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Manchester United's relentless run of April fixtures continues at home to Sevilla in the Europa League this evening, with the Red Devils hoping for revenge having been dumped out by the La Liga outfit in the last four of the same competition back in 2020.

Ahead of this quarter-final, first-leg clash at Old Trafford, manager Erik ten Hag has received some mixed team news with both Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay out of action through injury, while both Luke Shaw and Alejandro Garnacho also remained sidelined.

On a more positive note, however, the Dutchman will also be able to call upon influential Brazilian, Casemiro, with the 31-year-old having been absent of late after serving a four-game domestic suspension, while fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen is also in contention to start, having returned from his lengthy injury lay-off against Everton at the weekend.

With United having been without the Danish playmaker since January, it will be a real boost to welcome the summer arrival back into the fold for the end-of-season run-in, with the 31-year-old having chipped in with two goals and nine assists in 32 games in all competitions this term.

While there may be a clamour to see the former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford man returning to the starting lineup, it may not be particularly wise to rush the experienced ace back in too quickly, while the presence of loan signing Marcel Sabitzer has also ensured that a starting berth is no longer a mere formality for Eriksen.

Will Sabitzer start vs Sevilla?

It does appear that the on-loan Bayern Munich man is truly beginning to settle in his temporary home, with it looking as if the 29-year-old is doing all he can to secure a permanent deal at Old Trafford, amid reports that "talks" regarding a long-term stay at the club could be in the works.

Having scored his first goal for the Red Devils in the FA Cup triumph of Fulham prior to the international break, the 69-cap menace has continued that momentum since returning to club duty, notably providing a clever, headed assist for talisman Rashford in the 1-0 win over the Bees last week.

While the former RB Leipzig ace was not able to add to his tally of goal involvements against the Toffees last time out, the £13m-rated ace truly shone in his creative midfield berth, having been something of a "pressing machine", according to journalist Rob Blanchette.

With Bruno Fernandes dropping into a deep-lying role, the onus was on Sabitzer to lead the midfield charge alongside lone striker Rashford, with the winter arrival more than making his mark having 'thrived in an advanced role once again', according to Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The 5 foot 10 man's most notable contribution came in the second half as he teed up midfield colleague Fernandes with a delightful, dinked pass, while the one-time Rapid Wien ace was also a real 'goal threat', according to Luckhurst.

The all-action star truly 'worked his socks off' – as per 90min's Graeme Bailey – with that high-energy and front-foot approach having seemingly helped to breathe new life into Ten Hag's side, after something of a lull either side of the international break.

With Sabitzer looking "increasingly comfortable" in that partnership with Fernandes, as per Blanchette, it may be unwise to unsettle that combination by rushing back Eriksen later today.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Wolves central midfielder Ruben Neves in the summer.

The Lowdown: Familiar face…

Neves has played Newcastle nine times in his career so far, winning two of them, drawing six and losing just once, which came in Wolves’ 2-1 loss at St. James’ Park last weekend.

Despite the defeat, Neves was a standout performer on the pitch, as he managed a 100% dribble and long ball success, while no other player could match his impressive 97% pass accuracy (SofaScore).

He also scored in the 1-1 draw at Molineux earlier on in the season, and has proved to be a formidable foe for the North East club while he has been playing in the Premier League.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says that the Tynesiders are just one of a number of clubs in the Premier League who have ‘asked to be kept informed’ of Neves’ situation at Wolves, along with both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Both FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also thought to be ‘watching’ him, but the Wanderers are set to offer him a new long-term contract, with only 16 months left on his current deal.

However, Neves’ agent Jorge Mendes has made it clear to a number of suitors that his client is prepared to leave Molineux in the summer, regardless of any potential offer on the table.

The Verdict: No-brainer

It is a no-brainer for the Magpies to sign a player of Neves’ quality in the summer, should he become available.

His Wolves team-mate Hugo Bueno holds him in high regard, hailing him as an ‘incredible player’ and praising his shooting ability in particular:

“He does those things every day in training, so I wasn’t surprised. I have seen him do that loads of times.

“He has incredible shooting. I am really happy for him for the goal, and for the team because it was a really important goal for us.“He always runs the whole pitch and he’s always there. I don’t know how he does it. He is a key player for us. He works very, very hard to win the ball back and also when we have the ball he can control in the game.“He is an incredible player and hopefully he can give us more things like this in the future.”Indeed, Neves ranks in the 89th percentile for total shots per game of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, as well as in the top 25% for a number of other key metrics (FBRef).Nonetheless, given his top-flight experience, the Portugal international would be a shrewd buy this summer.

Regardless of the division that Wolves find themselves in next season, it seems more than likely that Ruben Neves will be leaving Molineux.

The Portugal international has been impressive at the heart of Wolves' midfield so far this campaign, despite the Old Gold's struggles in the Premier League, and a summer exit looks on the cards for the captain.

Fortunately for Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish manager may have a ready-made replacement for the former Porto man in academy talent, Harvey Griffiths.

Could Ruben Neves leave Wolves this summer?

Neves has been a mainstay in Wolves' side since joining from Porto in 2017, with the talented midfielder leading the Midlands club to the Championship title in his first season, before establishing himself as one of the best players outside the traditional top six.

He has long been linked with some of the biggest sides in Europe and with Wolves battling against relegation this season, it would be difficult to deny him the opportunity to play Champions League football in the 2023/24 campaign, should a big side come knocking in the summer.

The 26-year-old spoke recently about his desire to play at the highest level, saying:

“I feel extremely happy at Wolves, but I would like to play Champions League again.”

Wolves look unlikely to be able to provide that and with veteran midfield partner Joao Moutinho also looking likely to depart Molineux when his contract expires, Lopetegui will surely need a replacement in the middle of the park.

They would well look to the academy in order to find that, with young Harvey Griffiths lying in wait.

Who is Harvey Griffiths?

Griffiths signed for Wolves from Manchester City in 2021 and has caught the eye with his performances in the Premier League 2 this season, which suggests that he could be on the brink of breaking into Lopetegui's first-team squad.

Despite featuring primarily as a defensive midfielder – the natural role of Neves – the 19-year-old boasts four goals and three assists in just 14 Premier League 2 outings so far this term, so surely a first senior appearance is on the cards.

The teenager earned a lot of praise from academy coach James Collins after making his debut back in 2021.

He said: "My first impressions are what a terrific kid he is, really humble. Even little things like yesterday, I said, ‘Come and see me in my office, do you know where it is’ and he said, ‘I’ll find it’.

“He’s got something about him, those little things. He’s obviously a terrific footballer which we need."

Given Griffiths' attitude, talent and goal-scoring knack from midfield, he looks as if he could be an ideal successor for Neves. Indeed, the latter certainly knows a thing or two about finding the net himself, as he leads the club's scoring charts this term alongside Daniel Podence on five.

Should the Portuguese maestro depart Molineux this summer, supporters will love to learn they already have a precocious talent at their disposal capable of replacing him.

Glasgow Rangers have produced a number of talented players in their academy in recent years, and Michael Beale has a plethora of options to call upon from the B team this season.

The likes of Adam Devine, Alex Lowry and Leon King have all played first-team minutes after graduating from the youth setup this term, and they will be looking to follow in the footsteps of players like Allan McGregor and Nathan Patterson, among others who successfully made the transition from academy to first-team.

However, Beale could have had another talented prospect to call upon at Ibrox if the Premiership club had not allowed winger Malcolm Ebiowei to leave in 2021.

Where is Malcolm Ebiowei now?

The forward spent around 18 months in the U18 side at Rangers after joining on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2020, before departing to join Derby County in England for nothing in September 2021.

He hit the ground running for the Rams by scoring seven goals in seven matches for their U18s and worked his way into the first-team setup at Pride Park. He then made 16 senior appearances and chipped in with one goal and two assists from out wide, which attracted attention from clubs higher up the pyramid in England.

Derby coach Justin Walker hailed the teenager’s quality in 2021/22, saying: “I think he has been a breath of fresh air. You can see how much the fans have warmed to him, he gets people out of their seats. He has got that little bit of X-factor, if you like, that creativity we have lacked at times in the final third.”

Ebiowei’s contract at Derby expired in the summer of 2022, and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace swooped to sign the talented teenager on a free transfer.

The wizard made an instant impression at Selhurst Park by scoring twice in three U21 outings, and Patrick Vieira drafted the dynamo into his first-team squad. That resulted in Ebiowei playing five senior matches for the Eagles in the first half of this season – including three games in the top flight of English football – before he joined Hull on loan in January.

Ebiowei has showcased his quality at both Derby and Palace, and Rangers fans may be wondering what the magician could have achieved had he remained at Ibrox.

The exciting teenager, who plays off the right, could have formed a frightening wing partnership with Ryan Kent, having shown at youth level that he has the quality to score goals on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, the current Light Blues star, who predominantly plays off the left, is a proven performer in Scotland, with 33 goals and 55 assists in 209 Rangers appearances in all competitions.

The former Liverpool man has the ability to deliver goals and assists from out wide, and Ebiowei’s form at youth level indicates that the young maestro could have grown to have a similar impact on the opposite flank for Rangers.

Therefore, the Light Blues dropped the ball by allowing the teenage English gem to leave in 2021, as Kent and the now-Palace attacker could have struck up an exciting wing partnership at Ibrox.

Everton have had a really difficult season so far in the Premier League, however, the supporters will now be hoping that the new appointment of Sean Dyche can bring the club back to life just in time to survive relegation.

Dyche has already given the Goodison Park faithful a glimpse of what can be possible with the current crop of players when he led the side to their first victory since October last year against league leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Indeed, there is still a long way to go for the Toffees as they remain one point deep in the relegation zone ahead of a challenging clash with Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby this weekend.

Should the former Burnley boss retain the club’s Premier League status at the end of the season, there is no doubt that the Everton hierarchy will need to invest in the manager’s philosophy over the summer transfer window despite financial problems continuing to loom.

Developing and reinvesting in the forward line has become the most pressing concern for the Merseysiders, however, they could have a hidden gem returning to the club in the summer to strengthen another key area of the pitch.

Jarrad Branthwaite was sent out on a season-long loan to PSV Eindhoven in the summer, giving the academy graduate the opportunity to prove his worth with consistent first-team football and he has done so phenomenally.

Over 14 Eredivisie appearances, the 20-year-old talent has scored one goal, successfully won 54% of his duels and tallied up a 92% pass completion rate in his own half, displaying radiant composure and domination at the heart of the defence.

Not only that, Branthwaite now ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the ‘next eight best’ leagues for non-penalty goals, passes attempted, pass completion and progressive passes.

The Everton youngster’s displays in the Netherlands have started to attract attention from some of the biggest clubs in the world with Manchester United, Roma and bitter rivals Liverpool all scouting Branthwaite.

Although it could be tempting for the Toffees to sell their valuable asset in Branthwaite this summer in order to boost funds to reinvest into the forward line, keeping hold of the defender could pay off and give the club their next Phil Jagielka who could dominate in the backline for years to come.

Jagielka was a consistent and reliable performer for Everton over his 12 years with the Merseyside club, becoming a modern great – amassing 385 appearances before leaving in 2019.

Like Branthwaite, he was composed in possession of the ball, completing over 82% of his passes across multiple top-flight campaigns.

Now, the young defender could even follow in the footsteps of Jagielka on the international stage too, with his former Carlisle boss Steve Pressley claiming the young centre-back could be in line for an international call-up:

“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player,” he began.

“I told people he was a future England international.”

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if the power brokers at Goodison see the value in keeping hold of Branthwaite or whether they will be blinded by an opportunity to collect a quick payday on the player this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are still looking to find a resolution to bring Pedro Porro through the doors this month and his potential arrival could see a number of players depart.

What’s the latest?

Over Sunday night and Monday morning it has emerged there have been fresh issues surrounding the deal to bring the Spanish right wing-back over to N17 after a deal was believed to be agreed upon.

It was suggested Spurs and Sporting CP had found an agreement on Saturday night during the Lilywhites’ FA Cup clash away to Preston North End.

Now it appears this deal is hanging in the balance, but prior to the development it had been suggested his possible arrival could see two out of Spurs’ current three right wing-backs depart in the final hours.

Indeed, writing in his latest transfer round-up column for GiveMeSport, insider Dean Jones has claimed two of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence could leave if Porro is to arrive:

“Patience has been key in negotiations for Pedro Porro but it is as good as done – and may prove to be the last of the major signings. Their next job will be to figure out how to deal with a right-back pile-up of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence. Two of the three could go,” said Jones.

One in, two out?

It now appears to be a big if, but if Porro is to land in north London ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, then it will leave Antonio Conte with a surplus of options in that position.

And one player who has already proven to be surplus to requirements this season is the youngster, Spence, who has been handed minimal opportunities by Conte.

There have been strong suggestions that Spence could be headed for the exit doors in N17 this month with a number of Premier League clubs believed to be interested in a potential deal for the 22-year-old, and it has since emerged he is close to moving to French outfit Rennes.

As for Emerson, there have also been reports claiming the Lilywhites could be prepared to allow him to leave this month with the likes of Juventus credited with an interest in the Brazilian.

And even Doherty’s future has been questioned recently with Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas suggesting the Lilywhites could be open to listening to offers for the Irishman.

However, the main focus will surely now be on securing the services of Porro with just over 24 hours remaining in the January transfer window.

With Spence having played minimal game time, between Emerson and Doherty, the pair have provided an incredibly underwhelming return of just two goals and one assist across a combined 2463 minutes of football in all competitions.

And with this in mind, you could be forgiven for thinking Conte could see either player depart this month and not really feel any big loss to his squad depth.

Tottenham Hotspur have put Ruben Neves on their January transfer shortlist…

What’s the word?

That’s according to 90min, who claim that Wolverhampton Wanderers are desperate to keep hold of the Portugal international but face a tough task with several Premier League teams interested in signing him before deadline day.

The likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United, Arsenal, as well as the Lilywhites, are thought to be keeping a close eye on the situation at Molineux.

Neves is out of contract in 2024, so the Midlands outfit aren’t in the strongest negotiating position, with the 25-year-old currently valued at €35m (£30m) by CIES Football Observatory, which is considerably less than the “£100m” pricetag that ex-Wolves manager Bruno Lage stated in the summer.

Imagine Neves and Rodrigo Bentancur

If Spurs were to win the race to sign Neves, then sporting director Fabio Paratici could form one hell of a midfield unit as both he and current engine room machine Rodrigo Bentancur would be a frightening prospect for many other teams to face.

Naturally, the Uruguayan powerhouse is a defensive-minded midfielder, even if his five goals and two assists from 21 appearances this season suggests otherwise, and the introduction of the Wolves star could see him revert back to type, given he is also averaging a squad-high 2.3 tackles per game.

Neves, who is renowned for his ability to fire in goals from range, is quite a similar player but his attacking exploits could see this duo thrive, seeing as he has also bagged four goals in 18 top-flight appearances and also as Wolves’ best performer, averages 2.6 tackles per game, on top of 2.1 shots and 0.9 key passes per game too.

Such form and quality has seen the Old Gold skipper lauded as an “incredible player” who has “incredible shooting” by his teammate Hugo Bueno, adding to past claims of Neves being a “pure talent” – in the eyes of former Express & Star journalist Joe Edwards.

Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte may be well-stocked in the midfield area, with the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr all in and around the first-team setup but considering the consistency and talent Neves has delivered over the years and the lack of the same from all but one of those names, he’d be a surefire upgrade.

Also lauded as a “beast” by ex-USMNT international Jimmy Conrad, the 25-year-old deep-lying playmaker could be a perfect partner to Bentancur for the remainder of the season and beyond.

Given the evidence above, Paratici must look to secure a move for Neves at all costs, his £100m asking price will be a lot cheaper with less than 18 months to run on this current £50k-per-week deal and that has to be considered a bargain and thus, giving Conte an incredible central duo.

AND in other news, Paratici could sign a new Dembele in £26m “engine” who “dreams of Tottenham” move…

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Julen Lopetegui is reportedly set to target a score of January signings to bolster the squad and stave off the threat of relegation…

What’s the word?

Having evicted Bruno Lage from the managerial role and replaced him with the esteemed Lopetegui in November, Wanderers owner Jeff Shi is moving with conviction to secure the club’s future in the Premier League, having already completed the signing of Matheus Cunha on loan with the obligation to buy for £44m from Atletico Madrid. 

And now, according to French reporter Saber Desfarges, the Midlands outfit could be set to swoop for OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina.

He said: “Wolverhampton would like to secure the services of Mario Lemina (OGC Nice) this winter.

“First offer, of nearly €5m (£4.5m), refused by the Gym.”

Neves heir

Having previously played for Southampton in the English top-flight, the 29-year-old Lemina boasts a wealth of experience already, and could provide security and stability within the Wolves midfield, making a marked improvement on performances that have left the club 18th in the division after 17 matches.

Having made 52 appearances for Saints since arriving at the outfit in a club-record deal of £18m in 2017, the ace enjoyed two seasons at St. Mary’s before falling out of favour, earning a couple of loan moves including a successful spell with Fulham in the 2020/21 campaign.

During that term, the Gabonese gem recorded an average rating of 6.85 despite the Cottagers falling foul to the drop-zone to the Championship, excelling in his industrious role and completing 84% of his passes, averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match, while also succeeding with 70% of his dribbles and 54% of his total duels. 

And as per FBref, the 25-cap star ranks within the top 4% of midfielders across Europe’s major leagues for tackles, the top 6% for clearances and the top 7% for blocks, while also perching within the top 13% for pass completion – indicating a vigorous mentality that will serve the relegation-threatened Wolves very well.

He could adopt the responsibilities of Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, who has etched his name into Molineux folklore since arriving while the club still plyed their trade in the second-tier, arriving from FC Porto in a £15m deal.

Neves may be more of a maestro with the brilliance of his passing and the innovation of his transitional play, also a brilliant striker of the ball, but with Lopetegui looking to bring in signings to boost the offensive ranks, Lemina could prove to be a shrewd acquisition, sweeping the opposing advances away like a broom, dispatching the attackers like litter.

Reports in recent months state that Neves could be set for a January exit, and while he would demand a high fee, a move for Lemina could remedy the hole left in the Portuguese ace’s wake and leave coins in the purse for further moves.

The assurance of the “powerhouse” in the centre – as once lauded by BBC Sport’s Garth Crooks – would act as a centrepiece for positivity to stretch its clutches into enemy territory, consequently giving Wolves the requisite tools to return to prominence in the Premier League once again.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could be set to face somewhat of a conundrum over the next few months with regard to his midfield options.

James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita are all out of contract at the end of the season, while Jordan Henderson and Thiago are all on the wrong side of 30, meaning Klopp will need to start planning ahead for the future as soon as possible.

Keita has played just three times this season having missed most of the first part of the campaign through injury, but Klopp could ruthlessly ditch the midfielder by making a move for a young Ecuadorian talent that is on everyone’s lips at the minute…

Liverpool should sign Caicedo

The Reds have been interested in the Brighton and Hove Albion sensation for a few months now and although any potential move could cost the club a staggering £85m, it could well be a shrewd investment.

It’s no secret the Liverpool midfield needs to be rejuvenated and Caicedo could become an excellent addition to the side while giving Klopp the licence to bin Keita in the process.

The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season for Brighton, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.09/10, while making 1.0 key passes, averaging 70.9 touches, and winning 3.0 tackles per game in the Premier League.

These performances suggest that his all-round ability could allow him to slot into Klopp’s midfield with ease, able to contribute at both ends of the pitch to excellent effect.

Ecuadorian football historian Enrico Castro-Montes sang Caicedo’s praises while speaking to Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness), saying:

“In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.”

After announcing the signing of Cody Gakpo earlier this week, Klopp might not be looking at spending £85m for Caicedo in January, however, with the German set to face a potential crisis come the summer, a move next month for the youngster might not be such a bad idea.

The January transfer window is less than a month away from opening for business and eyes will be on Aston Villa and what they do with Unai Emery at the helm.

Villa appointed the Spaniard to replace Steven Gerrard in the dugout and January will be his first chance to bring in his own signings to improve the squad heading into the second half of the season.

It also provides him with an opportunity to cast aside any players that he does not want to build the team around in the coming years and one dud who could be on the chopping block is Ollie Watkins.

The £75k-per-week marksman has endured a rough season in the Premier League and Emery could ditch him in order to free up space for another striker to come through the door.

Watkins has scored twice in 14 appearances in the English top-flight this term and has averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.64 – a score that places him 17th in the squad for the Villans – which shows that he has struggled badly in front of goal and in his general play this term.

This comes after he managed 11 goals in 35 outings in the 2021/22 campaign with these statistics indicating that he has regressed this season, which is why it could be time to cut ties with him in January.

Who could replace him, though? Well, French publication Jeunes Footeux claimed in November that Villa are eyeing up Genk striker Paul Onuachu and that his club want at least €25m (£21.4m) for his services in the next window.

Emery must now push Villa to complete a deal for the Nigerian centre-forward as he has the potential to be a big upgrade on Watkins at the top end of the pitch.

The 28-year-old has plundered 13 goals in ten Pro League starts for Genk this season, after scoring 21 times in 30 starts last term, and has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25.

Onuachu, who was once dubbed a “goal king” by John Fashanu, has scored 82 goals in 127 matches in all competitions for the Belgian side and his impressive numbers over the last few seasons suggest that he would be a terrific signing for Villa if he can adapt to English football.

Therefore, the club must take a gamble on the prolific marksman in January and bring him to Villa Park as he could improve their attacking options and allow Emery to ditch the misfiring Watkins in favour of a striker who provides more of a goal threat.