Edu could make January move for club’s high earner who really likes Arsenal

Arsenal, and sporting director Edu by extension, could move for a club's star in January – with there being a belief he likes the idea of joining.

Arsenal sliding down Premier League table

The Gunners have endured a torrid time of late, winning just once in their last five Premier League games and now five points off table-toppers Liverpool.

Arsenal express interest over move to sign "brutal" star ahead of Man City

This would be some statement from the Gunners…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 4, 2024

After the club spent over £200 million last summer, in an effort to help them clinch their first league title in 20 years, manager Mikel Arteta is under pressure to turn things around and quickly.

Arsenal luckily have 15 days till their next top flight encounter, a home clash against struggling Crystal Palace on January 20, which gives club transfer chiefs time to potentially bolster Arteta's ranks.

The north Londoners have been linked with signing a new striker, midfielder and full-backs this month. They were however dealt a major blow in their pursuit of top target Ivan Toney, with Brentford boss Thomas Frank confirming he is set to remain at the club this month.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

"He is a Brentford player. He is here, we miss a few offensive players and I cannot see why we should sell him. I would love to have him here for a long time," said Frank on Toney's future at Brentford.

"It is not for me to discuss (an offer), but if I could ever recommend one, it would need to be an unbelievable price, so he will stay here."

FFP restrictions have also given Arsenal a pretty tight January budget to work with, according to reports (Miguel Delaney), so Edu and co may have to be clever and make the most ideal signings possible.

One player who could fall into that bracket is Crystal Palace star Michael Olise. Since returning from injury, the Englishman has gone on to enjoy one of the best seasons of his career to date, scoring five goals and registering an assist in just nine league appearances.

Michael Olise's best league games for Palace – 2023/2024

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Palace 3-1 Brentford

9.96

Luton 2-1 Palace

8.57

Chelsea 2-1 Palace

8.50

Palace 1-1 Brighton

7.51

Man City 2-2 Palace

7.46

Arsenal were linked with a summer move for Olise, and now it appears they could reignite that interest mid-season.

Olise prefers to join Arsenal

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal could potentially make a January move for Olise and it is believed the £100,000-per-week midfielder would "very much prefer" to join them over Man United.

While a summer move is seen as more likely as things stand, the report claims a January deal is still possible if Arsenal make significant sales first.

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson certainly hopes that won't be the case. The former England boss is a big fan of Olise, as is Arteta apparently, with Hodgson calling Olise an "enormous talent".

"What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent," said Hodgson.

"He has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform.”

Ten Hag could end Antony’s Man Utd career by signing “dazzling” £43m star

Manchester United have struggled to get going this season, with injuries hindering the progress made last year.

The Red Devils have been dumped out of every cup competition bar the FA Cup, and they sit eighth in the Premier League.

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With that in mind and the fact that United only score 1.1 goals per game on average, Erik ten Hag must look to add a new forward to his side.

Man Utd transfers latest – Nico Williams

According to UtdDistrict, Man United have set their sights on Nico Williams. It's suggested that the club's scouts have identified him as their prime versatile target for the month of January.

Spain'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their sixth goal

As per a report from Spain, the Spaniard has a release clause of £43m in his contract at Athletic Club.

A move is much more likely to take place in the summer due to the large fee and United’s financial fair play situation, which prevents them from spending big in January.

How Nico Williams compares to Antony

Antony’s £82m move to Man United has been a disaster, highlighted by the fact that the Brazilian has failed to even register a goal contribution in 21 appearances for the Red Devils this season.

The United faithful are becoming increasingly frustrated with the 23-year-old's constant underwhelming performances and the signing of a new right winger could see his United career come to an end.

That new attacking star could be Williams, a player who has been labelled “dazzling” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig. The star has been nothing short of electric this season in La Liga, scoring three and assisting five in 16 starts. The 21-year-old has become instrumental in the way his side attacks, showing great maturity and taking on plenty of responsibility despite his age.

Goals

0.00

0.22

Assists

0.00

0.36

Successful take-ons

1.49

3.64

Progressive carries

3.09

5.98

Crosses

1.39

7.00

Key passes

1.59

2.40

Touches (att pen)

3.68

6.12

As you can see, Williams absolutely wipes the floor with Antony. The former is an extremely fast winger who is a master at 1v1 scenarios, constantly taking a direct approach with the aim of getting into the box.

Furthermore, he’s almost unstoppable when dribbling, using his quick feet and agility to glide past defenders with ease, amassing nearly six progressive carries every 90 minutes. Impressively, he has the joint most successful dribbles in La Liga this season. On the other hand, Antony often decides to lay the ball off due to his lack of acceleration and power, making him easy to play against.

Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams.

Instead, Williams can progress the play via his ball-carrying, and he is a true creative spark. Unlike the Brazilian, he is two-footed and unpredictable which allows him to find space to cross the ball into the box. Antony doesn’t provide that type of service which has ultimately starved Rasmus Hojlund of chances this season, with the number 21 labelled as a “one-trick pony” by United Legend Paul Scholes.

It is clear that Williams would be a huge upgrade on Antony, and United must do all they can to acquire his signature with Ten Hag and his side in dire need of some more creativity in the side if they are to turn the ship around.

Liverpool have the funds to hijack "very dangerous" star from major suitors

Liverpool's owners FSG have the funds available to hijack two big European clubs and sign a "very dangerous" player, according to a new transfer update from abroad.

Liverpool's Janaury signings

The Reds had one of their most important transfer windows in a long time during the summer, with Jurgen Klopp gutting his midfield, having suffered big problems there last season.

Individuals such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, among others, were simply incapable of producing the physical dominance they exerted at their peaks, and it made Liverpool painfully easy to bypass in the middle of the park.

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Dominik Szoboszlai has been the standout signing so far, making a world of difference in his right-sided No.8 role, but Alexis Mac Allister has also done well, Ryan Gravenberch is a footballer of huge promise and Wataru Endo looks like a solid squad player.

It could be that Liverpool focus more on different areas of the pitch in January, with a centre-back who can also thrive as a left-back reportedly seen as a key position to focus on. Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio continues to be linked with a move to Anfield, while Wolves ace Rayan Ait-Nouri is another who has emerged as a potential Reds transfer target.

As mentioned, Klopp's midfield has been transformed, but it still looks as though they could be pursuing another player there, however, following a fresh claim.

Liverpool could hijack Khephren Thuram

According to a new update from Tutto Juve in Italy [via The Boot Room], Liverpool are still interested in signing Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, as was the case during the summer transfer window.

khephren-thuram-liverpool-transfer-news-opinion-premier-league

Serie A pair Juventus and Inter Milan are also keen on acquiring the signature of the Frenchman, but the Reds will be the favourites to snap him up if Nice keep their €40-50 million (£34.7-£43.4m) asking price the same. The two Italian powerhouses seemingly believe they will lose out if that price tag does not drop because the Reds, namely FSG, have more funds available.

For much of the summer window, it really did look as though Thuram was likely to head to Liverpool, but the move never materialised and others came in instead. While the aforementioned new Reds heroes have made a massive impact this season, providing so much energy and guile, and helping Klopp's men sit nicely in the thick of a Premier League title race, they should still look to make a move for the Nice star, either in January or next summer.

Pass completion rate

89.6%

Dribbles per game

1.5

Tackles per game

1.3

Key passes per game

1.3

Clearances per game

1.1

The price tag being discussed is far from high, considering the long-term potential of the 22-year-old, and former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has spoken highly of Thuram after being a teammate of his at Nice, calling him "very dangerous" and a "very strong dribbler of the ball". He could make Klopp's midfield options even more fierce.

أول تعليق من كريم فؤاد بعد تأكد إصابته بالرباط الصليبي

علق كريم فؤاد، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، على إصابته بقطع في الرباط الصليبي الأمامي خلال مشاركته مع القلعة الحمراء.

وتعرض كريم فؤاد للإصابة خلال مشاركته في مواجهة الأهلي ضد سموحة والتي انتهت بفوز الأحمر بهدف مقابل لا شيء، وحسم التتويج بالدوري المصري، حيث تأكد إصابته بالصليبي عقب خضوعه لأشعة جديدة.

طالع..الأهلي يعلن التشخيص النهائي لإصابة كريم فؤاد

وكتب فؤاد عبر حسابه على “فيس بوك”: “كل خسارة دُونَ الجنة، فهي دُون اللهم لك الحمد كما ينبغي لجلال وجهك وعظيم سلطانك، الدنيا دار ابتلاء وشقاء ودايمًا الإبتلاء بيجي للشخص في الحاجة اللي هو بيحبها ونِفسه فيها وطموحه وسعادته فيها، ودا بيكون إختبار ليك هتعمل إيه في الموقف دا، وان الإختبار والبلاء دا بيكون ليه أجر كبير ورفع درجات في الجنة وتكفير ذنوب وحاجات كتير عظيمة أوي مقابل إني اصبر على الابتلاء دا”.

وتابع: “انا كان مكتوبلي إصابة في الرباط الصليبي للمرة التانية، بس عندي إحساس تاني خالص مع الإختبار دا، إنه انا في نعمة كبيرة أوي وإن الحمد لله ربنا رزقني باختبار سهل وهين أوي مقابل ابتلاءات ناس تانية أصعب من دا بكتير، وكمان اختبار مش جديد عليا بَعيده للمرة التانية في وقت قصير فهعرف أتعامل معاه بشكل كويس ويمكن أحسن”.

وأضاف: “عشان كدا بحمد ربنا إن الابتلاء اللي هاخد عليه أجر كبير وعظيم مش بالصعوبة القاسية اللي توجعني وتهدّني”.

وواصل: “أنا بحمد ربنا وراضي ومؤمن جداً، إن ربنا بيحبنا نقرب منه بالعبادات اللي منها الصبر والدعاء الحمد لله مستعد للاختبار ومتحمس”.

وأتم: “شوية وقت وهنرجع نحارب من تاني أشوفكم على خير قريب”.

Mowbray must bench Sunderland man who only had 12 touches v Plymouth

Sunderland experienced a nightmare weekend in the Championship, losing 2-0 away at Plymouth Argyle after a lengthy journey down from Durham to Devon on Saturday was already a kick in the teeth.

West Brom then picked up a statement 2-0 win over Ipswich Town later in the day at the expense of Tony Mowbray's downbeat Black Cats, pilling on the misery even more, leapfrogging Sunderland to fifth spot in the league standings consequently.

A lack of clinical finishing cost Sunderland dear on their travels to Home Park, sliding down the Championship table to a disappointing ninth spot with Hull City and Cardiff City now above the Black Cats after the loss.

It could well lead to a number of changes being made by Mowbray for Sunderland's upcoming home match this Wednesday against Huddersfield Town, the 60-year-old wanting to see an immediate response at the Stadium of Light from his players to reclaim some authority back in the playoff race.

One player that could be sacrificed from the line-up mid-week is Nazariy Rusyn, the lone Ukrainian striker still goalless in a red and white strip this season and was anonymous for large spells of the game at Argyle.

Nazariy Rusyn's game vs Plymouth in numbers

When Rusyn signed this summer from FC Zorya Luhansk to join the Sunderland ranks, hype amongst the Black Cats masses suggested he could be the perfect replacement for the out-going Ross Stewart – the agile 5 foot 10 attacker scoring 13 times for Luhansk last season in the league, before relocating to English football.

It's been a bumpy transition to the demands of competitive EFL football for the Ukrainian however, who was poor again versus Plymouth to the dismay of the irritated Sunderland away supporters who had made the colossal journey down to Devon.

Sunderland's misfiring number 15 didn't even register a single shot on target in this contest as per Sofascore, dragging one effort wide whilst his only other half-hearted attempt to score was blocked before being substituted off at the break.

With Rusyn only amassing 12 touches on the ball and three passes in total, the game passed the 25-year-old by whilst Sunderland's star-man Jack Clarke worked doubly hard to work openings for any attacker to hopefully convert from – accurate with four crosses into the area in the full 90 minutes, Rusyn's replacement in Eliezer Mayenda equally as wasteful when a chance came his way.

It's been the tale of Rusyn's time in a Sunderland shirt to date, an underperforming striker continually wilting on the big occasion.

Nazariy Rusyn's season in numbers

Rusyn is still goalless in his new red and white strip from nine total appearances to date, with fellow attacking teammates in Luis Semedo, Mason Burstow and Mayenda all still firing blanks up top for Mowbray's men too.

Nazariy Rusyn

0 goals from 9 games

Luis Semedo

0 goals from 12 games

Mason Burstow

0 goals from 9 games

Eliezer Mayenda

0 goals from 2 games

Sourced by Transfermarkt.

The Ukrainian did show flashes of his quality versus Birmingham City – assisting the opening Jobe Bellingham strike in that match – but he will want to break his goalscoring duck soon for Sunderland or he will risk becoming a similar flop akin to ex-Black Cats striker Leon Dajaku who exited the Stadium of Light as quickly as he joined after failing to settle into his new surroundings.

Mowbray's patience must now be wearing thin with his Ukrainian summer signing, scrambling around his squad to find anyone who could lead the line more effectively than Rusyn in crunch matches to come.

Arsenal: Wenger snubbed £86m-rated gem who’s “every bit as good as Bellingham”

It's not too often that Arsene Wenger's judgement at Arsenal can be brought into question. However, as was the case with a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic – on the odd occasion when he does have a gaff, it tends to be monumental.

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde is a name revered now, but in north London he'll likely be an activation word for nightmares of what could've been as a move to the Gunners failed to materialise back in 2016.

Why didn't Arsenal sign Federico Valverde in 2016?

Seven years ago, a teenage Valverde was a superb prospect for many European clubs looking to unearth a talent from South America's bread basket. In his home country of Uruguay, the then-youngster had traversed the ranks of his boyhood team Penarol and with just a meager 13 games under his belt for the senior team, the big boys came sniffing around.

When a player's mentored by Diego Forlan and receives his senior debut just a day after his 17th birthday – you know that he's likely to be special and indeed, Valverde was. Known as Pajarito (baby bird), Valverde was just a fledgling midfielder ready to spread his wings. Before other suitors came in for him, the exciting Uruguayan – who would soon win the Silver Ball at 2017's U-20 World Cup as La Celeste finished fourth – tested the skies in which he was set to soar.

How good is Federico Valverde?

One of Valverde's first brief stop-offs offs route to success was worth London. In a week-long trial at Arsenal, Valverde went from Forlan student, to Alexis Sanchez' understudy. Via TalkSport, Valverde was quoted as praising the Chilean:

"When I went to train at Arsenal, Alexis was there and he was one of the few who came up to help me. I will always be grateful to him because, being a nobody, I was well-received by him. He was there to help me when I was a kid. As a footballer, he is an incredible player."

While training no doubt reflected the youngster's capabilities, Wenger wasn't quite sure, and chose not to sign Valverde. Almost comically, it would transpire that instead, Granit Xhaka was the preferred target as Federico returned to his homeland. Likely disheartened, things wouldn't look bleak for long as a club renowned for their Galacticos decided to point Parajito's flight path to the stars.

Where is Valverde now?

As if you didn't already know, (and the tiring metaphors didn't do the trick) Valverde is of course one of Madrid's key men. Arriving in July 2016, he was initially placed in the Castilla youth set up. The 2016/17 season was enough time to show he was above that level and in the subsequent term he joined Deportivo La Coruna on loan.

Again, the 'baby bird' was taking flight and proving his growing worth. Since his 2018 debut in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen at 20, Valverde has evolved into a mainstay at the Bernabeu. In an era where Madridistas boast European supremacy with more success in the pipeline likely coming soon, Valverde is a key figure in a side transitioning from one era to another.

Where once there was Benzema and Modric – there's now Valverde and Jude Bellingham among others. After Madrid's demolition job on Celtic last year, pundit and ex-pro Joe Cole lit up at the (soon-to-be) tandem of talent driving Los Blancos onwards.

"He's standing right at the top of the tree with Bellingham in the young players, and he's on the verge of becoming the best. (…) We talk a lot about Bellingham in this country, but this kid is every bit as good as Bellingham."

Not only is transition key for Carlo Ancelotti's team, but for Valverde himself. He finds his nickname reflects the tenacity and growth of his career. As he was once known as Parajito, he now takes the course of the mighty Halcon (Falcon) – an £86 million worth midfielder on the hunt for more trophies to add to his collection that already encompasses two La Ligas, two Supercopa de Espanas, two FIFA Club World Cups and one each of the Copa del Rey, UEFA Supercup and UEFA Champions League.

Of course, at present it is Bellingham receiving the acclaim at the Bernabeu in the midfield ranks with 11 goals and three assists from just his first 12 appearances for the club, yet last term Valverde was just as impressive in Ancelotti's setup, with 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

Also dubbed the "unsung hero" of the 2022 Champions League final – in the words of Cole – the 25-year-old has certainly left those back at the Emirates ruing their prior error.

VIDEO: Beth England reminds Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman of her talents by scoring fabulous WSL opener for Tottenham inside two minutes against Bristol City

Beth England sent a reminder to Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman of her talents by scoring a classy goal for Tottenham against Bristol City.

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Beth England scores on return to sideSecures Spurs 1-0 win at Bristol CityForward will aim for Lionesses recallWHAT HAPPENED?

After coming off the bench for Spurs' last two Women's Super League matches against Leicester City and Arsenal, the 29-year-old justified her recall to the starting XI with a poacher's finish in the second minute against the Robins following a flowing team move.

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After scoring 13 goals in 14 games for Tottenham last season, forward England has found the net on just three occasions this term and as a result she has been left out of Wiegman's Lionesses' squad of late. However, with goals like the one at Bristol City on Sunday afternoon, the former Chelsea star will hope to be in England's upcoming squad for their Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden on April 5.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Following the 1-0 win over bottom of the table City, a result that took the north London outfit to sixth in the Women's Super League, England's Spurs take on Leicester City in the FA Women's Cup semi-final on April 14 after the upcoming international break. That game will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Chelsea eyeing 6’5 giant who has scored a goal every 86 minutes this season

Chelsea have shown glimpses of their potential under Mauricio Pochettino, but so far just that. The Argentine is yet to get a consistent run under his belt at Stamford Bridge, with the size of the project that he is responsible for quickly becoming apparent. He will hope that the promising signs shown in the Blues' draw against Arsenal will act as a springboard for a successful run in the Premier League, as Chelsea look to make a return to Champions League football.

Many of the headlines in the summer were centred around Chelsea's transfer business, with a flurry of talents heading for the exit door, whilst Pochettino began his rebuild with a number of arrivals. With their goalscoring problem very much still their biggest weakness, however, the Blues could now turn to a former academy player.

Chelsea transfer news

It could be argued that Chelsea's excessive spending is yet to solve many, if any, of their problems. They remain on course for a disappointing finish and have suffered defeats against Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa already this season, also drawing against Bournemouth. Nonetheless, it looks as though Todd Boehly could return to the transfer market once more, given the latest Miles Leaburn transfer news.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea and Brentford are mulling over a move for the Charlton Athletic striker, who still has two years remaining on his current deal at the club. Leaburn, of course, is all too familiar with Chelsea, having come through their academy before joining the Addicks in 2019. Charlton are in a strong position when it comes to keeping hold of their talented teenager, after they reportedly rejected an offer worth £3m from the Bundesliga in the summer.

When the January transfer window does open, as well as next summer's edition, it will be interesting to see whether Chelsea, or in fact Brentford, push ahead to sign Leaburn, who may still have dreams of Stamford Bridge success.

Miles Leaburn is "not just a goalscorer"

Leaburn's stats show just how well he has started for Charlton this season, scoring a goal every 86 minutes. The 6 ft 5 in giant has found the back of the net six times in just 515 minutes of action, which is just under six games. The fact is, the 19-year-old has been on fire this season, and has more than earned the reported interest of Chelsea.

His form has rightly received a lot of praise, including from former Charlton boss Dean Holden, who said, via London News Online: “It proves he’s not just a goalscorer. His all-round game, as much as he’s got to learn, is solid. He is not just a fox-in-the-box, he’s not just someone who will run in behind and he’s not just a targetman.

“All of those different parts of his game will improve because it is his first season in senior football. Why can’t he get to 12 or higher than that? He is such a great lad to work with – he wants to improve. He doesn’t for one second think he is the finished article, which is really exciting. Huge potential.”

Setback at Ibrox: Rangers could be without “great talent” for a spell

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a blow after learning that one of their key first-team players is set for a spell on the sidelines in the Scottish Premiership.

Who is on Rangers' injury list?

At Ibrox, Michael Beale has Todd Cantwell, Nicolas Raskin, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Danilo all out on the sidelines and none of them are expected to return until after the international break in October, though there is some more positive news on Kieran Dowell.

The Teddy Bears midfielder is back out on the grass having started participating in some very light training once again which will be music to the ears of the boss and no doubt supporters too, though they won’t be as pleased to hear about the setback to another senior star.

During Wednesday’s 4-0 Viaplay Cup victory over Livingston, Kemar Roofe was forced off the pitch after just 46 minutes, and the striker’s situation appears to have taken a turn for the worst following a fresh update on the 30-year-old’s fitness from the manager.

How long is Kemar Roofe out for?

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday prior to the game vs Aberdeen, Beale confirmed that Roofe has travelled for a scan to assess the extent of the damage sustained in midweek.

As quoted by Rangers’ official account on X, he said: “Roofe is away for a scan, so no news on that one for now. It is disappointing for Kemar as [he] has been doing so well so we hope [it] is not too serious. It is a busy schedule, we knew we would have to use the squad. Both teams [are] coming into this game with the same packed schedule and recovery times.”

Glasgow Rangers striker Kemar Roofe.

How many goals has Kemar Roofe scored for Rangers?

Since putting pen to paper at Rangers back in 2020, Roofe has posted 44 direct goal involvements (37 goals and seven assists) in 86 appearances which shows how prolific he can be in the final third, so the fact that he’s likely facing an extended period out will be a blow to Beale.

Alongside his eye for the hitting the back of the net, the £26k-per-week earner is a versatile operator having been deployed in five various positions since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline and even in attacking midfield, though this is another attribute that the coach could have to cope without.

The Jamaica international has even helped the outfit north of the border to secure two trophies during his time at the club in the form of the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, and missing his experience and winning mentality around the team will be a real shame.

As described by journalist Dean Jones, Roofe is a “great talent” and there’s no doubt that him being unavailable for selection will be difficult to accept, but everybody associated with the Light Blues will be hoping that he is able to stage his comeback as soon as possible.

“Just Criminal” – Journalist Blasts Sunderland Man In Boro Defeat

Sunderland squared off against Middlesbrough hoping to make it three consecutive wins, and further boost their early play-off chances in the Championship. Come the full-time whistle, however, the Black Cats had endured an afternoon to forget, heading into the international break on the back of a disappointing 4-0 defeat.

Tony Mowbray will undoubtedly be frustrated by his side's capitulation, with all four of the visitors' goals coming in the second half. In truth, however, following Dan Neil's controversial red card, Sunderland were always likely to drop all three points. Following the midfielder's dismissal, journalist Josh Bunting took to Twitter to deliver his verdict.

Why was Dan Neil sent off against Middlesbrough?

In a moment that will anger Mowbray, it wasn't a foul that led to Neil's sending off. Instead, the midfielder simply failed to bite his tongue when speaking to one of the officials and received his marching orders thanks to a second yellow card for dissent just before the half-time whistle.

Down to ten men, Sunderland struggled, and goals from Sam Greenwood, Matt Crooks, Isiah Jones, and substitute Marcus Foss left north-east rivals Middlesbrough out of sight.

Delivering his verdict on the Neil red card, Bunting tweeted: "What is Neil doing there? That is just the immaturity we have at times, that’s the problem with young players on occasions. When you’re on a yellow, to be sent off for dissent is just criminal, [we] have played ok after the opening 15 minutes and then down to ten for a moment of madness."

Sunderland will now be left pondering what could have been during the international break, before hoping to bounce back in style in their first game back against Stoke City. The defeat against Middlesbrough has not damaged the Black Cats' promotion chances too much, with Mowbray's side still as high as fourth following the weekend's results.

How has Dan Neil performed this season?

Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.

Aside from his moment to forget in his most recent outing, Neil has enjoyed an impressive season so far in the Championship, starting in all 11 games for the Black Cats, scoring two goals and two assists.

The midfielder has earned plenty of praise during his time at the Stadium of Light, too, including from former manager Lee Johnson, who said, via Chronicle Live: We were really pleased. Dan was pleased, which is good because we want players to be enthused and love what they are doing and what we are doing as a club.

"The pictures summed it up – the one where he is sitting in the crowd at 10 or 11 years old as a starry-eyed kid, and another one where he is actually living that dream.

"You can see and feel the passion that he has got for Sunderland when you are coaching him, and he's a great kid and a really good football player with bags of potential, and we'll try and hone that as quickly as possible.

"He's technically a very good player, you can see the way he manipulates the ball, and I think he has added another dimension to his game in being able to drop and drive, as we call it, and receive the ball and commit players."

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