drawing praise from Arteta.

“We have pace in a few players up front. Reiss (Nelson) is a special player and can eliminate players one on one. He’s been out for a while, but he’s back now, and he showed what he’s capable of doing,” said the Spanish tactician following an impressive 2-0 FA Cup win at Portsmouth in March 2020.

Last summer, fellow Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette also chimed in with high praise for his team-mate, saying: “He is a big talent and does a lot of work behind [the scenes]. I trust in him, he is working a lot in every training session.”

With Andros Townsend departing Selhurst Park on a free transfer following a five-year stint in south London, the Eagles are on the search for his successor to fill the right-wing berth, and Nelson could be the ideal candidate.

He’s young, fast and exciting, perfectly fitting the bill for the new profile of player the Eagles are targeting in the current window and giving them a much-needed option on that side of the pitch.

The likes of Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen and Conor Gallagher have already joined Vieira’s new-look Palace ahead of the upcoming campaign, and hopefully Nelson can be the next fresh face to arrive at the capital club.

In other news… Parish must sanction Palace swoop for 23 y/o wizard with “unbelievable quality” 

A number of West Brom supporters are excited about the prospect of striker Daryl Dike potentially joining the Baggies this summer.

Valerien Ismael got his West Brom reign underway on Friday night, watching his side draw 2-2 away to Bournemouth in an entertaining Championship encounter.

The Baggies are already one of the favourites to be promoted to the Premier League this season, but that doesn’t mean new signings aren’t required to further enhance the squad.

According to the Express & Star, West Brom are eyeing up a move for American attacker Dike, who currently plays for Orlando City.

The 21-year-old impressed hugely during a loan spell with Barnsley last season, scoring nine goals in 21 league appearances and helping the Tykes reach the Championship playoffs.

West Brom fans excited about potential Dike signing

News of West Brom’s rumoured interest in Dike has gone down well with these Baggies fans on Twitter, who provided their positive thoughts on the update.

“The more I see and read of this Daryl Dike, the more I’m impressed. Nine goals in 19 games for Barnsley, 2 player of the month awards in a 5-month loan spell, looks a right handful in the videos from last season. Get him in”

Credit: @danwba27891

“Daryl Dike looks like exactly the player we need. Power, strength, decent in the air and with a good touch. Yes please”

Credit: @uber_foods

“Sounds like Dike is feasible if we could get him in that would be ideal and then we really do need to look into midfielders”

Credit: @_Simonian

“Dike. One in 2 for Barnsley. Knows the system. Very little time for him to get up to speed. No brainer”

Credit: @JWba1996

“We won’t lose a game this year if we sign Dike”

Credit: @FreddyG1011

“Dike is a better signing for WBA than Delap for numerous reasons; 1) experienced at this level already. 2) knows the current manager and how he works. 3) we can get a long-term recruit. Loan to buy. Which isn’t an option with Delap”

Credit: @beechyboy90

In other news, a pundit has given an update on the future of one West Brom player. Find out who it is here.

An update has emerged regarding the future of Helder Costa at Leeds United.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, super-agent Jorge Mendes is working on a deal to get the 27-year-old out of Elland Road this summer. Mendes is trying to find a new club for the Portuguese winger and believes that his best bet could come from La Liga.

The report claims that Marcelo Bielsa is willing to let Costa leave, although it remains to be seen how much of the £15m they paid Wolves for his services they will be able to recoup in the coming weeks.

Fans will be buzzing

Leeds fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it seems to indicate than exit for Costa is not too far away from happening. Mendes is trying to faciliate a move for the former Wolves attacker and the time is right for him to go following on from his performances in the Premier League last season.

Whilst the likes of Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison were able to make the step up to playing regular top-flight football, Costa found it difficult to compete at the top level. The aforementioned trio all averaged WhoScored ratings of 6.87 or higher, whilst each scored eight goals or more in the league.

Costa, on the other hand, averaged a dismal rating of 6.32 and scored just three times in the Premier League, with two of thise coming in his second appearance of the campaign. This shows that he was not able to perform consistently, either in his general performances or with his goal contributions.

Speaking earlier this year, former Leeds player Noel Whelan branded Costa as a massive flop and said that he has been a disappointment at the club. He told Football Insider: “The one player that disappointed me was Helder Costa.

“He is fourth in the pecking order in terms of wingers for me. Poveda has to come before him now. He is direct, exciting and wants to take people on. He wants to do his job as a winger and Costa does not.

“He plays it safe and he’s negative. For a player that cost £16million I need to see a hell of a lot more from him.

“Costa has been a massive flop. A real disappointment again.”

Therefore, Leeds fans may be glad to see that Costa could be on his way out the door in the coming weeks. The club will be letting go of a player who does not have the quality to be a key member of Bielsa’s team in the Premier League next season, and selling him could free up funds to improve on his position. Victor Orta could rake in the money from the £36,000-per-week flop and use it to sign a forward who is capable of competing with the likes of Harrison and Dallas.

AND in other news, Leeds must act swiftly to land £13.5m-rated magician, he’d be an upgrade on Klich…

Crystal Palace must revive their interest in Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham this summer, with the Blues reportedly willing to consider any offers for the 23-year-old.

What’s the story?

The Eagles were first linked with a move for the England international back in 2018 and have been keeping an eye on the 6 ft 2 forward ever since.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are set to demand £40 million for Abraham over the coming months after he was deemed surplus to requirement by Thomas Tuchel.

However, the report also states that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and West Ham United are interested in acquiring his signature, meaning chairman Steve Parish may have to move quickly to secure his services.

Crystal Palace need him

Abraham first rose to prominence during an extremely productive loan spell with Aston Villa in the Championship during 2018/19 when he bagged 25 goals in 37 league appearances for the Midlands outfit.

And he evidently still has some admirers from his time at Villa Park, with club captain Jack Grealish revealing his admiration for his former teammate last year.

In a Q&A session on his Instagram, Grealish admitted he could not believe the levels Abraham showcased during his time with the Villans, writing: “Unbelievable. Couldn’t believe how good he was with the ball for how tall he is. Loved playing with him.”

However, despite impressing under former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, the highly-rated attacker has struggled for game time under Tuchel.

Abraham made just two Premier League starts under the enigmatic German manager last term and was substituted at half-time on both occasions. He subsequently failed to make the matchday squad for either the FA Cup final or the Champions League final, indicating his time in west London is coming to an end.

But Palace could offer the youngster a way out of his Stamford Bridge nightmare.

The Eagles are currently undergoing a major overhaul of the first-team squad under Patrick Vieira, with Joachim Andersen expected to join new arrivals Marc Guehi and Michael Olise in south London.

Despite their strong early showing in the current window, Palace are still in need of extra attacking reinforcements following the departures of Michy Batshuayi and Andros Townsend.

Adding Abraham to Vieira’s ranks would significantly boost the French tactician’s options, meaning Parish must revive his interest in the colossus before a domestic rival makes their move.

And, in other news…“Excellent signing” – Matt Woosnam reacts as Palace deal confirmed, he’s a big upgrade 

Noel Whelan reckons that Harry Kane will almost certainly depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this window [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Kane crucial to Spurs success in 2021/22

Plenty of onlookers, Spurs fans or not, will be intrigued to see what shirt Kane is wearing come the start of the season.

Despite being a boyhood supporter of the club, long-standing reports have linked the England international with a ground-breaking move to Premier League rivals Manchester City [Manchester Evening News].

Given his alleged desire to leave, Lilywhites fans could be in for a tumultuous few weeks once Kane returns from England duty.

The Latest: Whelan reckons Tottenham have ‘no chance’ of keeping their star man

Former Leeds striker Whelan has backed Kane to jump ship this summer in a recent interview with Football Insider. Commenting on the goal machine’s prospective future aspirations, the 46-year-old stated:

“They have no chance of keeping Kane. I know Tottenham fans will hate to hear that but it is the truth.

“Kane has made it quite clear why he wants to leave and his reasons are good enough for me.

“Spurs are not going to win anything significant in the next few years. They will be playing in this Europa Conference League next season, that is not place for Harry Kane.

“This taste of the European Championships will only deepen his desire to leave Spurs. He wants to compete at the top level every week. He wants to be in the Champions League and competing for the Premier League.

“His career has been amazing but he has nothing to show for it yet. I cannot see him staying there, not for the new manager or the new director of football.

“Kane wants to win things and Tottenham are miles off it at the moment.” [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Hard to disagree…

On balance, Whelan correctly points out the temptation that could creep into the Tottenham skipper’s head should interest in his services continue to develop in prominent circles.

As Tottenham Hotspur prepare for life in the UEFA Conference League, he may envisage testing his European credentials at a higher level.

One of the best players in the Premier League, he registered an unbelievable 50 goal contributions from 49 appearances for the Lilywhites [Transfermarkt] last season.

Further illustrative of his abilities, he recorded the highest rating out of the WhoScored Premier League 2020/21 team of the season, averaging 7.8 out of 10 across the 20/21 campaign.

Only time will tell with regards to Kane’s eventual decision, but you feel Tottenham will have to show some incredible ambition in the transfer market to convince him to stay.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with a 28-year-old defender.