Category Uncategorized

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been offered an apology on talkSPORT from Simon Jordan who had previously doubted the 45-year-old.

Are Newcastle shocking the league?

The arrival of new owners on Tyneside promised a new dawn for the Toon Army, however, the speed in which Newcastle have been able to close the gap on the 'big six' has been staggering.

Granted, they have been helped in some sense by the hugely underwhelming campaigns for Chelsea and Liverpool which has them both well below their expected levels.

But Newcastle have been there to capitalise on the errors of others and that can be seen in recent weeks having leapfrogged the likes of Tottenham Hotspur who are enduring their own issues.

There can be no doubting the levels of the three sides aforementioned have been below par over the course of the 2022/23 campaign, but that is not Newcastle's issue.

Howe has his Newcastle side well-drilled and has been able to extract the best out of the players he has got as well as recruiting players who are proving to be instant hits on Tyneside.

As Newcastle sit in third and open a gap on fifth-spot, Jordan has issued the 45-year-old an apology on Thursday's talkSPORT show for previously doubting him:

"With all due respect to him, I was wrong about his appointment. Because he's gone in there, he's caught this wave, and he's ridden it. And more than ridden it. He's directed it.

"And he's now coming out as a far better manager than I envisaged he was. Now that's great when you're in ascendancy, and we haven't yet seen any kinks or any bumps in the road, but there's nothing to indicate that we're going to right now.

"It's been a direction of travel that's been upward since he's walked through the door. But he's been responsible for that."

How good has the appointment of Howe been?

The Newcastle boss was selected by PIF having previously left his role at Bournemouth after he was unable to keep them afloat in the Premier League.

So it would only be natural to think the 45-year-old's appointment could have been viewed as a short-term option to steady the ship from Steve Bruce's reign.

However, there was an almost instant improvement on Tyneside after Howe's appointment after he took Newcastle from 19th in the table – without a league win – and see them finish in 11th spot last season.

And this season has seen the Magpies continue from where they left off last season and go on to hold the league's best defensive record.

The Toon conceded 62 goals last season, however, this season – with 10 games left – they have allowed in fewer than a third of that total with just 20 goals conceded.

There have been a number of additions to Newcastle's side under PIF's reign, but there has to be a lot of credit given to Howe for the development of some of the players he inherited.

The likes of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton have both been transformed under Howe to become regular starters who have had a huge impact on Howe's Newcastle side.

Newcastle have by no means secured their spot in the top four just yet, but they are certainly heading in that direction and Howe is rightfully getting a lot of the credit for their impressive campaign.

A collection of Arsenal fans on Twitter have been left blown away by just how much Oleksandr Zinchenko loves the club after footage emerged of him celebrating a recent win.

What did Zinchenko do after Arsenal beat Palace?

In the Premier League this weekend, the Gunners managed to extend their lead at the top of the division to eight points with a victory over Crystal Palace.

Having just sacked former Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as manager, the Eagles looked pretty lost at the Emirates. Indeed, they conceded four away from home thanks to a brace from Bukayo Saka and further efforts from Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka.

The win now means Mikel Arteta and his side have a considerable lead at the top of the league table, although Manchester City do have a game in hand.

As per usual, Zinchenko put in another fine display at left-back as he picked up a 7.0 match rating vvia SofaScore. What’s more, he finished the game with a 96% pass accuracy (47/49), completing two out of two attempted long balls and losing the ball just three times.

It was a near-flawless defensive display, winning three out of four ground duels and 100% aerial duels, making two tackles, one interception, and blocking one shot.

Evidently, it was a good day out for the defender and he was more than happy to celebrate after the game when driving past a pub packed full of Gooners and leaning out of the window to cheer widely.

Zinchenko is well-known to be a genuine Arsenal fan, so it might not be a shock to see him so fired up but his behaviour certainly impressed supporters online nonetheless.

Here are some of the best reactions…

Tottenham are reportedly monitoring the progress of Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse ahead of a potential summer move.

The Lowdown: Ward-Prowse on the move?

The Englishman has possibly been Saints’ standout player in a season full of struggles, with the south coast side currently sitting 19th in the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse has eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) in the league in 2022/23 to date, showcasing his world-renowned free-kick-taking ability with a winner at Chelsea last month.

With Saints potentially getting relegated this season, the 28-year-old could be looking for a fresh challenge and he has been linked with a move away recently.

The Latest: Spurs eyeing up move

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, Daniel Levy and Co are ‘monitoring’ Ward Prowse’s situation at Saints currently, with a possible summer switch on the cards.

Southampton are resigned to losing their skipper if they are relegated, and Spurs have recently been hit hard by injuries in their midfield department.

The Verdict: Could be a top signing

Ward-Prowse, who actually has an impressive eight direct goal involvements against Spurs, is a top-quality footballer who has arguably been playing at a lower level than his talent merits for some time now, considering he is an 11-cap England international.

The £100,000-a-week midfielder has shown great loyalty to Saints, but at 28, now feels like the time to test himself elsewhere and Tottenham could be ideal for him.

Ward-Prowse would come straight in as a key man, having racked up 330 Premier League appearances and been called ‘phenomenal’ by former teammate Charlie Austin.

His technical ability is nicely complemented by a tenacious edge – he averages 1.7 tackles per game in the league this season – and he could help Spurs’ midfield look more formidable moving forward.

Leeds United could now be on the verge of ending their manager search…

What is the latest news on Leeds’ manager search?

According to renowned journalist Phil Hay of The Athletic, the Yorkshire outfit are set to appoint former Watford boss Javi Gracia.

He tweeted:

“Leeds United set to confirm Javi Gracia as their new head coach. Interview with him went well and deal should be finalised shortly. Arrives with the initial target of staving off relegation.”

Is Javi Gracia a suitable appointment for Leeds?

It’s clear that the Whites’ quest to find a suitable replacement for Jesse Marsch has become a little desperate, having had several names ruled out of the running for one reason or another.

The likes of former Marcelo Bielsa assistant Carlos Corberan, his protege Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano, Arne Slot of Feyenoord and Alfred Schreuder have all been linked to the post, but to no avail.

Gracia has been out of work for around eight months, having left Qatar Stars League outfit Al-Sadd in the summer and has not coached in England since being sacked by Watford in September 2019.

During the 2018/19 campaign, the Spaniard guided the Hornets to safety and made the FA Cup final for the first time in 35 years but as is often the case in north London, he wasn’t able to last long in Gino Pozzo’s ruthless regime.

Overall, his time in the country drew just a 37.8% win rate from 66 matches, with that decreasing to just 32% in the Premier League alone.

With Leeds languishing in the relegation zone, Gracia will need to hit the ground running at Elland Road, though his track record makes it seem like that’ll be an even more arduous task, especially as Marsch’s win rate (29%) at the club was very similar.

It won’t be easy to get his ideas across quickly, considering the side had worked with the American for a whole year and in the past two weeks, with U21 boss Michael Skubala and that’ll only be a further detriment to their survival chances and thus, it could have been better to stick it out with the former RB Leipzig boss before making a change in the summer.

AND in other news, Radrizzani could all but seal Leeds’ relegation amid managerial reports on 40 y/o boss…

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos could still sign a new contract to remain at Ibrox Stadium, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Morelos’ future in doubt?

At the beginning of January, Stephen McGinn told the Go Radio Football Show Podcast that he thought Morelos’ time with the Gers was soon to be ‘over’, after more than five-and-a-half years at Ibrox, initially arriving in June 2017.

It was recently reported that Turkish club Konyaspor were ‘exploring the opportunity’ to sign the striker, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, however the latest update indicates that he is not interested in a move.

The Latest: Open to new deal

According to a report from Football Insider, the Colombian is not considering a move to Turkey before their transfer window closes on Wednesday, and he has knocked back interest.

It is then claimed that the 26-year-old is actually open to signing a new deal to remain with the Teddy Bears, with the club refusing to give up hope on extending his contract beyond the end of the season.

The Verdict: Get it done

‘El Bufalo’ has a fantastic record in front of goal at Rangers, netting on 121 occasions in 255 appearances, while he has also registered 56 assists in that time, displaying his playmaking talents.

There were signs earlier in the season that a move may have been the best outcome for both parties, with the marksman clearly out of favour with former manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, appearing from the bench in his first 11 Scottish Premiership outings.

However, the ‘terrific’ forward, as hailed by Sky Sports producer Andrew Dickson, has been given a new lease of life under Michael Beale, scoring five goals and recording three assists in his last seven league games.

As such, it is fantastic news that Morelos is now open to signing a new deal, and Rangers should look to offer him acceptable terms at the earliest opportunity.

Arsenal have made a breakthrough in their attempts to seal a third signing this January transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Gunners are in ‘pole position’ to sign Real Valladolid CF defender Ivan Fresneda in a £13m deal that would see the 18-year-old return to the LaLiga side on loan after holding positive talks.

Emirates chief Edu Gaspar has already secured two moves this month, signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion for £27m, as well as landing Jakub Kiwior in a £21m switch from Serie A outfit Spezia.

Another Edu masterclass

Whilst the north London giants will not reap the rewards of winning the race for the coveted teen’s signature this season, the long-term benefits will shine through one day, making it another likely masterstroke from the Brazilian sporting director.

Fresneda is a hugely promising talent, having initially come through the Real Madrid academy system before making his bow in LaLiga for the Blanquivioletas this campaign.

The Spain U19 international has gone onto play 12 times across the league and Copa del Rey, leading to Arsenal’s interest as the 6-foot dynamo’s average of 3.39 tackles (top 2%), 3.16 clearances (top 4%) and 1.52 interceptions (top 10%) per 90, which ranks among the elite in his role across Europe, via FBref.

Not to mention his “beastly ability” to deliver crosses from the flank, as once suggested by journalist Juan Arroita.

Indeed, Spanish football expert Matt Clark handed ChronicleLive a glowing endorsement of the 18-year-old gem earlier this month, claiming:

“Iván Fresneda has been one of the revelations of the season so far in LaLiga, standing out for newly-promoted Real Valladolid. He is a remarkably complete right-back despite his young age, balancing his defensive duties with the odd attack too.

“He has that coveted combination of physicality and technical ability. Tall but agile, quick and athletic, he is also strong in the tackle and reads the game very well for someone so green when it comes to first-team football.”

You could argue that the right-back position is still something of a problem, with central defender Benjamin White, 25, often finding himself deployed there over Takehiro Tomiyasu, 24, and neither may emerge as the true long-term candidate for the Gunners.

Fresneda – a “very special talent” in the eyes of ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge – could well be that man, so if Edu is to secure his signature after this major update, then he’s going to be onto a winner once again.

Few of his signings over the past 12 to 18 months have failed to pay off, so he ought to be trusted in his quest to sign the teenage sensation.

AND in other news, Edu could land dream Saka alternative by signing “magic” £55m gem who Arsenal admire…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly closing in on the signing of West Ham United defender Craig Dawson, having missed out on the Englishman during the summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, with the transfer insider revealing that an agreement has been reached to bring the 32-year-old to Molineux for a fee of around £3.3m.

Writing on Twitter about that impending move, the respected source stated: “#Wolves have agreed a £3.3m fee with #WHUFC for defender Craig Dawson and are hoping to get the deal completed in time for Sunday’s trip to #MCFC. Dawson is a long-term target who came close to joining in the summer.”

As noted by Crook, reports in the summer had suggested that the experienced centre-back was keen on joining the Midlands outfit, only for the Hammers to ultimately pull the plug on deadline day after failing to secure a replacement.

Coady 2.0

While the Old Gold did recruit Republic of Ireland international, Nathan Collins, during the summer window, the club were left somewhat depleted defensively after the reliable trio of Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and Conor Coady were all allowed to depart under Bruno Lage’s watch.

The exit of the latter man, in particular, proved particularly surprising as the long-serving skipper was allowed to join current relegation rivals Everton on loan, after having racked up 317 appearances for Wolves since 2015.

The old-school defender was undoubtedly something of a leader for the club both on and off the pitch, having led “by example” according to Lage, who also described him as “one of the best” back in March.

That importance to the side was laid bare last season as the England international started all 38 games for the club in the Premier League, keeping 11 clean sheets in that time and averaging 3.7 clearances per game to illustrate his defensive prowess.

The 29-year-old also proved something of a threat in an attacking sense in the 2021/22 campaign, having recorded a respectable haul of four league goals from his centre-back berth.

Current boss Julen Lopetegui could well find Coady 2.0 by bringing in the aforementioned Dawson, with the no-nonsense “warrior” – as lauded by West Ham boss David Moyes – also proving influential in both boxes.

The versatile rock – who can feature at the heart of the defence or at right-back – is evidently a player willing to put his body on the line for his side, with the former Watford man ranking in the top 6% among his European peers for blocks made.

Equally, the £45k-per-week brute – who has averaged 3.3 clearances and 1.3 tackles in eight top-flight games this season – is also something of a weapon in the opposition penalty area, having scored nine goals in 87 games for the Irons in all competitions.

Although, like Coady, the Rochdale-born machine may not be the most glamourous of names, he does offer that workmanlike and hard-nosed defensive resilience that could well prove vital in the scrap for survival.

On the evidence of his form at the London Stadium in recent years, Dawson could well emerge as a truly astute, bargain capture for Lopetegui and co.

Sunderland have been dealt a ‘big blow’ with the news that loanee Ellis Simms is returning to Everton as soon as the transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Simms impresses for Sunderland

The 21-year-old joined the Black Cats during the summer transfer window and he has made a big impression during the first half of this season.

Simms has scored seven goals in 14 Championship starts, also registering two assists, with pundit Lee Hendrie describing him as ‘brilliant’ last month.

There have been strong rumours of the youngster returning to Everton, however, with Frank Lampard lacking options in his struggling squad.

The Latest: Everton return confirmed

Taking to Twitter on New Year’s Eve, Hunter confirmed that Simms is heading back to Goodison Park, and the reporter was seemingly gutted by the news:

“It’s official. Big blow for #safc, Ellis Simms has been excellent in the first half of the season – despite his injury.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-8/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Huge blow for Black Cats

There is no denying that this is a massive worry for the Black Cats, with Simms such an influential performer this season – only Ross Stwart has outscored him in the league, and he himself has been linked with an exit.

It has the potential to have a major impact on Tony Mowbray’s side’s promotion chances and it is imperative that they sign a tailor-made replacement in the January transfer window to make up for his exit.

Sunderland could find it tough to sign a loanee who has as much of an impact but it would be negligent not to bring in someone to fill the Simms-shaped void.

West Ham were heavily linked with signing Wout Weghorst in January of this year and will perhaps be regretting missing out on the giant striker after his phenomenal World Cup display against Argentina.

The Hammers were said to be keen on bringing the former Wolfsburg man to the Premier League last season but would eventually lose out to Burnley in the race to sign him.

While his time with the Clarets proved to be unsuccessful, as his two top-flight goals weren’t enough to keep the Lancashire side from dropping into the Championship, he showed exactly what he is capable of in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final.

With Louis van Gaal’s side trailing 2-0 against Argentina in Qatar, the 6 foot 6 forward was sent on as the Dutch reverted to a route one style of play, which proved extremely effective in them taking the game to extra time and penalties.

Weghorst first met Steven Berghuis’ sumptuous cross with a brilliant header to make the game 2-1, before he benefitted from an incredible free-kick routine in the final moments to equalise, beating Emiliano Martinez with a well-taken finish.

Although the Netherlands would eventually lose on penalties, despite the 30-year-old also tucking his own penalty away with aplomb, he was undoubtedly the “hero” – in the words of journalist Alex Brotherton – for Oranje as they narrowly missed out on a spot in the semi-finals.

It is perhaps no surprise that he was to have such a big impact from the bench, given his impressive form in Turkey this season, where he is currently on loan with Besiktas.

The Burnley man has six goals and four assists in just 13 league appearances thus far, averaging a superb 7.35 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He has also enjoyed prolific spells with AZ Alkmaar and Wolfsburg in the past, so there is no reason why he couldn’t have been a success at the London Stadium had he joined the Hammers over Burnley.

Considering how desperate Moyes was for an alternative to Michail Antonio last season amid the run to the Europa League semi-final, the Scottish manager will perhaps regret not bringing the “crazy” Weghorst – as dubbed by Admir Mehmedi – to the east London side earlier this year.

Liverpool will look to go “all out” in their bid to reshape their midfield ranks, with England’s World Cup star Jude Bellingham a priority, according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth. 

The Lowdown: Bellingham’s constant rise

Ever since he burst onto the scene with Birmingham City in 2019, a constant theme with the £130m-valued teenager has been his consistent development. This is evident from his attribution metrics, which have seen him become one of the most well-rounded midfield assets in world football over the last few years despite still being only 19. 

Still a teenager, Bellingham has asserted himself as a talismanic figure for both Borussia Dortmund and England, catching the eye with his tremendous performances in Qatar over the last couple of weeks.

He has been on Liverpool’s radar well before then, although he is unsurprisingly wanted by a number of high-profile European clubs, as per The Athletic.

The Latest: Liverpool badly want Bellingham

According to Sheth, Liverpool may look to go “all out” to try and bring in a midfielder of Bellingham’s calibre. 

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “Arthur Melo could return to Juventus [at the end of his loan spell] and then they’ll go all out next summer to try and bring in someone like Jude Bellingham.

“I can’t see them spending huge, huge money on a midfielder if it isn’t someone that they’ve been chasing for a long time.

“As I’ve been saying, it’s very, very difficult for clubs to buy big-name players in the January transfer window. One, because of cost, and two, the selling club simply don’t like to do a deal when they’re in various competitions in the middle of the season.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-35/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Liverpool need him

Having proven himself as a standout player for England in the World Cup so far – he is their second-highest player by WhoScored rankings – Bellingham is clearly ready to make his mark in the Premier League, and you get the impression that his third season at Borussia Dortmund could well be his last.

Whilst it is very unlikely that a move would happen in January, the summer looks to be a safe bet to secure his services, and it’s hard to deny that Liverpool badly need him.

The Reds’ midfield has been cited as a weak point throughout the season so far, a situation not helped by injuries and the veteran age profile of some players in that position.

Therefore, Kopites will surely be glad to hear that the club are likely to do their utmost to try and sign him in 2023.